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TITLE: Program Manager, Summer Teaching Fellows (2009-2010)

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit organization that starts and manages outstanding urban charter public schools that close the achievement gap and prepare low-income students to graduate from college. Uncommon builds uncommonly great schools by developing and managing regional networks that are philosophically aligned and highly accountable. Uncommon currently manages sixteen schools serving approximately 3,000 students in New York City, upstate New York, and Newark, New Jersey. Nine new schools will open within Uncommon in the fall of 2010. Uncommon will grow to include nearly 30 schools serving 8,000 students within five years and, ultimately, more than 30 schools, serving 11,000 K to 12th grade students. Uncommon has achieved outstanding academic results based on internal assessments, statewide exams, and graduation milestones. Its schools consistently outperform their district schools and are among the highest-performing urban schools in their cities and states.
Achievement First is a charter school management organization started in July 2003 by the leaders of Amistad Academy, a high performing charter school in New Haven, CT. A non-profit, 501 (c)(3) organization, Achievement First is creating a network of achievement-gap closing charter schools in Connecticut and New York to bring to scale the dramatic, life changing student achievement results produced at Amistad Academy. Achievement First currently operates 17 schools in both NY and CT. Over the next decade, Achievement First will grow to support 30 schools serving over 11,500 students.



GENERAL SUMMARY
The Summer Teaching Fellows Program (STF) is an innovative program that exposes college students to the work and world of public school reform. STF is a partnership between Uncommon Schools and Achievement First. STF gives rising college seniors the opportunity to spend 7 weeks of their summer exploring the teaching profession within the world of high-achieving charter public schools in New York City. A major goal of STF is to increase the diversity of the academic staff within Uncommon and Achievement First schools, and thus we are committed to recruiting Fellows from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.

The program includes hands-on work in elementary or middle school classrooms in NYC, professional development opportunities with school staff, exposure to the reform work within our high performing networks of schools, school visits to a variety of schools, and unique field lessons designed to expose participants to broader issues related to the racial and economic achievement gaps and public education reform. The program will be a true cohort experience with built-in time for socializing and exploring NYC in the summertime. Through their work, participants are expected to acquire considerable education-related knowledge and teaching skills.





ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The Program Manager will be based out of the Uncommon Schools Home Office. He/she will work to manage, expand, and improve upon the Summer Teaching Fellows Program. Projects include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Recruiting, placing, and supporting the Fellows;
• Managing and implementing all aspects of the program; and
• Acting as a liaison between Uncommon Schools and Achievement First for the purposes of the program.

Specific Responsibilities
Outreach and Recruitment
• Work with recruiters at Uncommon Schools and Achievement First to identify key attributes of top candidates.
• Build a highly qualified and diverse pool of rising college seniors who will be selected to join the program for the summer by completing the following:
o Reaching out to mission-aligned programs, colleges, and universities, both locally and nationally;
o Creating long-term talent pipelines for the program;
o Building and maintaining strong relationships with Uncommon Schools and Achievement First;
o Recruiting on-site at colleges and universities through visits and other outreach strategies;
o Working with recruiters and key personnel to identify and cultivate top prospects; and
o Managing the outreach and recruitment process to meet ambitious application and selection goals.

Selection
• Enhance selection process and rubrics.
• Conduct initial candidate screens and select a pool of finalists.
• Collaborate with recruiters and school leaders at Uncommon Schools and Achievement First for final selection of a cohort of Fellows.

Program Implementation
• Manage small team of summer staff to coordinate and manage program.
• Communicate with Fellows from selection process through program completion on everything from pre-service responsibilities to the final farewell event.
• Work with identified personnel at Uncommon Schools and Achievement First to shape the Fellows’ programs at each school site prior to summer program, through mentor identification, scheduling, and program introduction at each school site.
• Organize details and serve as facilitator of weekly field lessons throughout the 7-week program.
• Organize and attend all social events throughout 7-week program.
• Maintain a budget for program with clear records of all expenditures.
• Arrange and attend professional development for Fellows.
• Facilitate meetings with mentors and Fellows.
• Create and conduct pre-service, mid-service, and post-service surveys and adjust program as necessary.
• Serve as primary contact for Fellows in regular check-ins, trouble shooting of any kind, and crisis management.



QUALIFICATIONS
1. Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:
• Passionate belief in the missions of Uncommon Schools and Achievement First
• Commitment to ensuring that people from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds enter and succeed in the field of education
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to speak and write clearly and persuasively
• Excellent organization, time management, problem-solving, and follow-up skills
• Demonstrated ability to successfully handle multiple projects concurrently and within budget
• Ability to work independently, with a team, and with a wide range of constituents
• Sense of urgency


2. Minimum educational level:
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.


COMPENSATION
We offer a competitive compensation package including comprehensive health benefits.

TO APPLY
If you are passionate about improving educational opportunities for historically underserved children and communities, please visit our website and apply online at www.uncommonschools.org/usi/careers/.

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin,
age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.