Resident Advisor (RA)

Job Description

Job DescriptionDescription:

About The SEED School of Washington, D.C.

The SEED Foundation (www.seedfoundation.com) was created in 1997 to establish college-preparatory urban boarding schools that prepare secondary students both academically and socially, for success in college and beyond. In 1998, the Foundation opened The SEED Public Charter School of Washington, D.C. – the nation’s first public college preparatory boarding school. The school currently serves 250 students in grades 9-12. In 2015, 100% of SEED’s seniors were accepted to a four-year college or university.

All SEED students live on campus from Sunday evening through Friday afternoon when they return home for the weekend. The dormitories are organized into small “houses” of an average of 15-18 students per resident advisor for afternoon and evening routines such as academic study hall, house meetings, SPARKS and other structured activities. We provide a safe and caring 24-hour boarding experience. Our relationship with parents/guardians is essential to the success of their scholar while at SEED.

About The SEED Network

SEED is the pioneering national network of public, college-preparatory boarding schools, offering a unique 24-hour, 5-day per week learning environment. Our tuition-free schools, the first of their kind in the U.S., are intentionally designed to serve traditionally underserved students. Supported by The SEED Foundation, we operate in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Miami, and Los Angeles. The Foundation's College Transition & Success (CTS) team provides comprehensive support to SEED graduates from junior year through college graduation. SEED's success has gained recognition from media outlets like 60 Minutes and The New York Times, and former President Obama has lauded it as "a true success story." Learn more at www.seedfoundation.com.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Student Life Program Manager, the Resident Advisor actively manages a designated student house and supervises students during the morning, afternoon, and evening Student Life Program hours. This critical role focuses on creating and maintaining a safe and secure environment conducive to student learning and growth, serving as a role model by guiding and teaching essential social, self-help, and life-long learning skills, and supporting academic achievement within the residential setting. Campus residency is required to effectively fulfill the responsibilities of managing this unique 24-hour residential school setting.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Foster a vibrant, inclusive residential community that promotes belonging, mutual respect, and positive peer relationships.
• Implement dorm protocols and manage daily schedules to ensure smooth morning and evening routines, supporting student well-being and punctuality for all school activities.
• Provide active, constant supervision of students within the designated student house and common areas during all assigned shifts, ensuring their safety, well-being, and accountability at all times.
• Develop and facilitate engaging lessons, workshops, and activities that build essential life skills, social competencies, and responsible decision-making.
• Consistently and fairly uphold school policies and regulations to maintain a safe, secure, and conducive living environment.
• Serve as a mentor, providing proactive support, guidance, and constructive feedback to foster students' emotional well-being and personal growth.
• Proactively and diplomatically address and resolve student conflicts and concerns, utilizing restorative practices when appropriate.
• Act as a knowledgeable resource and liaison for student families, maintaining clear communication regarding student life programming and expectations.
• Support student attendance throughout the day, collaborating with the academic team and other staff to address tardiness or absence patterns.
• Work closely with academic, student support, and program teams to align residential support with students' academic progress and overall achievement.
• Effectively respond to emergency situations and implement crisis management protocols.
• Maintain meticulous and confidential records of student interactions, incidents, and documentation, ensuring accurate and timely reporting.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the residential program.

Requirements:

Qualifications and Essential Competencies

• Bachelor's degree required
• 3+ years experience working with adolescents in a residential, educational, or youth development setting.
• Experience developing and implementing age-appropriate lesson plans, programs, or activities for youth, preferably high-school aged.
• Familiarity with conflict resolution, de-escalation, restorative justice practices and SEL principles and their application in a residential setting.
• Demonstrated ability to create a safe and supportive environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and basic computer proficiency.
• Ability to serve as a role model and mentor and enforce policies consistently and fairly.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Commitment to The SEED Foundation’s mission.