About the Program
GEMS – Gaining Empowerment in Middle School is an innovative new curriculum-based program designed for children of incarcerated parents at the middle school grade level. GEMS applies a holistic approach to address many of the challenges facing at-risk youth and their families. The curriculum fosters brain development, as well as social and emotional learning skills, through a variety of cognitive learning activities and peer to peer discussion.
About the Role
The GEMS instructor will be responsible for successfully facilitating one-hour classroom instruction to students in four or more classes, across three school districts, as well as collecting and analyzing student data. The GEMS instructor will also be responsible for planning and conducting family outreach and participating in events planned by COCI, each assigned campus, and the local community. The instructor will be trained on the GEMS program and curriculum. The anticipated work schedule is 20 hours weekly.
Requirements
Follow the GEMS curriculum to provide instruction for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.
Partner with school administrators and counselors to improve attendance, grades and middle school graduation rates.
Engage families and caretakers to strengthen the support students receive at home.
Coordinate with volunteers to assist in the classroom, and serve as role-models/mentors, guest speakers, or tutors for students.
Work with GEMS Program Director and COCI’s Executive Director to organize external activities for the students (field trips, summer camps).
Collect and input student/caregiver information and note their progress in our databases.
Education and Experience
▪ Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
▪ Working knowledge of computers and related software comprised of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook).
▪ Excellent interpersonal verbal and written communication skills.
▪ Familiar with social and emotional learning
▪ Self-motivated and innovative thinker with the ability to adapt and execute new ideas.
▪ Classroom management skills.
▪ Strong organization and time management skills.
▪ High level of integrity and desire to work with this student population.
▪ Use of personal vehicle to travel between campuses and to and from events, up to 5 hours weekly.
Preferred Skills
▪ Bilingual in English/Spanish
▪ Two years teaching experience in a classroom (middle school aged students preferred)
▪ Teaching certification
▪ Experience working with at-risk youth.