AmeriCorps Member New England - 900 hours

Apply to be an AmeriCorps Playworks Coach today to change the lives of kids in your community tomorrow!  https://www.playworks.org/about/careers/americorps/

At Playworks we believe in the power of play to bring out the best in every kid. We create a place for every kid on the playground to get active, build valuable skills, connect, and have fun. We partner with schools, districts, and after-school programs to provide a service or mix of services, including on-site coaches, professional training for school staff who support recess, and consultative partnerships.

Playworks Coaches are AmeriCorps members who are positioned in Boston Public Elementary Schools to be a champion of play. As an AmeriCorps member you will join with other Boston Coaches, nearly 300,000 other members nationwide,  and over one million alumni nationally who have committed their time and talents to strengthen communities. Partnership organizations, like Playworks, engage with AmeriCorps members to improve the communities they serve.

Responsibilities: 

• Create a safe and engaging recess on the playground by being a caring role model to ensure that every kid plays every day.
• Implement a youth leadership program by providing student leadership opportunities at recess and facilitating trainings for a cohort of students before or after school.
• Lead individual classes to build youth leadership skills, promote cooperation, and introduce new games that kids can play on the playground, including the rules and boundaries.
• Enlist and coach students in interscholastic/developmental sports leagues that might include basketball, volleyball, or soccer.
• Design and implement a community event during the year that engages students’ families at the school site.
• Recruit and coordinate volunteers who will join you at recess to strengthen the school climate.
• Develop a strong school culture by influencing, motivating, and building rapport with faculty, administrators, parents, and volunteers.
• Participate in national days of service and some weekend service projects in the greater community.
• Flex your administrative muscles to organize program schedules, track your hours, and collect and enter important program data.

Benefits of being an AmeriCorps member at Playworks:

• A living stipend totaling up to $18,700, to be paid out between $1,500 and $1,600 bimonthly.
• Medical health insurance for member at no cost. Access to Dental and Vision insurance at a low cost. Monthly food, gas, and technology allowance.
• $3697.5 Education award that can be used for eligible student loans, tuition, and other education-related expenses after the successful completion of your service year. See more information here-www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/alumni/segal-americorps-education-award
• Child care expense reimbursement if you qualify- see www.americorpschildcare.com.
• Enrollment as an AmeriCorps service member- see www.americorps.gov for details.
• Leadership skill development and valuable experience for a career in education and youth development.
• You’ll make a lasting difference in children’s lives and your community and what's better than that?

Essential Qualifications

• Be at least 18 years of age
• US Citizenship or Permanent Resident status
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Commitment to fulfilling your entire term of service with the ability to serve your scheduled hours consistently- this term of service requires a minimum of 900 hours over the remaining school year (typically to June), participation in a minimum of one National Days of Service, as well as ongoing required trainings and professional development
• Experience leading or teaching groups of children with the ability to engage and inspire youth
• Must be an organized self-starter exhibiting good judgment with the flexibility to adapt to shifting priorities and demands
• Experience using technology required to input program data and communicate with other team members- we use Salesforce and Google products
• Deep commitment to national and community service as demonstrated through volunteerism or other service work
• Experience interacting with diverse communities and the ability to integrate into an existing school community
• Ongoing access to reliable transportation to and from your assigned school site
• Criminal history background checks are con