Achievement Fellow

The Achievement Fellow role is a full-time stipend volunteer position, made available through partnership with the AmeriCorps Program. The term of service will begin in September and end in August, with the option to renew for a second term. To successfully complete the AmeriCorps program, the individual must complete 1700 service hours. The position includes both direct involvement with scholars, and administrative tasks, to support Higher Achievement’s progressive, skills-based cultural and academic model. Working closely with the Center Director and Manager of Instruction, the Achievement Fellow will manage relationships and operations necessary to run a successful Achievement Center, providing year-round academic programming for up to 100 middle school students. Responsibilities will focus on four key areas:
- Academic support and instruction
- High school placement
- Communication with teachers and families
- Scholar recruitment

Service Activities

ACADEMIC SUPPORT & INSTRUCTION
Afterschool Academy
-Liaison between part-time Achievement Coaches and school teachers.
-Supervise and manage up to 15 scholars three days per week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday).
-Review scholars’ assignment notebooks; help them to prioritize daily assignments, along with setting realistic time-tables with prioritized task-lists for longer-term projects
-Ensure that homework is completed by all scholars to a high degree of quality. High-quality assignments are characterized by a high level of accuracy, an organized and clear presentation, and answers that indicate thinking beyond the surface level.
-Lead two seminars with a group of 15 scholars to gain classroom experience prior to Summer Academy; use Higher Achievement curricula or create your own with guidance from Center Director
-Assist scholars in preparing for upcoming quizzes and tests; coach them to develop strong study skills
-Supervise study hall aides; ensure they are assisting scholars with homework and abiding by Higher Achievement’s expectations
-Answer questions from and re-teach necessary concepts to scholars to achieve mastery
-Coordinate supplemental work initiatives across all study halls
-Reinforce Higher Achievement’s philosophies and positive work culture
-Operate out of the center’s host school for a substantial portion of the work week

Summer Academy
-Attend and lead at least one session of a week-long Summer Teacher Training Institute (June)
-Organize Center events such as Summer Academy Kick-Off, Science Fair, and Olympics of the Mind with scholars, families, and staff
-Serve as the lead High School Placement expert at center, in charge of making sure that rising 8th grade scholars maximize their Summer Academy experience to be fully prepared to apply to top high schools in the fall. This specialized role avoids displacement of summer teachers as our Members have been serving as the experts in high school placement the ten months leading up to Summer Academy. Their role focuses on preparing rising 8th graders for applying to high schools in the fall by teaching high school application essay writing, the high school landscape and identifying top choices of schools for each scholar to apply.
-Assume leadership roles including working with rising 7th and 8th grade scholars on the high school placement process
-Lead high school field trips and discussions for rising 8th grade scholars
-Foster relationships with scholar families and make outreach calls on a regular basis
-Implement Higher Achievement’s high standards of a Learning Community in the classroom, maintaining high expectations for scholars, praising their hard work and issuing incentives and consequences when necessary
-Reinforce Higher Achievement’s philosophies and positive work culture with scholars
-Work collaboratively as a member of the center leadership team, in collaboration with a team of Summer Academy teachers to share best practices, lesson planning, classroom management, academic goals, and duties required to run Center, including meal and recess duties. Hold a specific focus on infusing center-specific programming with high school placement emphasis
-Supervise groups of as many as 25 scholars on weekly field trips to locations across the region and on one three-day, overnight trip to a university

HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT
-Track all scholar progress towards completing high school applications
-Manage scholars’ high school placement portfolios including 7th and 8th grade report cards and test scores
-Through trainings, serve as on-site “expert” in high school placement process
-Manage high school placement mentors and scholars
-Serve as main point of contact for families regarding high school placement process
-Administer SSAT prep/review; support High School Fair;
-Participate in all individual parent/guardian meetings with scholars

COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILIES, TEACHERS, AND STAFF
-Serve as a bridge between Afterschool Academy and scholars’ schools - to include faculty team meetings, classroom observations, and parent/teacher conferences
-Communicate with scholars’ teachers and families to secure quarterly report cards and annual standardized test scores for scholar data analysis
-Track scholar progress; communicate with scholars’ teachers and families when concerns or successes arise
-Participate in Center Staff meetings; discuss individual scholar needs and map plans to ensure scholar progress.
-Support Higher Achievement staff with ideas and creative problem solving support

SCHOLAR RECRUITMENT
-Manage and facilitate all aspects of new scholar recruitment, with support from Center Director
-Schedule presentations, conduct scholar interviews, and new family outreach

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

Community Need Addressed

• 65% of scholars will increase one letter grade in math and reading, or maintain As and Bs.
• 60% of scholars will improve their school attendance, or maintain fewer than five absences.
• 85% of alumni will advance to top high schools.

Position Outcomes

Outcome(s): 100% of 8th grade scholars will apply to at least 3 college-preparatory high schools and 85% will gain acceptance to at least 1 college-preparatory high school
Outcome(s): 7th and 8th grade scholars complete summer programming with forward progress towards high school placement goals. Scholars are excited to explore high school placement options during summer programming.
Outcome(s): Study Hall will operate successfully with focused, productive scholars who are treated with respect and held to high expectations.
Outcome(s): Higher Achievement maintains strong and consistent communication with schools, teachers, and families so that strategies are sought and scholars’ needs are adequately met.
Outcome(s): Full rosters (approximately 30 per grade) to start summer programming.

Benefits

Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Student loan forbearance, Training

DC WMATA (metro) benefits

Education Benefits

CPR/First Aid Mandated Reporter

Skills you will gain

Time management, public speaking, youth development, organization, nonprofit, recruitment of volunteers, family engagement, classroom management, behavior management

Competencies You Will Develop

• Activity Types Hands On Activities, Office Activities, Professional Activities
• Focus Areas Education & Youth
• Length of Service 12 Months
• Education Requirements GED
• Placement Individual and Team Placements
• Service Setting Community-based Nonprofit, Middle School
• Weekly Training Hours 4