Youth Reading Instructor - YELLS Youth Program (Fair Oaks)
Through our place-based youth and family programs, YELLS (Youth Empowerment through Learning, Leading, and Serving, Inc.) serves as a community hub and center for servant-leadership in our students’ own neighborhood. Our programs engage the whole child, whole family, and whole community to empower youth with the skills, resources, and
character they need to serve as effective leaders and change makers within their community. After 15 years of place- based programming, YELLS is expanding to bring its powerful programming to the Fair Oaks community, a diverse Cobb County neighborhood with primarily Hispanic and Latino families.
The role of the Reading Instructor is to ensure all YELLS youth receive the support and instruction needed to excel academically and read above grade level. The Reading Instructor designs and delivers literacy and language arts lessons that address areas of weakness and complement school-day learning. Additionally, the Reading Instructor will develop and implement intervention strategies, monitor student progress and academic data, and provide supplemental reading instruction to accelerate literacy development through targeted individual and group tutoring. Ultimately, the Reading Instructor will foster a love for reading within youth and the foundational skills to thrive throughout their educational journey. This role extends from the summer into the school year.
Essential Duties and Functions • Work under the supervision of the Program Coordinator and assist in daily operations, including but not limited to assisting in program and activity logistics; maintaining a clean, safe, and orderly space; ensuring respect among all participants; and fostering a positive and welcoming atmosphere. • Develop and teach interactive and engaging Reading lessons tailored to students’ school-day curriculum and areas of weakness. Lessons should be hands-on and taught “after-school style,” with lots of fun! • Assess student reading levels, actively set & monitor academic goals, & track progress for 45 YELLS youth • Design and implement differentiated instructional strategies for individual and small-group interventions to accelerate youth’s literacy and academic development. • Design fun, experiential, and project-based service-learning activities that develop reading proficiency while engaging the community and nurturing a spirit of servant-leadership. • Lead Book Clubs that build reading comprehension, bring books to life, and develop a love of reading within youth • Oversee homework help sessions to provide maximum learning, individualized academic interventions, and development of effective study habits. • Ensure youth have access to high interest, engaging, and appropriate texts to match their reading level. • Build strong, collaborative relationships with youth, parents, and staff. • Participate as part of a team to run a top-of-the-line Youth Center with quality programs by helping where needed or instructed.
Qualifications • Enthusiastic, dynamic personality that inspires and motivates children. • Powerful facilitation skills • Effective behavior management skills • At least 2 years’ experience working with children and positive youth development program facilitation. • Ability to work independently and be self-directed. • Ability to work in a non-judgmental, culturally sensitive, and empowering manner with children from diverse backgrounds. • Ability to multi-task, work under stress, and handle stressful situations. • Bilingual – fluent in both English and Spanish – a plus • COVID-19 vaccination required, or willingness to get vaccinated, due to interaction with youth