Activity Specialist - Theater @ PS 169

Center For Family Life in Sunset Park • New York, NY

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Activity Specialist – Theater creates, implements, and facilitates age-appropriate theater activities for school-aged participants as part of a multidisciplinary team at PS 169. The position focuses on providing children with opportunities to engage in theater and music activities and experiences in afterschool and summer programming. The specialist designs standards-based curricula, provides theater and literacy instruction, and helps participants develop and present original scenes and performances based on literature.

The role includes collaborating with colleagues on program-wide productions and events, supervising participants during activities and trips, supporting daily program operations, and taking part in professional development. The specialist is expected to build respectful relationships with children, families, colleagues, and school stakeholders; use restorative group-management approaches; and follow agency and NYC Public School policies. The job is part-time during the school year, scheduled for 20–24 hours per week, with the role running from November or December 2026 through June 2027.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Demonstrable strong theater instruction background.
• Skill in theater-based play and game facilitation.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Experience or skill working with youth of all ages.
• Flexibility and ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Interest in creating positive experiences for groups of youth, including participants with special needs and challenging behaviors.
• Ability to actively engage with children, including walking, bending, standing, squatting, or sitting on the floor.
• Successful completion of a background check and medical clearance after a conditional offer is made and accepted.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual in English and Mandarin, Cantonese, or Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Design age-appropriate, standards-based theater curricula for elementary-aged youth in afterschool and summer programs.
• Provide weekly theater and literacy-development instruction and lead activities for youth of all ages.
• Assist with script writing, conduct rehearsals, and direct an original production based on a piece of literature.
• Incorporate the NYS Learning Standards for the Arts and the NYS Next Generation Learning Standards for English Language Arts into the theater curriculum.
• Submit lesson plans for music activities weekly.
• Use thoughtful group-management skills, including restorative processes rather than punitive discipline, in a non-traditional classroom setting.
• Attend, supervise, and facilitate participant activities on field trips and at off-site locations around New York City.
• Collaborate with participants to create scenes and performances for the program, school, and/or community.
• Plan and collaborate with colleagues to produce program-wide performances.
• Contribute to planning and carrying out special events, staff development training, and community-building activities.
• Support overall program operations, including supervision during meals and snack time, dismissal, and setup and breakdown for special events.
• Attend weekly professional development meetings, staff meetings, and individual meetings with the supervisor.
• Maintain a high energy level and follow agency and NYC Public School policies, including the dress code.
• Build positive working relationships with participants, volunteers, coworkers, supervisors, and families; engage constructively in feedback and professional development.
• Attend occasional holiday camps, extended professional development days, and the CFL Agency-Wide Retreat.

Benefits

• Voluntary life insurance, disability coverage, flexible spending account, and 403(b) retirement plan.
• 12 paid holidays and 2 floating holidays.
• Up to 20 paid vacation days per year.
• One sick day per month.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time