Program Assistant

Program Assistant (two positions available)

Employment Type: Part-Time, hourly. 10 to 25 hours per week

Reports To: Associate Director of School Programs, Senior Manager of Community Programs or Manager of In School Programs pending schedule

Department: Programs

826DC is an award-winning youth writing and publishing center serving students ages 6 to 18 in the District of Columbia since 2008. We believe that great leaps in learning can happen with one on-one attention and that all youth deserve the opportunity to share their stories widely through writing. In service to our commitment to amplifying student voices, 826DC’s young authors have been featured in twenty one professional anthologies, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and on NPR and CBS News.

826DC is part of a national network of youth writing centers, 826 National, which was founded by author Dave Eggers and veteran educator Nínive Caligari and was voted one of the top 30 companies to work for by GOOD Magazine. 826 National has garnered the American Literacy Prize from the Library of Congress for its pioneering work to eradicate illiteracy in the United States, and 826DC was honored with the Mayor’s Arts Award for Outstanding Contribution to Arts Education in the District of Columbia.

Purpose:

The Program Assistant will support the execution of 826DC's on-site and in school programming for DC students ranging from Kindergarten to 12th grade. Assignment to programs will be based on availability.

The assistants will be responsible for supporting our in-school programs at schools across DC and our After-School Writing Lab for students in 1st to 8th grade based at our Writing Lab in Columbia Heights. For assistants assigned to After School Writing Lab, they will be responsible for coordinating and executing our “walking bus” transportation for students from our partner schools and organizations (including Harriet Tubman Elementary School, Hubbard Place and likely one other location.)

Duties and Responsibilities

Program Planning and Facilitation:

• Support the Programs Department in executing 826DC’s on and off-site programming
• Pick up cohort of up to 20 students from partner schools and/or organizations at the end of the school day, and walk them to 826DC writing lab. In addition to ensuring student safety, this time is used for relationship building through games, discussion questions and other activities to keep students focused and engaged.
• Communicate with school/partner staff to coordinate school pick up
• Support students in 1:1 and small group settings
• Support the copyediting, proofreading, and production process for chapbook publications
• Adhere to 826DC’s approach to working with and supporting students of all ages through positive youth development and experiential learning; support students who participate in 826DC programming with positive reinforcement, positive engagement and redirection
• Support the research and development of programming lesson plans and curriculum
• Support and/or create on-site and off-site writing workshops that develop student writing skills, including students with learning differences, English Language Learners, students with disabilities, and students from diverse backgrounds
• Participate in required local travel to programming locations, including travel by Metro (train/bus), personal vehicle, and/or walking distances of up to 1 mile

General Program Administration and Support

As part of developing and increasing 826DC’s program goals, the Programs Coordinator will perform tasks including, but not limited to:

• Maintaining a safe and inclusive environment during programming as relates to 826DC’s core values;
• Support with data collection and survey administration
• And other duties as assigned and reasonable within the scope of the aforementioned job description.

Qualifications

• At least 1 year working with students ages 6 to 18 in school or community-based setting and interested in developing professionally as an educator .
• Interest in developing professionally as an educator
• Strong organizational and administrative skills. Ability to work effectively independently and collaboratively.
• Believes enthusiastically in the mission of 826DC.
• Ability to pass DCPS clearance process
• Availability to work 10 to 25 hours Monday to Friday between 9am and 6:30pm
• Spanish language ability is a plus

The Program assistants will work 10 to 25 hours/week at a rate of $25 to $30 an hour based on experience. A schedule will be mutually agreed to upon hire. The rate is $25 to $30/hour

Application

Please submit a resume and cover letter to HR@826dc.org with the subject line Program Assistant. In your cover letter, please include your preferred weekly hours (10 to 25/week) and your availability to be onsite in programs Monday to Friday between 9am and 6:30pm.

Applicants of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 826DC is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages persons of color, women, LGPTQIA persons, and persons with disabilities to apply for this position

Spanish language ability is a plus