With a strong record of developing reciprocal, respectful, active, and democratic partnerships, George Washington University (GW) in downtown Washington DC is seeking a VISTA to serve as an Outreach, Training and Evaluation VISTA in the Out of School Time Programs team (OSTP) in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). The VISTA will increase the ability of OSTP to conduct outreach to stakeholders (families, community partners, other government agencies), design and implement training of over 700 staff of OSTP after-school programs, and measure program quality. The VISTA will help develop regular stakeholder communications, plans for ongoing professional development, and assessment tools to gather and analyze data related to programs and to community and student participation. The VISTA will work for one year with GW and DCPS staff and community members to build education-related knowledge, experience, planning, organizing, evaluation, and communication skills. This is a full-time (40hrs a week) 12-month service term with the GW/DCPS AmeriCorps VISTA Program. The project term is based on the start date.
Service Activities
- Visit afterschool program sites to gather information and document observations
- Write articles for monthly newsletters, edit other program communications, and develop communications for social media
- Prepare surveys of various stakeholder groups and analyze survey results
- Write reports, compile data for State and Federal reports, and disseminate findings
- Reach out to stakeholders through reports, meetings, training, and technical assistance
- Utilize survey data and other needs assessment measures to collaboratively plan for three professional development events per year
- Plan and implement event logistics for staff training (virtual and/or in-person)
Community Need Addressed
Address achievement gaps in education by working with the DC Public School's Central Office to assess and improve program quality related to DCPS out of school time programs
Position Outcomes
- Improved capacity to gather data and assess program quality, related to DCPS out of school time programs
- On-time, comprehensive reporting to state and federal government agencies of program activity and outcomes
- Increased capacity of out of school time programs to affect students’ academic performance and engagement in varied enrichment experiences
- Identification of areas of strength and growth for DCPS out of school time programming
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Relocation allowance (if applicable), Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
- Networking opportunities with DCPS, Community Organizations, and GWU
- Access to GWU Campus Amenities (Library, Adobe Suite)
- Learning opportunities through conferences, events, etc.
Skills you will gain
education-related knowledge and experience, data collection, data analysis, project management, and communication skills.
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Drive decision making, Effectively delegate tasks, Facilitate group planning, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment