Advisor - US Student Government

Codman Academy Charter School•Dorchester, MA

24d•Onsite

About The Position

Codman Academy seeks a dedicated, student-centered Student Government Advisor to guide and support its student government program. The role is part of the Encore Department and helps students develop leadership, organizing, and civic engagement skills through student-run events, student-led initiatives, and engagement with the wider community. The advisor meets with students twice weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:15 PM to 4:15 PM. This is an advisory role grounded in mentorship, student ownership, and hands-on leadership development rather than lecture-based instruction. The position reports to the Encore Director and coordinates with Encore and school staff on logistics, event scheduling, and student support. The position is part-time and offered as a semester contract. It involves approximately two instructional hours per week, plus planning and coordination time. Compensation is $800 for the remainder of the current semester or $1,500 for the full 2027 spring semester. Sessions take place at Codman Academy's campus in Dorchester/Boston, with occasional staff coordination outside session times. A brief orientation at the start of the term and an end-of-semester debrief are expected. Event logistics beyond the classroom, including venue, budget approval, and safety planning, are managed in partnership with the Encore Director; the advisor is not expected to manage these independently.

Requirements

Experience in youth leadership development, student activities advising, community organizing, or a closely related field, or experience teaching or facilitating leadership programs in a school or youth program setting.
Enthusiasm for working with middle and/or high school students and supporting student-driven leadership.
Ability to facilitate engaging, structured meetings and coach students through independent project work without relying solely on lecture.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills with students, families, and colleagues.
Reliability, organization, and ability to plan and document sessions independently.
Commitment to equity and culturally responsive practice.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience advising student government, student council, or similar leadership organizations.
Experience facilitating event planning, mentorship, or youth development programs.
Familiarity with adolescent developmental needs and classroom or group management strategies.
Knowledge of community organizing or civic engagement practices.
Multilingual abilities, including Spanish, Haitian Creole, or other languages spoken by Codman families.
Connections to community organizations or partners willing to support student-led initiatives.

Responsibilities

Meet with student government twice weekly to support planning, decision-making, and follow-through on student-led work.
Coach students in public speaking, meeting facilitation, consensus-building, and project management.
Help students identify goals, set agendas, and reflect on initiative outcomes.
Maintain a supportive, structured, high-expectation environment that encourages student voice and shared leadership.
Support students in planning and executing student-run events, including assemblies, spirit days, fundraisers, and celebrations.
Guide student initiatives from idea generation through logistics, promotion, execution, and debrief.
Help students address logistical, budgetary, and scheduling challenges.
Ensure student-led events and initiatives align with school policies, values, and safety expectations.
Help student government identify opportunities to engage with the wider school and local community.
Support students in building partnerships or projects connecting student government work to community needs and interests.
Coordinate with the Encore Director on community partners, guests, or off-campus engagement involved in student initiatives.
Build relationships that foster student confidence, accountability, and ownership of school culture.
Differentiate support for multilingual learners, students with IEPs, and students with varied leadership experience.
Communicate proactively with the Encore Director about student engagement, attendance, and concerns.
Collaborate with the School Support Team and Special Education staff as needed to support student participation.
Track meeting attendance and participation and submit records as directed.
Document key initiatives, events, and outcomes for Encore Department reporting and storytelling.
Contribute brief reflections or highlights on student government activities each semester.
Coordinate occasionally with Encore staff outside session times and participate in a brief start-of-term orientation and end-of-semester debrief.