Site Leader: Family Engagement Lead SY '26-27

Tenacity•Boston, MA

10d•Onsite

About The Position

Founded in 1999, Tenacity’s mission is to improve the scholastic, character, and physical development of urban youth through a combination of academic instruction and tennis instruction/competition with a focus on life skills. The ACE Academy is an intensive three-year program consisting of academic enrichment, homework help, study/life skills development, and tennis/fitness programming. Working in partnership with the Boston Public Schools, Ace Academy currently delivers an intensive three-year experience for middle school students at our partner schools. The Ace Academy offers an Extended Learning Time model or embedded school day model (based on the partner school site) which integrates academic-based programming and supervised tennis and fitness activities in a structured, supportive environment. The activities focus not only on building academic and tennis skills but promoting resilience and 21st-century skills among young people facing challenges on the path to adulthood. Academic support is guided by ACE Site Leaders, who work closely with the teachers at the partner schools to help identify the needs and strengths of each of the students. ACE Academy offers an academic curriculum closely aligned with state and city English Language Arts frameworks and aims to support Tenacity students with academic success. Each ACE Academy student makes a three-year commitment to attend the program three or four afternoons per week for the school year, each of their sixth, seventh, and eighth grade school years.

Requirements

Commitment to ensuring equity in the program implementation to support students in overcoming systemic inequities.
Exceptional organizational skills.
Public speaking skills.
Experience effectively leading and managing a multicultural team in an urban setting.
Ability to create and inspire a robust program culture of engagement for all stakeholders (students, parents, teachers, school principal, and others).
Ability to effectively recruit and retain students and families for the program.
Experience collaborating with and managing relationships with school personnel and other service providers.
Significant instructional and program management experience, preferably with middle school-age students.
Ability and experience successfully delivering curricula in a classroom, racket or fitness setting, or other youth development setting.
Classroom management and oversight experience.
Behavior management experience.
Strong interpersonal, organizational, and verbal/written communication skills.
Bachelor’s degree required.
Proficiency in Microsoft product suites.

Nice To Haves

A focus in education, human services, social work, or a related field is a plus.
Bilingual in Spanish or Mandarin a plus
Master's degree a plus.
Some tennis experience a plus.
Driver’s license desired.
Consistent access to a car desired.

Responsibilities

Effectively manage all program-related activities.
Work as a team with other leaders, Tenacity staff, volunteers, and part-time instructors to manage all aspects of the ACE Academy.
Supervise and evaluate a diverse team.
Build and manage highly effective relationships with the partner school principal, teachers, and parents to support student program engagement and success.
Lead student recruitment, selection, and registration into the program to ensure the site is fully enrolled.
Maintain high student retention rates and site attendance rates.
Oversee and ensure the effective implementation of and student engagement in Tenacity’s tennis and literacy curricula.
Ensure students experiencing behavioral, social-emotional, or academic difficulties are supported.
Participate in school meetings related to the program partnership, program functioning, and student needs.
Lead the collection of assessment and evaluation data to improve program implementation.
In partnership with Tenacity’s high school team (College and Career Prep), oversee the execution of Tenacity’s high school selection process to ensure every 8th-grade student is fully engaged in the process (e.g. school visits, applications).
Expectations for this position include assistance in other program areas such as Tennis, Literacy, and Family Engagement.
Support staff recruitment and training.
Lead the planning and execution of field trips throughout the year.
In the summer months, work either in our Summer, Tennis, and Reading Program or perform preparatory work for next year’s ACE Program as deemed appropriate by Pathway Leadership.
Assist with the development and implementation of Tenacity’s strategic growth objectives.
As a citizen of the Tenacity community, support additional responsibilities including fundraising, administrative, program, instruction, funder visit guiding, etc., as determined by Pathway Leadership.
Support the planning and facilitation of events and activities (may take place some evenings and weekends).
Build and maintain trusting relationships with caregivers to support their collaboration with Tenacity staff and the partner school.
Maintain consistent communication with caregivers to share information about student engagement, explore student and family needs, support families with accessing helpful resources, and support family participation in the Tenacity Pathway.
Support caregiver/family participation in Tenacity and school activities, including open houses, parent/teacher conferences, events, performances, etc.
Support site team reflections and action planning concerning ongoing family involvement.
Collaborate with the Tenacity site team to ensure that families receive two family visits per year to: Ensure continued participation and success in the Ace Academy to prepare for the Pathway. Collaborate with concerning the overall academic achievement of their student. Support student and family goal setting and action plans to guide the collaboration with families throughout the school year.
Act as a resource to the partner school (administrators, family liaisons) in school-based family initiatives.
Support the families of 8th graders in the high school selection process and connect families with the College and Career Prep team working with Tenacity’s high school students.