Middle School Academic Coordinator

About SquashBusters:

SquashBusters (SQB) is a 29-year-old sports-based youth development program that uses a combination of squash, fitness, academic support and enrichment, community service, and mentoring to improve the lives of youth in Boston, Lawrence, and Providence. SquashBusters' mission is to challenge and nurture youth in these cities - as students, athletes, and citizens - so that they can recognize and fulfill their greatest potential in life. SquashBusters currently serves 300 middle school and high school students who practice three days a week throughout the school year and participate in weekend practices, tournaments, and summer opportunities. After high school graduation, students join the Post-Secondary Success Program, and a dedicated staff team supports them in their chosen post-secondary path, and provides career development, internship placement, and employment opportunities. SquashBusters currently serves180 post-secondary students, and with our first class of Providence post-secondary students, the program is growing. In Boston, programming takes place at the Badger-Rosen SquashBusters Center located on Northeastern University’s campus. In Providence, we work and play out of the Gorgi SquashBusters Center on the campus of Moses Brown School. In Lawrence, we recently opened our own state of the art facility, the New Balance Foundation SquashBusters Center in partnership with the city. Our core values are Love, Honesty, Attention, Teamwork and High Standards. Do these match yours?

The Role:

The SquashBusters Middle School Academic Coordinator is responsible for planning and running homework help sessions, special events and academic enrichment programming for 6th-8th graders. Additionally, the Middle School Academic Coordinator will plan and coordinate sessions that support 8th graders with their high school planning and applications. As a member of the program team, they will collaborate with the Executive Director of Programming and all program staff to ensure an integrated approach to SQB academic, sport and character development programs. Through these programs, the program staff will challenge, nurture, and hold accountable SQB youth so that they recognize and fulfill their potential.

Location: Lawrence, Massachusetts

Reports To: Executive Director of Programming

Responsibilities:

Program Delivery: Day-to-Day

• Directly support a caseload of 6th-8th grade students across SQB's program pillars: college, character, and health.
• Plan, supervise, and direct impactful and innovative enrichment activities to help students persist through middle school, as well as to prepare them for the transition from middle to high school.
• Plan, supervise, and direct daily homework help sessions to support students’ schoolwork and prepare supplemental activities for students who have completed their homework.
• Work with students and families to navigate and successfully complete the high school choice, ISEE test prep, and/or private school application process with a focus on fit for each family.
• Recruit and/or assist in recruiting ~40 student try-outs per year for the SQB program.
• Manage academic volunteers during homework and academic enrichment sessions.
• Meet with colleagues to coordinate and complete shared responsibilities.
• Build a culture of community, leading from a transformative relationship and youth development perspective, within the middle school cohort.
• Create and maintain documentation of team building, leadership, and enrichment activities.
• Drive students to/from practices and special events in SquashBusters vehicles 2-3 times/week.

Outreach/Engagement

• Communicate consistently with parents/guardians to ensure required forms (annual paperwork, waivers, permission slips etc.) are complete and updated regularly.
• Communicate with parents/guardians so that they feel like part of the SQB community and can support their student’s growth and development at home; meet regularly with families about the secondary school process and their student’s progress as needed.
• Organize and lead parent/guardian meetings as needed.
• Monitor students’ progress in school by communicating with students’ teachers, advisors, and guidance counselors as needed.
• Communicate with partner community organizations to diversify academic enrichment sessions for students.

Special Event Management

• Coordinate and implement team building, summer opportunities, and other special programs. Organize and participate in social events and field trips for appropriate grade levels.
• Identify and organize workshops or guest speakers on relevant topics throughout the year.
• Chaperone approximately three-four annual overnight trips for SquashBusters participants.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Organize schedules and materials and collect and enter student data in a Salesforce database.
• Collect report cards and update details onto Salesforce.
• Maintain classroom to create inviting, productive space for students and prepare the classroom for daily use.
• Assist with implementation of program evaluation (T-Reports).
• Plan general weekly/monthly schedule with colleagues and keep appropriate calendars updated.
• Document and track program spending and work with team to manage program budget.

Relationships: At the heart of SQB mission is the power of transformative relationships (adapted from the Search Institute). Thus, the Academic Coordinator should:

• Express care: Believe in, encourage, and support athletes with warmth and dependability.
• Challenge growth: Maintain high expectations and hold athletes accountable.
• Provide support: Empower and advocate for athletes through guidance.
• Share power: Collaborate with athletes, respecting their voices and contributions.
• Expand possibilities: Connect athletes to new opportunities and inspire them to dream big.

Qualifications:

• Two or more years of relevant professional experience.
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from a variety of backgrounds.
• A passion for educational opportunity, and a belief in the potential for athletic participation to both drive academic excellence and expand opportunities for success in school and beyond.
• Passion for working with young people and experience developing trusting relationships with youth and families.
• Ability to work independently and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong teamwork, organization, communication, and group facilitation skills.
• A willingness to engage in physical activity with students.
• Ability to regularly work until 6:30 PM on weekdays and to work occasional weekend hours (flex time offered).
• Valid driver’s license with a clean record and a willingness to drive students to and from SQB in a company van.
• Spanish language proficiency and/or prior participation in diversity training, a plus.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Annual salary, starting rate of $50,000, commensurate with experience.
• Retirement plan with employer matching up to 5%.

1. 5 paid company holidays and days off plus an additional 16 vacation days (with some restrictions).

• Subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance available.
• Employer paid life and long-term disability insurance.
• Free Employee Assistance Program, a cell phone subsidy, and public transportation and parking subsidies available.

To Apply:

Please send a resume and brief letter of interest addressed to the Executive Director of Programming, Vicky Flamenco at the following email address: recruiting@squashbusters.org.

SquashBusters is an equal opportunity employer and strives to reflect the diverse community it serves. SquashBusters is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion and looks to all its staff members to foster and promote its values.