Innovative Community Based Organization Seeks Energetic, Committed, and Highly Experienced Individuals. SPANISH/BILINGUAL (REQUIRED). Exc. Benefits & Salary/EEO

Department: Beacon Center for Arts and Leadership
Reports To: Assistant Director
Date Available: July 8, 2013

Summary of the Agency:
The Coalition for Hispanic Family Services is a multi-service agency serving children and families of North Brooklyn.  These include foster care, adoption, youth development, primary health care, mental health, HIV/AIDS case management, community health education and outreach, in-service internships and after school education.  The Beacon Center for Arts & Leadership, a program of the Coalition, is An educational and recreational community center serving the youth and families in Bushwick, we provide opportunities to create, critically think, communicate, and problem solve through arts-based activities that build leadership skills and empower the individual.  Community youth have access to free programming in mediums such as creative writing, visual arts, sports, media literacy, drama, music, yoga, and martial arts; in addition to free aerobics classes, a fitness room, and ESL classes for adults.

Summary of the Program:
The Beacon Center for Arts & Leadership is grounded in the belief that literacy development goes hand in hand with personal development.  The Adult Literacy Program, based out of I.S. 291 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, focuses on improving a broad range of competencies related to literacy, such as basic language skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening), communication within the family, parental understanding of child development, positive parenting skills, and workplace skills.  The program reinforces and strengthens native literacy skills by building a community that recognizes the importance of empowering adults and intergenerational learning.

Summary of the Position:
The Adult Educator is expected to be knowledgeable of current ESL education trends and methods.  The use of new media in the classroom is encouraged, as well as use of adaptive learning styles.  Lesson planning, ability to perform student assessments, and development of student portfolios in a mixed-level classroom is required.  The Adult Educator will plan and facilitate progressive student-centered curricula that integrate subjects surrounding parenting, identity, personal history, and culture.  Additionally, the curriculum should synthesize literacy building into everyday life.  Position will begin in September 2013.  Evening and Saturday hours are mandatory.

Major Duties:
•Teaches mixed-level ESL classes of up to 30 Spanish-speaking adults.
•Designs thematically-based ESL lessons.
•Implements community-wide recruitment strategies to meet required attendance and retention.
•Maintains meticulous record-keeping and documentation of attendance, including monthly evaluations and student success stories.
•Maintains and updates the ongoing development of the ESL program blog.
•Manages Adult Education classroom volunteers.
•Plans and leads activities and trips for ESL classes.
•Participates in three Beacon-wide performances throughout the year.
•Other responsibilities as assigned by the Director.

Qualifications:
•The ideal applicant would possess a Master’s Degree in Education with 2-3 years experience.
•A combination of ESL experience paired with enthusiasm to learn is acceptable.  
•Familiarity working with immigrant cultures in Bushwick, Brooklyn is a plus.
•Bilingual Spanish is required.

To Apply:
Submit a resume and cover letter with salary and qualifications to:

Wanda Maldonado
Director of Human Resources
315 Wyckoff Avenue, 4th Fl
Brooklyn, NY 11237
F: 718-497-9495
wmaldonado@hispanicfamilyservicesny.org