Chess Specialist

Harlem Children's Zone • New York, NY

9h • $25 - $30 • Onsite

About The Position

Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) is seeking enthusiastic, dedicated, and mission-aligned part-time Activity Specialists to guide students in after-school activities. The Activity Specialist will foster creativity and develop special interests in students through weekly lesson plans, activities, and creative projects related to their specialty. This role involves teaching, facilitating, and promoting lifetime decision-making, identifying values, communication, and critical thinking. HCZ is a world-renowned education and poverty-fighting organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty through comprehensive programming.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED (degree preferred)
• 1+ years of teaching experience
• Commitment to Youth Development and the mission and programs of HCZ
• Ability to create lesson plans related to the class subject matter and implement project based learning in the curriculum
• Must have at least one year of teaching experience
• Excellent planning, organization, communication, and time management skills
• Ability to provide consistent and positive instruction as well as receive constructive criticism
• Energetic, motivated self-starter and a team player
• Must be able to work independently as well as collaboratively on projects with staff and students and full curriculum

Nice To Haves

• Beginner Chess Instruction
• Intermediate & Advanced Strategy
• Chess Puzzles and Problem Solving
• Tournament Play & Match Facilitation
• Chess for Youth Development
• Chess for Cognitive & Social Skill Building
• Conservatory training and/or university-level education and practical experience in the content area is preferred (college students currently pursuing degree-level work are also encouraged to apply)
• Passion and experience with arts education involving youth
• Flexibility, creativity, and enthusiasm for young people
• Experience working in youth development and teaching well-developed enrichment courses, social consciousness, self-identity, and efficacy

Responsibilities

• Facilitate weekly lesson plans, activities, and creative projects related to your specialty.
• Teach, facilitate, and promote lifetime decision-making, identifying values, communication, and critical thinking.
• Prepare and develop age and skill-appropriate curriculum, lesson plans, activities, and special projects that fuse the arts and academic competencies.
• Plan and facilitate a project-based unit.
• Attend weekly meetings.
• Work with program participants to develop their artistic, educational, and leadership potential.
• Engage youth in critical thinking, evaluation, risk-taking, rehearsals, hands-on project-based learning, documentation of work, community-building, and activism through the arts.
• Coordinate subject-related trips, guest speakers, special events, student exhibitions, and college trips.
• Share knowledge of the history and current state of African, African-American, and Latino issues and interpret that into diverse learning opportunities.
• Communicate the progress of students and share insights discovered with team members on a regular basis.
• Act as a role model for all students.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

Benefits

• Career advancement
• Paid sick leave
• Employee referral bonus
• Physical wellness discounts
• Commuter benefits
• Additional Benefits (Discounts on flights, hotels, theme parks, concert tickets, and more.)

What This Job Offers

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