Teacher, Refugee Services

Samaritas•Grand Rapids, MI

22d•Onsite

About The Position

Are you an educator with a heart for service and a passion for helping youth overcome adversity? Join our mission-driven team as a Teacher supporting unaccompanied youth in a shelter-based educational setting. This is more than a classroom — it’s a place of healing, growth, and opportunity. What You’ll Do: Deliver direct educational services to youth in accordance with state and federal standards Adapt instruction to meet the diverse academic and emotional needs of students Collaborate with shelter staff and case managers to support holistic development Maintain accurate records and contribute to a trauma-informed, culturally responsive environment

Requirements

Bachelor Degree in education or related field
One year teaching experience with grades K-12
Ability and willingness to display compassion and sensitivity to youth
Ability and willingness to relate and educate youth who are in a residential placement.
Ability to deal with a variety of circumstances; ability to recognize problem and respond and/or take appropriate action
Ability to work creatively and effectively in team setting as well as independently with minimal supervision
Ability to effectively communicate with others on an interpersonal level
Ability to understand the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of the youth served
Ability to guide youth in understanding and applying basic life management skills
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form
Ability to use basic math skills
Ability to read, speak and legibly write English language with proper use of punctuation, spelling and grammar
Ability to maintain confidentiality of youth information
Ability to maneuver up and down staircases
Valid unrestricted driver’s license with good driving record.
Reliable personal transportation suitable for safely transporting persons served; proof of current registration and automobile insurance

Nice To Haves

Valid Michigan teacher certification, preferred
Experience working with residential youth preferred
Bi-lingual in Spanish strongly preferred
Bi-lingual in Spanish (or the Major language of the youth in care) preferred

Responsibilities

Provides direct educational services in accordance with applicable contractual and regulatory requirements and accreditations standards.
Implement 30 hours per week of content based ESL/bilingual instruction in accordance with established curriculum
Instruct students individually and in groups, using various teaching methods
Establish clear objective for all lessons, units and projects and communicate those objectives to students, as well as teacher assistant
Maintain communication with all parties involved in student care, to ensure adjustment to program expectations
Complete education assessments and weekly progress reports in accordance with contractor
Create and prepare educational materials and classrooms for class activities
Create and maintain the schools yearly academic schedule and calendar
Participate in treatment planning meeting with each youth as needed or requested
Maintain adequate awareness of youth’s activities to ensure the safety of the youth, other residents, staff and the home are maintained
Report safety hazards and needed repairs with home and grounds to designated Team Leader, Case Manager or Supervisor