ESL Academic Manager

YES USA•Miami, FL

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Studies (DoS), also known as the ESL Academic Manager, reports to the Center Director and is responsible for planning and successfully implementing the ESL program for international teenagers and young adults. This involves supervising and supporting a team of ESL teachers. Key tasks include reviewing and updating the existing YES USA curriculum, designing new course materials, and accurately placing students based on their language proficiency, nationality, age, and other relevant factors. The DoS will also be responsible for updating teacher paperwork and the Operations Manual for ESL Teachers. The role includes training the academic team, preparing weekly teaching schedules, managing class lists, and distributing teaching supplies. During classes, the manager will assist teachers with lesson preparation and technology, address absenteeism, monitor student attendance, observe teachers, ensure student discipline and safety, and teach when necessary. Post-class duties involve ensuring accurate record-keeping by teachers. The manager will also supervise, guide, and monitor the teaching team, run daily meetings and weekly professional development workshops, provide feedback, evaluate teacher performance, and maintain team discipline. Student supervision includes acting in loco parentis for student welfare and safety, and supervising students during meals. The role also encompasses program quality control, client service, dealing with chaperones and students regarding academic matters, and general administrative tasks such as assisting with student arrivals/departures, orientations, booking classrooms, resolving university issues, maintaining teaching resources, and preparing end-of-course certificates. Additionally, the manager will assist the Center Director or activity manager with non-academic duties and staffing issues when needed.

Requirements

DELTA certificate or MA in TESOL.
3-5 years minimum full-time experience teaching ESL.
Legal authorization to work in the United States.
Strong leadership qualities and the ability to inspire others.
Effective people management skills.
High level of responsibility and authority.
Strong organizational and administrative skills.
Independence and strong problem-solving skills.
Strong customer service ethics.
Ability to remain calm under pressure and maintain a positive, constructive demeanor in clients’ presence even when problems and emergencies arise.
Flexibility in terms of work assignments.
Submit a copy of your university diploma and certificates along with other new hire paperwork.
Attend orientation prior to employment.

Nice To Haves

Previous academic management experience in summer camp.

Responsibilities

Plan the ESL program for international teenagers and young adults.
Ensure the successful implementation of the ESL program by supervising and supporting a team of ESL teachers.
Review and make necessary changes to the current YES USA curriculum.
Design curriculum and materials for new YES USA courses.
Score student placement tests and accurately place students into appropriate classes according to their language proficiency, nationality, age, and any other relevant consideration.
Review, edit, and update the YES USA current Operations Manual for ESL Teachers with sufficient details.
Review and update, if needed, teacher paperwork such as sample rosters, a record of work, student final evaluation forms, teacher observation forms, etc.
Train the academic team before the program starts (includes going through the main duties and responsibilities, Operations Manual, and curriculum, etc.).
Conduct any training sessions for the staff that will join the program later.
Prepare weekly teaching schedules according to teachers’ strengths, weaknesses, experience, skills, and preferences and deliver them to teachers in a timely manner.
Prepare class lists according to student levels, assign classrooms to each English group, and keep students/teachers informed.
Prepare and distribute teaching supplies to all teachers and collect them at the end of their contract.
Assist teachers with lesson preparation, if needed.
Make sure teachers have everything needed for each lesson.
Assist teachers with technology in the classroom, if needed (e.g. audio-visual equipment).
Address teacher absenteeism or lateness efficiently, resolving related issues and managing staff discipline effectively.
Monitor student attendance and address absenteeism.
Assist teachers with any questions, requests, or problems they may have during classes.
Observe teachers and document observations.
Ensure that teachers maintain student discipline, welfare, and safety during class time.
Deal with chaperones regarding student lateness, absences, level changes, etc.
Teach when necessary (e.g. when student numbers are low, when there is teacher absence, lateness, or shortage).
Ensure that teachers are maintaining accurate records of work and student attendance.
Supervise, guide, and monitor the teaching team.
Supervise and assist teachers in writing student evaluations.
Run brief daily teacher meetings before classes.
Run weekly professional development workshops/meetings for teachers.
Give feedback from class observations to teachers and arrange follow-up observations on matters of concern.
Evaluate the performance of teachers on a weekly basis and report to the center director.
Establish and maintain team discipline.
Create a positive atmosphere and motivate effectively, offering praise and recognition whenever possible.
Supervise admin staff in their duties related to academic support and evaluate their performance.
Act in loco parentis to ensure and maintain student discipline, welfare, safety, and security whenever in contact with students.
Supervise students during meals when on duty or in touch with students.
Manage the delivery of the academic curriculum as prescribed.
Set and maintain a high level of teaching by ensuring that students receive well-planned, professionally delivered, and relevant lessons.
Review and make improvements in the current curriculum throughout the program based on teacher observations, and teacher/student/chaperone feedback.
Deal with chaperones (or directly with students) to answer questions related to English classes, levels, teachers, student progress, and the like, and resolve issues and complaints.
Interact with students and chaperons and ensure their happiness.
Monitor and counsel students on academic matters.
Assist in preparing for student arrival/departure days (e.g. room inspections, welcome packets, new student orientation, and campus tour, etc.).
Help new students check in and settle in.
Work with the Center Director to arrange and lead/co-lead student orientations for new arrivals and end-of-course ceremonies for departing students.
Work with the Center Director to ensure classrooms are booked for English lessons, end-of-course certificate giving ceremonies, etc.
Work with Center Director to resolve any university issues or complaints in a positive manner.
Maintain and protect YES USA teaching resources and equipment and make sure teachers return materials/supplies at the end of the program.
Take pictures of students/teachers in class and send them to the intern daily.
Ensure timely completion and submission of student final evaluations.
Prepare and print end-of-course certificates.
Complete additional administrative tasks assigned by the management team.
Assist and stand in for the center director/activity manager when needed.
Help with non-academic duties (excursions, meals, student sicknesses, linen exchange, mid-stay cleaning, etc.), when needed.
Make and answer calls and messages and assist with any questions, problems, etc.
Assist the Center Director with any staffing issues (e.g. look for sub teachers, train new teachers, etc.)