Foreign Language Instructor - Upward Bound, Summer 2025

Are you passionate about supporting the aspirations of high school students? Would you like to be part of a dynamic, creative, and collaborative team of professionals committed to building strong relationships with high school students and dedicated to their success? Having overcome obstacles in your own life, would you like to help students overcome theirs? If so, then you are encouraged to apply for the position of Summer Foreign Language Teacher with TRIO Upward Bound at the University of Southern Maine.

TRIO Upward Bound empowers first-generation, income-eligible high school students to explore and achieve their academic, career, financial, and personal goals. We are looking for dedicated, student-focused summer staff who have experience with and/or appreciation for the challenges faced by TRIO students. The Summer Foreign Language Teacher works with the TRIO team and other Upward Bound staff at USM to implement the academic component of the residential summer program. Program objectives include assisting students at various high schools throughout southern Maine, supporting them in persisting in high school, meeting academic criteria, maintaining good academic standing, and enrolling in a program of postsecondary education immediately after graduating from high school.

This is a temporary appointment for Summer 2025, between June 19th and July 24th.

Pay for this position is $4,000 total, payable in biweekly installments.

Days and Hours:

Staff training begins: one weekday (TBD) between June 16-19      
Academic Program weeks: July 7-11, July 14-18, July 21-25
Times: 12:00 PM to 4:15 PM

Students will participate in a variety of academic classes during the mornings and afternoons on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The Foreign Language Teacher will teach in the afternoons on M/T/TH/F each of the three weeks, participating in a daily community meeting before teaching two sections of the same curriculum back-to-back in the afternoons. The Foreign Language teacher will be responsible for developing and delivering an interactive and engaging curriculum designed to introduce students to either a critical need language or a language not currently offered at the program’s target high schools. Instruction should strengthen global understanding and offer skill development in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

The University of Southern Maine is a vibrant academic community located in the greater Portland, Maine area, including campuses in Portland, Gorham, Lewiston, and online. USM is part of the University of Maine System and offers a comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs, emphasizing hands-on learning, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration. With a highly engaged student-centered learning environment, USM is a steward of higher education, helping drive the economic, cultural, and civic life in the communities where our campuses are located and beyond.  USM is committed to providing expanded access to high-quality education that elevates economic opportunity and contributes significantly to the vitality of a diverse society. To learn more about USM, visit About Our University. 

The University of Southern Maine fosters a welcoming and supportive campus environment that respects and appreciates diverse perspectives, enhancing teaching, learning, personal growth, and overall institutional achievement.  We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds who share our dedication to academic excellence and the enrichment of our community.

We are dedicated to our Service Promise, Student Focused Every Day and seek a team member who embraces this commitment and upholds our core values of Respect & Care, Integrity, Equity, and Responsiveness.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience teaching low-income and/or first-generation college-bound high school students
• High school teaching experience and current Maine teaching certification in content area OR teaching experience at the college or university level
• Currently employed as teacher in an Upward Bound at USM partner school district OR currently employed by USM to teach college courses in content area.

To apply, click on the ‘Apply Now’ button below or visit our USM Careers Page and submit the following:

• Cover L