Position: Reports to: Position Term:
Background:
Newcomer Youth Summer Academy Peer Mentor
Youth Education and Partnerships Specialists, Classroom Teachers
Orientation: June 28 2024, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Training: July 1-3 2024, 9:00am – 5:00pm;
Program Dates: July 8, 2024 – August 9, 2024
Shifts: Monday-Thursday 8:00am-12:00pm OR Monday-Thursday 12:00pm-4:00pm; AND ALL Peer Mentors required to be present on Fridays 8:00am – 4:00pm.
Since 1999, the IRC has developed partnerships with New York City public schools, community-based organizations and local colleges and universities to support the positive development of refugee and immigrant youth and their communities in New York City. The Youth Education Program provides year- round programming working directly with refugee and immigrant youth, their parents and families, and their schools.
Position Overview:
The Newcomer Youth Summer Academy is a six-week program focusing on preparing newly arrived immigrant youth to succeed at their grade level in the New York City public school system. Up to 130 students ages 5 – 21 from over 20 countries will participate in academic, creative arts, physical education, and social emotional learning classes. Field Trips are held on Fridays.
Peer Mentors support the students’ academic and social emotional growth during the Academy. Peer Mentors will be placed with a single class of students for the six-week duration of the Academy, supporting all Classroom Teachers to ensure productive and enriching lessons and to serve as positive role models for students.
From Monday to Thursday, Peer Mentors work either the morning shift (8:00am to 12:00pm) or the afternoon shift (12:00pm to 4:00pm). On Fridays, all Peer Mentors work the full day (8:00am to 4:00pm) to support students and staff on field trips.
Major Responsibilities:
- Complete all staff training prior to the start of the program, as well as all program meetings and staff development activities thereafter
- Model appropriate student behavior and academic engagement with the Academy students at all times
- Assist teachers and staff with various classroom activities and lessons on a daily basis
- Assist teachers and staff with various classrom activities and lessons on a daily basis
- Tutor students individually or in small groups at the direction of the teacher
- Assist in supervision of daily student meals and student arrival/dismissal
- Attend all field trips on Fridays and assist teachers and staff in student supervision
- Act as a positive role model for students
- Complete all staff evaluation
- Other tasks as assigned by Classroom Teachers and IRC staff
Requirements:
- Minimum age: 17+ and must be at least a rising high school senior
- Ability to work well with people of diverse cultural backgrounds
- Knowledge of classroom procedures; health and safety precautions a plus.
- Experience working with children and/or peers highly desired
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Strong team player who is self -directed
- Mature, reliable, flexible, and punctual
- Fluency in written and spoken English required. Second language proficiency in relevant language highly desirable (including Arabic, Dari, Farsi, French, Fulani, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, Mandingo, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, Wolof)
- Must be available for all training days and for the entire duration of the program. No exceptions.
Timeline:
Interviews and hiring occur on a rolling basis. Outreach to candidates will begin the week of February 26th, 2024. Applications are due at 11:59pm on May 6, 2024.
Working Environment: The Academy takes place in a centrally located New York City public school. All participants must be willing to relocate to New York City for the entirety of the Program.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity: IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.
Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.