Youth Mentor/Educator (AmeriCorps Member) - Envisioneers Inc

Envisioneers AmeriCorps National Teaching Fellowship (Class of ‘25)

Help all students thrive in school and beyond through hands-on learning and career mentors. Join the AmeriCorps National Teaching Fellowship in Oakland, California!

Envisioneers is excited to partner with California Volunteers AmeriCorps program to deliver our Expanded Learning for the 2024-2025 school year.

The mission of Envisioneers is to combat systemic inequity in education by fostering and cultivating the academic and social emotional skills of our scholars while exposing them to project-based learning and industry mentors.

As an AmeriCorps National Teaching Fellow at Envisioneers, you’ll change the lives of middle school students. You’ll serve as a member of a diverse team of caring adults dedicated to transforming the school day for middle school students in low-income communities. We do this by adding three hours to the end of the school day, during which students receive additional academic support in math or language arts, complete homework in structured sessions, and participate in hands-on apprenticeships taught by volunteer professionals from the community.

As a AmeriCorps National Teaching Fellow, you will be performing an extraordinary act of citizenship, helping the nation to address one of its greatest challenges, educating our youth in ways that promote self-belief, college readiness, and the skills needed to achieve their dreams. It is an opportunity that leads to a better future for students, yet it also holds rich benefits for those willing to dedicate two years of their life to national service through AmeriCorps. That’s why we call the opportunity: Teach, Serve, Grow.

We have 3 locations in Northern California: San Jose (Alum Rock School District), Oakland (Oakland Unified School District), and West Contra Costa (West Contra Costa Unified School District).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & SERVICE MEMBER FUNCTIONS

During your term as an AmeriCorps National Teaching Fellow you will:

SERVE: The ability to connect with students day-to-day and help them through the difficult years of middle school is a profound opportunity for many individuals who join the Fellowship. Fellows are eager to impact the academics of students directly, but also have the opportunity to influence student growth through the lens of a mentor and coach.

• Act as a liaison and advocate for students in the school community
• Communicate regularly with families to discuss student progress and program updates
• Partner with volunteers from businesses, nonprofits, universities, and other local organizations, to create relevant, real-world learning experiences for students
• Identify assets that already exist in the communities we serve, and support with making direct connections to our students and families
• Create and reinforce a culture of achievement
• Build lasting relationships with students, families, and volunteers that increase the school’s impact in the community
• Create opportunities for students that strengthen the connection between academic success, college, and career

TEACH: Driving academic outcomes is a core component of our mission. On many campuses, our Fellows push in or pull out small groups of students to aid instruction that is occurring during the first shift. (occasionally Fellows may deliver new content in select regions only and may vary by campus). Teaching Fellows have an important role to play in the extension of learned content or “reteaching”/ reinforcing what was previously delivered by a member of the first shift.

• Deliver hands-on, engaging lessons in Math and/or English Language Arts and provide structured homework/project support
• Partner with first shift teachers and families to support student academic and personal growth
• Inspire students to set and achieve ambitious goals, and hold students to consistently high expectations
• Monitor and use student learning data to inform instructional/ program decisions
• Prepare students for college by cementing college-to-career-connections
• Motivate students to attain the knowledge, skills, and beliefs to achieve personal goals
• Explicitly communicate the idea that hard work opportunity = success
• Steward good classroom practice, including the creation of a safe learning environment

GROW: Training and support are critical components of the Teaching Fellowship experience and contribute greatly to our Teaching Fellows’ overall successes, both in their direct service, and their personal/professional development. We are committed to providing ongoing coaching opportunities throughout their two years of service that will lead to student impact, as well as career advancement.

• Be challenged by diverse professional experiences at school, in the regional office, and with partner organizations
• Impact program results through direct responsibility for school/ region-wide projects
• Plan, execute, and participate in a variety of school and regional events
• Network with senior professionals in diverse disciplines including: technology, law, finance, and higher education
• Collect, analyze, and use data to inform decision-making
• Operate in an entrepreneurial environment with access to campus, regional, and national leadership
• Give and receive feedback, strengthening personal and professional skills
• Grow cultural competencies through the opportunity to work as part of a diverse professional and school community
• Receive career pathway development training and opportunities in your second year of service, such as resume coaching, job identification that aligns with your interests, as well as interviewing coaching techniques

DECIDING TO SERVE

It takes a special person to work in education reform and to meet the challenges of today’s schools. Before applying, please consider the following qualifications, skills, and experiences that we have found lead to success as a Teaching Fellow. No one candidate will meet every criteria; however, it is a good exercise to review the list in advance of submitting your application to ensure you believe you have “what it takes” to support middle school students to help them thrive in school and beyond.

• Knowledge of and commitment to Envisioneers mission to serve students in low-income communities
• Experience working or volunteering with students
• Passion for changing the lives of middle school students
• Desire to work with students and families in low-income communities
• Strong academic skills in Math and English
• Ability to coach and mentor others
• Ability to solicit and receive adjusting feedback
• Commitment to teamwork and collaboration with colleagues from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to build relationships and influence students, colleagues, and community members
• Outstanding communication skills, strong detail orientation, time management, and organization skills
• Demonstrated leadership ability
• Demonstration of Envisioneers values: Confidence, Curiosity, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Perseverance, Teamwork

Educational requirements Preferred:

• 48 credit hours or equivalent at an accredited post-secondary institution (community college, college, or university) OR passing score on the instructional aide exam.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

National Teaching Fellows receive an annual living stipend paid out in bi-weekly installments of up to $1363.64 gross. Please note that the living wage is subject to tax.

In addition to this stipend, Teaching Fellows are eligible to receive these benefits while they are serving or upon successful completion of at least 1700 hours of service through June 2025.

• Segal Education Award up to $10,000 for each completed year of service (there are hundreds of schools that match the Education Award, $6,000)
• Forbearance of Student loans for qualified loans during your two years of service
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance is provided to you free of charge for the duration of your service
• Childcare benefits to assist with the costs of childcare during your 2 years of service
• National Network of AmeriCorps Members and alumni who are available to support you during service year and future
• Ongoing Professional Development and other learning opportunities throughout service commitment

APPLICATION PROCESS

You can expect to interview with members of our leadership to share about your passion for education, youth development and service.

PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND HEALTH & SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Serving as an AmeriCorps National Teaching Fellow with Envisioneers requires members to be able to meet essential requirements in the following categories:

• Physical Requirements: Frequent movement and physical abilities to perform writing, communication and visual responsibilities are key in this service role.
• Health and Safety: Ability to maintain safety and respond to safety situations that commonly occur at schools.
• Environmental Conditions: Placement in urban school settings comes with exposure to many factors.
• Technology/Equipment Use: There are baseline technology requirements in this position that require the ability to use and leverage a computer and other technology aids in schools.

To learn more about specifics within these areas, please contact a member of our Talent Team for more information.

KEEPING SCHOOLS SAFE

Qualified candidates are required to successfully complete local and AmeriCorps-directed criminal history and sexual offender checks. The requirements for clearance differ by region and school district based on applicable law and what are the defined allowable convictions locally.

You can learn more about AmeriCorps required checks by clicking here. Please note allowable offenses are dictated by the local municipality and can change at the discretion of local districts.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

Envisioneers is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, cultural heritage, ancestry, political belief, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability or veteran status. Envisioneers is compliant with the American with Disabilities Act and we are committed to making special accommodations for your interview or work as a member of our team.

If specific accommodations are needed during your interview, and/or you have longer-term accommodation needs in order to fulfill the essential functions of this service opportunity, please contact a member of the Envisioneers talent team and we will work to accommodate your needs.

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