Academic Coordinator SY '26-27

Tenacity•Boston, MA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Tenacity has empowered more than 45,000 Massachusetts youth to graduate from high school and achieve post-secondary success through academic enrichment, racket sports, fitness, and life skills development. We provide year-round programs in Boston, Worcester, and Chelsea that build literacy, critical thinking, and healthy habits while fostering supportive relationships between students and staff. Tenacity students consistently exceed local graduation and college completion rates—95% graduate from high school, and 75% pursue or complete post-secondary education, compared to 79% and 38% citywide, respectively. Recognized as a leader in in-school, after-school, and summer learning, Tenacity equips young people with the academic, social, and physical foundation to thrive both on and off the court. The ACE Academy Academic Coordinator supports the successful recruitment, engagement, and retention of middle school students participating in Tenacity’s after-school and summer programs. Under the leadership of the Site Leader, this role plays a key part in delivering high-quality academic, literacy, fitness, and family engagement programming designed to foster students’ personal, social, and academic growth. The Academic Coordinator is responsible for leading all academic programming at an Ace Academy site, ensuring high-quality, equity-centered instruction and strong student outcomes. This role oversees the implementation of Tenacity’s academic curriculum, including lesson planning, data-informed instruction, and delivery of both small- and whole-group learning activities. The Academic Coordinator manages classroom operations and supports associate coordinators, volunteers, and part-time staff while addressing student academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs, including individualized support when needed. In addition to instructional leadership, the Academic Coordinator plays a key role in overall site success by supporting student recruitment, enrollment, attendance, and retention. This role requires flexibility, teamwork, and a passion for youth development, as responsibilities may include occasional evening and weekend events, summer programming, and collaboration with school-day teachers and family engagement teams.

Requirements

Commitment to ensuring equity in the academic program implementation to support students in overcoming systemic inequities.
Instructional and program management experience, preferably with urban, multi-cultural middle school age students including: Experience with successfully managing/overseeing a classroom or youth development group.
Behavior management experience.
Lesson planning/lesson design familiarity.
Strong interpersonal, team development, management, organizational and verbal/written communication.
Have considerable relationship management skills and experience - particularly working with families, as well as teachers and principals.
Proficiency in Microsoft product suites.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred. A focus in education, human services, social work, or a related field is a plus.
Master’s degree a plus.
Some tennis experience a plus.
Driver’s license desired.
Consistent access to a car desired.

Responsibilities

Demonstrated commitment to ensuring equity in the classroom in the areas of support, instruction, and behavior management.
Supervise the entire classroom and instructional experience for students, including management and direction of Tenacity associate coordinators, volunteers, and part-time staff.
Ensure effective implementation of Tenacity's academic curriculum.
Regularly submit weekly lesson plans to site team and/or management in an organized and timely manner, always remaining flexible to feedback.
Develop and regularly revisit instructional plans based on instructional goals and assessment data.
Facilitate both whole group and small group activities based on student needs.
Manage student needs and behaviors during academic groups. When appropriate, ensure students are offered one-on-one support.
Support the integration and synergy of academic and tennis/fitness activities, especially in the area of life skills.
Play a supportive role in the overall success of the site, which includes but is not limited to: Recruitment, selection and registration of middle school students for the Ace Academy Program.
Maintenance of high student retention rates and site attendance
Meeting expected student achievement
Co-plan and attend events, field trips, and other activities, including some evening and/or weekend events.
Build and manage highly effective relationships with the teachers and families to discuss individual student progress, assessment data, and ways to better meet the needs of the students and school.
Participate regularly in school meetings, including but not limited to weekly content or student support meetings, student-specific meetings such as IEP meetings, the Instructional Leadership Team, school wide assessment reflection sessions, and professional development sessions.
Exhibit a desire to collaborate and share best-practices with coordinators from all Ace Academy sites.
During the summer, work either in our Summer Tennis and Reading program or perform preparatory work for next year's Ace Academy program as deemed appropriate by the Chief of the Pathway to Post-Secondary Success.
Expectations for this position include assistance in other program areas such as Family Engagement.