Cornerstone Group Leader

EL PUENTE DE WILLIAMSBURG INC•New York, NY

7d•$18 - $18

About The Position

El Puente seeks a dedicated and socially conscious Group Leader to join our Cornerstone team. The position will utilize El Puente’s model for youth leadership and community development to nurture the next generation of leaders The Group Leader will foster an atmosphere of fun, learning, growth, and teamwork, serving as a mentor to El Puente’s youth members. A Group Leader is a professional in charge of guiding, monitoring, and leading an entire group. They are responsible for motivating youth as well as inspiring positive engagement and development. This position reports directly to the Program Director and Assistant Program Director. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, flexible, team-oriented environment and is motivated by challenges. They will be able to build relationships with young people and their families, create collaborations, have a passion for social justice, and understand how movement and community-building work take place through liberatory, meaningful interactions and co-learning with youth members and their families. Who we are: Founded in 1982, El Puente is a youth-centered organization that uses the arts and education to advance social and environmental justice. Its mission is to inspire and nurture leadership for peace and justice, working as a human rights institution in NYC and Puerto Rico with national and international impact. El Puente creates community-led movements of self-determination through a holistic leadership and membership program model, as a high-impact youth and community development organization. As a staff member of El Puente, the Group Leader is expected to uphold and work within the mission, philosophy, and principles of the organization. El Puente integrates its activities and community campaigns within its six Youth Leadership Centers, and its nationally recognized public high school, the El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice. Organizing in North Brooklyn, Puerto Rico, and beyond, El Puente is at the forefront of community & youth development, and as such, initiates social policy locally and nationally. Position Overview: Group Leaders serve as instructors during after-school hours. The elementary/middle school program operates Mondays through Fridays from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM and serves youth in grades K-8. The group leader monitors the youth’s academic and social-emotional progress, engaging with parents, families, and guardians. The ideal candidate for this role is interested in establishing a career in education and youth development.

Requirements

Experience teaching in after-school programs or academic enrichment settings.
Knowledge of education and youth development frameworks, as well as the Common Core Learning Standards.
Punctual, detail-oriented, highly organized, and able to model and reinforce these expectations with youth.
Flexible, creative, and adaptable to the changing needs of youth and the program.
Strong strategic thinking, analytical abilities, communication skills, writing skills, and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrates a positive attitude and approaches challenges with creativity and a sense of humor.
Must be fingerprinted and able to provide medical clearance to work in school-age child care.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.

Responsibilities

Facilitate the pickup of youth from local schools and ensure their safe arrival at the program site.
Lead a cohort of youth by providing mentorship, monitoring academic and social-emotional progress, and ensuring their physical and emotional health and safety.
Develop and implement engaging, age-appropriate lesson plans and instructional materials.
Supervise youth during the transition from the school day into the afterschool program, including tracking attendance, overseeing snack distribution, managing transitions into activities, and coordinating dismissal.
Provide homework assistance to ensure assignments are completed accurately and on time.
Maintain effective classroom management that promotes participation, growth, and a positive learning environment.
Participate in program evaluation, reflection, and continuous improvement efforts to enhance program quality.
Plan and facilitate recreational and enrichment activities that support youth development.
Maintain regular communication with the Program Director, Assistant Director, and Education Specialist by attending weekly program meetings, team sessions, and one-on-one check-ins.
Support additional program needs and duties as assigned.