Job Information
Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) 12th Grade Writing Instructor (Summer 2024) in New York, New York
Title: 12th Grade Writing Instructor
Reports To: Senior Manager of Operations & Instruction
FLSA: Part-time, Seasonal
Location: New York City, in-person.
Compensation: $50/hr
Dates:
Boot Camp: Orientation in early August; Instruction: M-F August 5-16
Fall Saturday Academy: Orientation in early September; Instruction: 10 Saturdays from September to January.
LOCATION
This is a part-time, in-person position based out of our New York City office. All duties is expected to be performed on-site with the understanding that government and public health guidelines will help determine the extent to which it is safe to carry out in-person and onsite activities.
All candidates must be within commutable distance of SEO’s offices at 55 Exchange Place, New York, NY 10005, upon hire.
ABOUT SEO
For more than 60 years, SEO has created a more equitable society by closing the educational and career opportunity gap for ambitious Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Native American young people. All are welcome to apply to our programs.
Instructors will join SEO’s community of passionate educators to implement a rigorous, original college prep curriculum for motivated and driven high school students. Instructors promote depth of understanding and skill acquisition by serving as a coach and facilitator of learning.
Available Positions:
Writing Instructor: Instructors will be hired to assist in college-essay writing, provide high level written feedback, as well as provide additional writing support at Writing Center. A written hiring task and mini demo lesson are part of the application.
Semesters: Preference will be given to candidates who can commit to both Boot Camp (August 5-16) and Fall Saturday Academy (September to January) semesters. However, you may also apply for only one semester. Please indicate which you are applying for (both Boot Camp and Fall, only Boot Camp, or only Fall).
Courses by Semester:
Boot Camp is an intensive 2-week program with a focus on college admissions for 12th grade Scholars. Fall Saturday Academy continues this focus on college admissions on a weekly basis.
The Sites:
12th Grade Instructors will attend Monday-Thursday Summer Academy Programming at LIU Brooklyn (1 University Plaza, Brooklyn).
During the Fall semester, instructors will also attend periodic Professional Development Sessions, either remotely, or at the SEO Office (55 Exchange Place, New York).
Key Instructor Responsibilities:
Instruction & Facilitation – Teach two to three periods of Writing. Follow provided lesson plans and meet lesson objectives, abiding by SEO’s articulated criteria for rigorous instruction and student engagement. Hold Scholars to high expectations, use protocols for student-driven discussion and group work, and promote depth of understanding via questioning.
Navigate Instructional Technologies – Learn and efficiently utilize our instructional technologies such as Brightspace (Learning Management System), Nearpod, GSuite applications, and Zoom chat (instant messaging tool) in a Blended Learning environment.
Content Preparation – Read, internalize, and practice all lesson plans and materials provided by SEO prior to teaching. Implement thoughtful adjustments to pacing and activities based on specific student needs. Reflect on curriculum notes from Lead Instructors & Curriculum Designers and brainstorm content teaching strategies with peers.
Grading and Record-Keeping – Calculate grades according to rubrics and stipulations in provided lesson plans. Provide actionable, growth-oriented feedback to students. Complete all grading in a timely manner and keep the electronic gradebook up to date on Brightspace (our LMS).
Classroom Culture – Project an energetic, engaging, and approachable persona to promote students’ connection to the content, investment in the learning experience, and positive relationship to all members of the community.
Collaboration with SEO Staff and Other Instructors – Plan and work alongside fellow instructors to build optimal experiences for Scholar learning. Collaborate with Scholars’ Program Managers to communicate Scholar celebrations and/or concerns to ensure we are supporting the whole student. Attend all scheduled meetings, professional development trainings, check-ins, and debriefs and respond to all emails and Zoom chats in a timely manner.
Responsiveness to Coaching and Feedback – Meet with your assigned instructional coach (Lead Instructor) at least twice during the semester to receive and implement feedback and recommendations from their classroom observations. Coaching is centered on SEO’s Indicators of Effective Instruction including 1) developing facilitation & protocols, 2) strengthening content & learning, 3) promoting Scholars’ leadership & self-efficacy, and 4) building community.
Dates, Weekly Hours, and Teaching Load by Semester:
Boot Camp (Summer)
Semester Instructor Orientation: Boot Camp Orientation will take place August 1. This mandatory orientation will be held remotely on Zoom. Fall Orientation will take place in early September, specific date tbd, over Zoom.
Instruction: Monday to Friday, 9:00am-3:00pm (instructor schedules may vary)
Instructors are allotted a minimum of 25 hours per week for two weeks of Boot Camp programming. Writing Instructors have additional flex hours for grading and feedback over the semester.
Writing Coaches teach two 50 minute sessions, Writing Class and Writing Center, to one group of about 20 students. They also provide extensive writing feedback and coaching to students.
Saturday Academy (Fall)
Semester Instructor Orientation: Fall Orientation will take place in early September, specific date tbd, over Zoom.
Instruction: 10 Saturdays, September to December, dates tbd, 9:00am-3:00pm (instructor schedules may vary)
Writing Instructors are allotted a minimum of 11 hours per week for the semester (10 Saturdays), including hours for grading and feedback.
Writing Coaches teach two 50 minute sessions, Writing Class and Writing Center, to one group of about 20 students. They also provide extensive writing feedback and coaching to students.
Non-Instructional Support: Instructors may also be asked to staff student support workshops remotely over Zoom on a rolling basis (Friday afternoons and other dates tbd, based on instructor availability).
Competencies:
Mission-Driven – Demonstrated dedication to closing the opportunity gap for underserved and underrepresented students and young professionals
Student-Centered – Alignment with an instructional philosophy that positions teachers as thinking coaches and facilitators of student learning
Organized & Flexible – Adept at processing and acting upon complex logistical information and demonstrates flexibility when needed
Conscientious Communicator – Proactive, reliable, and consistent staff partner who articulates ideas clearly and effectively to both adults and students
Anti-Oppression and Equity Mindedness - Demonstrated commitment to an anti-racist and anti-oppressive teaching and learning framework that engages diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in practice.
Cultural Responsiveness - Awareness of one's own cultural identity and views about difference, and the ability to learn and build on the varying cultural and community norms of Scholars and their families.
Cultural Humility - Ability to apply critical reflection, self-awareness, and self-regulation to manage the influence of bias, power, privilege, and values in working with students and colleagues.
Qualifications:
Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree
Classroom teaching experience, preferably at the high school or early college level.
Comfortable with and skilled at working with and navigating technological learning systems
Understand and practice of student-centered pedagogy
Writing Coaches: expertise and depth of knowledge with college application writing, ELA curricula, high school writing curricula, or is in a graduate degree program for writing
Advisory Instructors: expertise and depth of knowledge in the college admissions process
Meticulous attention to detail and deadline-driven
Experience with College Admissions and Access
Knowledge and experience with Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Knowledgeable with research-based, culturally responsive, equity-driven, and anti-oppressive instructional practices
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
This position is benefits ineligible in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations.
The compensation listed in this posting reflects what SEO believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and SEO reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time.
SEO EEOC Policy
At SEO we are committed to cultivating a team that embodies the backgrounds and experiences of the constituencies we serve and the communities we live in, and a workplace that reflects the impact we make in the world. Candidates from all communities – including people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ Community, veterans, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Equal Employment Opportunity is not just the law, it is our commitment.
Sponsors for Educational Opportunity is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer – M/F/D/V. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other legally protected status.
If you need accommodation while applying for a role with SEO, due to a disability, please email SEO Talent (seotalent@seo-usa.org) .