Language Arts Instuctor

Job Summary

About the University of Utah First Star Academy: First Star is a national college-access program with the mission of improving the education outcomes for youth in foster care. There are currently fifteen First Star Academies partnered with universities, child welfare agencies and school systems across the country. The program model focuses on academics, life-skills and self-advocacy and engages our scholars throughout all four years of their high school career. First Star hosts one Saturday Academy each month during the academic year and a month-long residential Summer Academy at the University of Utah during the summer.

About the position: Summer Academy Instructors play a critical role in the success of the Academy. The Instructors are responsible for developing the curriculum for the courses they will be teaching, teaching the course(s), and providing feedback on each youth's progress. The course should be aligned with the state curriculum standards and encourage successful learning practices.

We are looking for one math instructor to teach during the academy, June 23rd - July 18th, Monday - Friday, 9:00am to 12:00pm. The teacher would instruct roughly 15 students from 9am to 10am and then switch groups with the other instructors, covering three hour-long periods across three student groups. There would also be a teaching assistant present in the classroom. Outside this 3-hour morning block of teaching, the position would include hours before June 23rd planning the curriculum based off student assessments that we are currently conducting and occasional evening tutoring sessions during the Summer Academy.

Our ideal candidate would be interested and available in continuing curriculum development and teaching for Summer Academy the following academic year.

Responsibilities

• Prepare a pre- and post-test in their subject area to be administered at the beginning and the end of the Summer Academy.
• Work with Academy Director to create a curriculum that provides at least two hours of appropriate instruction to youth Monday through Friday each week of the Summer Academy.
• Provide written comments and evaluations of each participating youth, including recommendation for youth's continuing development in the subject area of instruction, within 7 days of the conclusion of the Summer Academy.
• Supervise youth during all Summer Academy classroom instruction.
• Provide academic support and additional tutoring opportunities to youth during classes.
• Ensure compliance with the Academy's and University of Utah's code of conduct.
• Prepare for and actively participate in staff training, meetings, and supervisory conferences, as needed.
• Model appropriate behavior for youth and others including productive learning environments, cleanliness, punctuality, language choice, and personal representation.
• Maintain positive relationships with Academy staff, university staff, and the youths' caregivers and social workers.

Minimum Qualifications

• Holds a Bachelor's Degree and is certified by the State to teach in the content area they are hired for.
• Previous experience in education, a local school system classroom setting or other work experience with youth in a classroom setting, preferred.
• Ability to work as a team member with Academy Administration staff, direct youth coaches in the classroom, and other campus staff.
• Responsible, friendly, enthusiastic, patient and willing to learn.
• Strong organization and communication skills.
• Preference given to instructors who have experienced with foster care or at-risk youth.
• Ability to pass a Level 2 background check.

Preferences

• Holds a Bachelor's Degree and is certified by the State to teach in the content area for which they are hired.
• Previous experience in education, a local school system classroom setting, or other work experience with youth in a classroom setting, preferred.
• Ability to work as a team member with Academy Administration staff, direct youth coaches in the classroom, and other campus staff.
• Responsible, friendly, enthusiastic, patient, and willing to learn.
• Strong organization and communication skills.
• Preference given to instructors who have experience with foster care or at-risk youth.
• Ability to pass a Level 2 background check.