Position Description
ABOUT JUMPSTART
Jumpstart is a national early education organization working toward the day every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed. We provide language, literacy, and social-emotional programming for preschool children from under-resourced communities and promote quality early learning for all children. Join us to work toward the day every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed. Learn more at www.jstart.org.
ABOUT THE POSITION
Jumpstart AmeriCorps members have the unique opportunity to inspire young children to learn, serve in a local community, collaborate with others on a team, and build professional skills. All Jumpstart AmeriCorps members receive high quality training to help them implement Jumpstart’s outcome-based program, promote children’s school success, and build family engagement. This position serves vulnerable populations, i.e. preschool children.
JUMPSTART MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
AmeriCorps members complete an intensive commitment and make a substantial impact in the life of young children. During the school year, AmeriCorps members serve 300 hours, 8-12 hours per week by fulfilling the following responsibilities in two main settings:
Essential Functions
Overall
- Able to verbally communicate with peers, Jumpstart staff, children, children’s families and classroom teachers, both in person and over virtual settings.
- Able to arrange their own transportation to service site in a timely and reliable fashion for any in person service activities.
- Able to use technology effectively to access systems and platforms for electronic documents, communications, trainings, and any delivery of virtual service activities.
In the classroom (in person or virtual)
- Able to interact with preschool-age children at their level and potentially with their families/teachers in a classroom or virtual setting with high activity and noise levels and other varying environmental conditions. Interaction includes being able to move around the classroom or virtual setting to participate in various activities with the children and families/teachers.
- Able to participate fully in Jumpstart programming with preschool-age children and their families/teachers – two times per week for two hours each, totaling four hours a week. This classroom or virtual time includes a variety of activities in a consistent routine that includes reading, small and large group activities, and facilitating other learning based activities.
- Able to participate fully in 2-5 hours each week in additional individual classroom or virtual service, implementing individualized activities with children, families and/or supporting teacher-led activities. This participation involves working with preschool-age children and other adults
Marginal Functions
- Able to attend periodic service days and events outside of regularly scheduled service, occasionally held on weekends, either in person or virtually.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Dedication to early childhood education
- Experience working with young children, and/or a desire to learn more about early childhood education
- Strong language and communication skills
- Ability to communicate and collaborate with children’s families
- Willingness to learn about Jumpstart program implementation and planning
- Willingness to implement Jumpstart’s research based curriculum with integrity
- Commitment to service
- Community service experience and/ or a desire to serve in the community
- Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds
- Ability to fulfill a yearlong community service commitment
- Enthusiastic and positive attitude toward helping others
- Professionalism
- Ability to work well on a team to collaborate, communicate, and problem solve
- Desire to seek opportunities for self and team growth
- Willingness to receive and provide feedback in an effort to improve quality of one’s service in the program
- Availability, dependability, and willingness to be flexible in different contexts, such as in training, scheduling, in the classroom or virtual setting with unexpected changes
- Professionalism and good judgment in relating to Jumpstart peers, children, partners, and families
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- Potential to earn a Federal Work-Study award during term of service
- AmeriCorps members will be eligible to receive a SegalAmeriCorps Education Award upon completion of their 300 hour service term
- Extensive training in the field of early childhood education
- Unique opportunity to join a national network of individuals serving young children
- Invaluable opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young children
Jumpstart is an equal opportunity organization and encourages applications from all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, political affiliation, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws. Qualified individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Jumpstart will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals throughout the application process and during Jumpstart service. Accommodation requests should be directed to the Jumpstart office to which you are applying. Jumpstart is a proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network. Please note that not all Jumpstart sites are directly supported by AmeriCorps.
