Center Aide

Higher Achievement is a nationally acclaimed youth development organization focusing on high school placement opportunities for middle school scholars. We are seeking a Center Aide in 2025 with orientation dates as soon as January 2025! If your passion is working with youth and making a difference through culture principles of respect, spirit, collaboration, and excellence, Higher Achievement is for you!

Paid Training provided! Higher Achievement invests in our staff. Attend a multi-day PAID orientation and training preceding work start! Periodic trainings and professional development opportunities throughout the Afterschool Academy Program Year are part of our professional development model. Hours are supportive of school curriculum; current college students are encouraged to apply.

Program Model: Higher Achievement showers our scholars with academic opportunities through a proven year-round program model that includes afterschool programming from September-May (precise dates vary by center) and summer initiatives such as college trips and summer meetings with all Higher Achievement families. Core programming that takes place within Afterschool Academy consists of learning blocks, mentoring, community meetings, electives, and field trips.

Learning Blocks

• Learning Blocks: Scholars receive academic support, including HW help, HS application prep, or supplemental work aligned to in-school content.

Mentoring

• Mentoring: In small groups of 3-4 scholars, scholars work with a Mentor as they complete our High School Readiness curriculum which focuses on community exploration, learning about high schools, goal setting, and high school application preparation.

Community Meeting

• Community Meeting: Scholars engage in activities, challenges, and projects focused on relationship-building and SEL skills.

Electives

• Electives: Multiple times a week, scholars have the opportunity to participate in enrichment opportunities that vary across sites. Examples of electives are art, yoga, chess, dance, sports, cooking, and robotics.

Field Trips

• Field Trips: Field trips are exposure opportunities for scholars and are offered 3x during the year: fall, spring, and summer (college trip).

Job Details:

• Start Date: January 2025
• Supervisor: Learning Directors
• Position Status: Part-Time, Non-Exempt
• Hours: 3-4 days per week, Monday-Thursday, approximately 3:30-6:30 pm. Approximately 1-2 additional monthly hours of planning time may be required. Specific hours dependent on center placement.
• Duration: Indefinite, work available during Afterschool Academy Year, which runs September/October through May/June, dependent on center placement.
• Remote Status: Onsite work required
• Compensation: $20 per hour
• Perks: Completion Bonus Available!
• To Apply: Interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately with resume, to https://higherachievement.org/about/careers/ with a priority deadline of January 7, 2024, 12 midnight. Apply to each city of interest. The position will remain open until all spots are filled.

Center Location Openings:

DC Metro Area (Prince Georges County, MD & Washington, DC)

• Brookland (Ward 5) Center: Brookland Middle School: 1150 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20018
• Greenbelt Center: Greenbelt Middle School: 6301 Breezewood Dr, Greenbelt, MD 20770
• Ward 4 Center: Ida B Wells Middle School: 405 Sheridan St NW, Washington, DC 20011
• Ward 6 Center: Eliot-Hine Middle School: 1830 Constitution Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002
• Ward 7 Center: Kelly Miller Middle School: 301 49th Street NE, Washington, DC 2001

What you'll do! Responsibilities

Instructional

• Effectively manage an intensive and structured classroom (Learning Block) of up to 15 scholars, ensuring homework is completed to a high degree of quality.
• Assist scholars in preparing for upcoming quizzes, tests, and projects and coach them to develop strong study skills.
• Support and guide any classroom volunteers to assist scholars with homework and/or upcoming assignments.
• Provide supplemental work or other academic activities for scholars who complete their homework or have been identified as needing additional help.
• Reinforce Higher Achievement's philosophies and positive work culture by holding scholars to high expectations.
• Create a positive and supportive classroom environment where scholars feel comfortable asking for assistance.
• Track scholar progress using the center's established tracking mechanisms.

Stay Organized! Administrative

• Support center staff in completing various administrative tasks including greeting and checking-in scholars, setting up and serving dinner, data entry, making phone calls to parents and families, preparing materials for the day, and ensuring that host site space is left clean and in good condition.
• Supervise scholars during transitions and other center activities, such as Community Meeting and recess.
• Communicate with families regarding their child's progress during Higher Achievement.
• Uphold and enforce Higher Achievement's culture of high expectations and positive learning environment.
• Attend scheduled center staff meetings.

Get Creative! Elective Management

• Determine an engaging elective that you will facilitate multiple days a week.
• Design the activities to be included in the elective, outlining objectives and activities on a monthly basis.
• Be prepared with a daily plan to facilitate activities to ensure engagement, safety, and structure.
• Communicate supply needs to Learning Director in a timely manner.

What you need! Requirements

• Commitment to the mission and work of Higher Achievement.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; current college students encouraged to apply.
• Experience with data entry and/or administrative tasks strongly preferred.
• Experience working with youth required; experience with middle school students in a classroom setting is strongly preferred.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Comfortable with technology.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) candidates strongly encouraged to apply.
• Background & Clearance Check: Requires a criminal background check prior to hire, including state/local municipalities, school district clearances, and grant-required checks.

Core Competencies: Higher Achievement values our core competencies, expecting competitive applications to demonstrate strengths in Relationship Building, Candid Communications, Pursuit of Excellence, Growth Mindset, and Solutions-Oriented.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: Work is regularly performed in a school setting. Employee may spend long periods of time sitting, standing, and walking, and climb stairs. Employee regularly lifts, carries, and positions objects weighing up to 20 pounds. Regular use of a computer and keyboard, telephone, and face-to-face communication in small and large group settings with youth and adults.

About Higher Achievement: Higher Achievement believes that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. We provide year-round, multi-year support for students in the 5th-8th grades, ensuring their transition to high school programs that keep them on track for continuous education.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Higher Achievement is committed to being an anti-racist and inclusive organization, working to improve equity and inclusion in all aspects of our organizational culture and operations.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.