Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program- New York, NY
Organization: The New York Academy of Sciences
Job Title: STEM Mentor/ Teaching Fellow
Location: New York, NY
Hours and Compensation: unpaid, T/TH 4-6 pm
Position Dates: Fall 2012
Application Deadline: June 1
Posted on: May 2
Organization Overview
Begun in Fall 2010, the New York Academy of Sciences Afterschool STEM Mentoring program recruits grad students and post docs from New York City-area universities to volunteer to teach one afternoon a week in underserved 4th through 8th grade afterschool classrooms at organizations like the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Clubs. Mentors can choose to teach biology, space science, earth science, robotics, or math and can receive an Academy Education Fellow Teaching Credential for completing 24 hours of teaching and training.
Description
The Academy has partnered with two organizations that run networks of afterschool programs. In NYC, we partner with the Department of Youth and Community Development, a city agency that funds a wide development of neighborhood enrichment programs. In Newark, we partner with Citizen Schools, a national nonprofit that recruits volunteers to teach in their afterschool programs.
Graduate students and postdocs apply to be an Academy Education Fellows and if accepted are assigned to teach in the Spring or Fall. Once accepted and assigned, Fellows receive one day of training to learn how to teach a set of lessons in their chosen content area and a separate day of training on youth development and pedagogy. Mentors are welcome to work with Academy staff to adapt their lessons to their own interests and resources.
Once a Fellow has completed the two days of training, they are assigned to a site, a co-teacher and if possible, another Fellow to teach with. We try to match mentors to sites within 30 minutes of their homes or labs. In New York City, mentors typically teach 90 minutes a week and can set their schedule with their assigned program. The fall schedule in New York City runs from the first week of October through late December. In Newark, Fellows can teach Tuesday or Thursday from 4–6 p.m. at one of three Newark Elementary Schools and in the fall teach from October through December.
We focus on supporting fellows through curriculum and pedagogy training, an online network of peers and supporters, and social events to check in with your peers. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you will be matched up with an afterschool site and instructor who will be there to support you at the site and help you work with the students.
Fellows who complete 24 hours of teaching and training (over the course of two semesters in any time period) will receive a New York Academy of Sciences Education Fellow Teaching Credential.
Responsibilities
- Fellows will teach on Tuesday or Thursday from 4–6 p.m. from early February through May in Newark OR 90 minutes per week during the afterschool hours (4–6 p.m.) in New York City.
- Fellows must submit a letter of acknowledgement from their supervising scientist stating that they are aware of the once-a-week commitment to the volunteer teaching program and that they support the fellow’s commitment to this program from October through December. Letters should be emailed to [email protected] with the subject line “Fellowship Letter of Support” in conjunction with the submission of the fellow’s online application. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about this requirement.
- Fellow must complete two trainings: one to learn the science or math module, and the other is an orientation to Citizen Schools or Youth Development and Pedagogy.
- All volunteers must complete a background check through Citizen Schools or through the Department of Health at no cost to the Fellow.
Qualifications
- A grad student or post doc in a STEM field.
- Interested in volunteering in their community and gaining teaching experience.
- Driven to inspire 4th through 8th graders to love science.
How to Apply:
For more information, please contact Stephanie Wortel, swortel@nyas.org.
