Job Description
Job DescriptionSalary: $55,000 to $58,000 annually
ABOUT THE COLORADO DREAM FOUNDATION
Colorado Dream Foundation is a long-term partner to youth. We believe that through a deep, sustained commitment to youth and their families, our community can thrive, and our work together can be a key catalyst in fighting systemic oppression. We travel side-by-side with the same group of youth and their families as they navigate education and life, offering academic, social, and emotional support as they learn, grow, and achieve their dreams. No one should take this journey alone. When we fulfill our promises, anything is possible.
Since our founding in 1988, Colorado Dream Foundation has leveraged proven methods accounting for the whole child and giving youth equal access to the resources they need to succeed, ignite their innate potential, and attain their dreams. Colorado Dream Foundation removes barriers to academic success from elementary school to career through a comprehensive support model focused on four key components:
- Academic Development
- Emotional Wellness Development
- College & Career Development
- Systems Advocacy
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Lead Instructor is a key member of Colorado Dream Foundation's site program team with a focus on supporting the social and emotional development of youth enrolled in the program, providing a model classroom for other instructors to observe, working with the Senior Director of Youth Programs to refine all programmatic curricula for greater impact on our youth, and promoting a program climate and culture conducive to youth learning and development. Additionally, this position supports the site leadership team in providing coaching and feedback to other instructors while also overseeing their own caseload of youth and families as an advocate for their needs and growth.
The Lead Instructor's primary responsibilities include:
Instructional Leadership
- Collaborate with the Senior Director of Youth Programs to support on-going evolution and refinement of curriculum. This includes developing project-based learning activities and differentiating lessons for youth.
- Maintain a classroom of high quality related to youth engagement, space management, and instructional delivery. Provide a learning-space for new instructors to observe and inquire about best practices for instruction.
- Participate as a member of the Site Leadership Team. In collaboration with this team, proactively reach out to youths schools and families to establish rapport and build relationships that focus on supporting our youth from a wrap-around lens.
Youth Academic & Emotional Wellness Development
- Lead in-person learning sessions for youth in the after-school and summer programs, utilizing lessons and activities focused on college and career readiness.
- Participate in coaching and feedback sessions with the site leadership team and the Senior Director of Youth Programs to ensure the successful execution of project-based learning curriculum and commitment to culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices.
- Input and review youth data consistently and use collected youth data to recognize trends and inform interventions
College & Career Readiness and Systems Advocacy
- College & Career Culture Alignment
- Support a site culture driven by college and career exposure and development of future ready skills.
- Lead in-person learning sessions for youth college & career development utilizing lessons and activities based on Colorado Dream Foundation
- Youth Advocacy
- Collaborate with our Clinical Team to fulfill individual need requests for youth and families (i.e., food, rent assistance, employment opportunities, medical support)
- Connect youth to other programs of interest.
- Family Advocacy
- Lead bi-weekly check-in meetings, engagement activities, and/or home visits with families to foster relationships and encourage ongoing engagement of families in our program
- Build strong relationships and lines of communication between Colorado Dream Foundation team members, the family, and other appropriate external constituents.
- Organizations Advocacy
- Serve as a resource to youth, families, and the greater community to advocate on issues aligned with our organization
- Community Partnerships
- Connect with diverse organizations to offer different perspectives and opportunities for youth.
- Partnering and collaborating with organizations to provide youth with hands-on learning, career exposure, and mentorship.
Youth Recruitment & Retention
- Retaining currently enrolled 8th grade youth as they transition into high school.
- Maintain strong relationships with partner schools to support youth.
- Outreach to new partner schools to increase interest and enrollment.
- Increase the Colorado Dream Foundation's footprint across the Denver Metro Area.
Other Duties
- Leads all field trip planning and requests for assistance.
- Assist with food management prep and delivery
- Assist with classroom behavior support and interventions
- Build strong relationships with and among youth
- Participate in Colorado Dream Foundation all-staff training, meetings, and events
- Collect day-to-day data according to program guidelines
- Other duties as assigned
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- An unwavering belief all youth can achieve and be successful
- At least one year in a K-12 classroom, preferred
- At least three years of experience working with middle or high school-aged children
- Record of accomplishment contributing to an organizational culture that embraces justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Experience with lesson planning and lesson execution
- Understanding of social-emotional learning
- Experience working with community organizations in the Denver Metro area
- Demonstrated belief in Colorado Dream Foundations mission and values
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop strong relationships across a diverse spectrum of stakeholders
- Exceptional communication skills (written, verbal, non-verbal)
- Flexibility to work nights, weekends, and special events as needed
- Fluency in reading, writing, and speaking Spanish is highly preferred
REQUIREMENTS
- Must be 21 or older
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid Colorado Driver's License
- Must pass a criminal background check
SALARY AND BENEFITS
This is a full-time, exempt position. The starting salary range is between $55,000 and $58,000. Benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, 401(k) matching program, paid time off including holidays and birthdays, professional development opportunities, and more.
Colorado Dream Foundation is dedicated to equal employment opportunities and fair labor practices. Colorado Dream Foundation provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals based on job-related qualifications and the ability to perform a job without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religious creed, marital status, age, national origin, creed, ancestry, genetic information, legally protected medical condition, veteran status, sexual orientation, or on any other basis made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. Our policy is to maintain a non-discriminatory environment free from intimidation, harassment, or bias based upon these grounds.