Academic Mentor

EL PUENTE DE WILLIAMSBURG INC • New York, NY

8d • $25 - $25 • Onsite

About The Position

El Puente is seeking an engaging, dependable, and community-centered Academic Mentor to help young people strengthen academic skills, confidence, and love of learning. The role provides individualized and small-group academic assistance, including homework help, literacy and math development, study skills, test preparation, and enrichment activities. The Academic Mentor helps participants work toward greater academic independence and achievement in a supportive after-school environment that is encouraging, culturally responsive, and attentive to each young person’s development.

The Academic Mentor reports to the Program Director and collaborates with program leadership, school-based staff, families, and other youth development staff. In addition to academic support, the position builds meaningful relationships with participants, supports family engagement, contributes to enrichment activities, and helps young people develop the confidence and skills to advocate for themselves and their communities. The position is part-time and in person in Brooklyn, New York, at $25 per hour for 15 hours per week.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience tutoring, mentoring, teaching, or providing academic support to children or adolescents.
• Ability to provide strong academic support in mathematics, English language arts, reading, and writing.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to explain academic concepts clearly, encouragingly, and in an age-appropriate manner.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a youth development team.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality when working with young people and families.
• Ability to successfully complete required background checks, clearances, and fingerprinting.

Nice To Haves

• College enrollment or completion.
• Current college student or graduate with coursework or a degree in Education, Psychology, Social Work, Human Services, Youth Development, English, Mathematics, or a related field.
• Experience working with youth in after-school, school-based, tutoring, summer, or community-based programs.
• Experience developing or facilitating academic lessons, literacy interventions, or enrichment activities.
• Experience supporting youth-led projects.
• Experience developing integrated, theme-based, culturally responsive, or human-rights-centered learning activities.
• Familiarity with New York City public schools and academic expectations.
• Spanish/English bilingual proficiency.
• Demonstrated commitment to El Puente’s mission, values, and community-centered approach.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized and small-group homework assistance and subject-specific academic support.
• Support participants’ mathematics, reading, writing, and other core academic skills.
• Help participants develop study habits, organization, time management, and academic independence.
• Design and facilitate literacy activities and interventions that strengthen reading comprehension, writing, and communication.
• Develop and facilitate study-skills, test-preparation, and academic enrichment activities.
• Identify participants’ academic support needs and work with program leadership on appropriate strategies.
• Encourage participants to set academic goals, recognize progress, and build confidence.
• Provide patient, strengths-based guidance that responds to different learning styles and needs.
• Build supportive and consistent relationships with young people and contribute to El Puente’s team-based mentoring and membership model.
• Create welcoming, structured, inclusive learning environments responsive to young people’s needs.
• Collaborate with staff and participants on educational and enrichment activities beyond homework support.
• Support participants’ critical-thinking, leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Participate in human rights, leadership, cultural, community-building, recreational, and enrichment activities.
• Build positive relationships with parents and caregivers and share appropriate academic resources and strategies.
• Collaborate with program leadership and school-based staff on participants’ academic progress.
• Coordinate with program and school staff regarding portfolio presentations, projects, assessments, and exam preparation.
• Communicate relevant academic needs, progress, and concerns to appropriate program staff.
• Help connect youth and families with additional academic resources when beneficial.
• Meet regularly with program leadership to discuss participant progress, academic priorities, and work plans.
• Collect and review participant academic information and help identify strategies based on student needs and progress.
• Maintain accurate attendance, participant records, and other required documentation.
• Assist with youth and program evaluations as required.
• Prepare lesson plans, learning materials, and academic activities in advance.
• Participate in staff meetings, supervision, professional development, and required trainings.
• Collaborate with program leadership, Group Leaders, school-based staff, and other El Puente team members.
• Assist with participant transitions, including escorting youth from school to the program when required.
• Help keep classrooms and program areas organized, clean, safe, and welcoming.
• Assist with setting up and breaking down program spaces and materials, and provide reasonable support moving supplies when necessary.
• Remain flexible in supporting programming across El Puente locations based on organizational and program needs.
• Perform other related duties that support successful program operations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED