Mini-Newcomer Youth Academy Peer Mentor (Unpaid)

Major Responsibilities:

* Complete all staff training prior to the start of the program, as well as all program meetings and staff development activities thereafter.

* Act as a positive role model for students; model appropriate student behavior and academic engagement with the Academy students at all times

* Uphold and promote policies and practices necessary to create a linguistically supportive, culturally responsive, trauma-informed learning environment.

• Assist teachers and staff with classroom management, including various classroom activities, and tutor students individually or in small groups at the direction of the teacher
• Assist in the supervision of daily student meals and student arrival/dismissal
• Attend the field trip on Friday and assist teachers and staff in student supervision
• Support students in navigating cultural differences during the school day to ensure they feel included and confident.
• Complete post-NYSA all staff evaluation
• Other tasks as assigned by Classroom Teachers and IRC staff

Qualifications:

• Minimum age: 17+ and must be at least a rising high school senior

• Undergraduate students, Graduate students, or recent graduates preferred

• Residing in or near New York City with the ability to travel to and from the site every day

• Experience or strong interest in working with refugee and immigrant communities

• Experience working with children and/or peers, preference for those with education experience

• Punctuality, excellent time management skills, and a flexible schedule

• Outstanding intercultural and interpersonal communication skills with demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from other cultural backgrounds

• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding client information

• Excellent organizational and leadership skills

• Strong attention to detail and ability to work with minimal supervision

• Knowledge of classroom procedures; health and safety precautions a plus.

• Fluency in written and spoken English required. Second language proficiency in relevant language highly desirable (preference for speakers of Ukrainian, Russian and Spanish)

• All offers are contingent on successfully passing background and criminal history checks as required by federal and state law or by IRC policy.

Learning Objectives:

• Support and assist teachers and staff with various classroom management activities and academic lessons on a daily basis, helping students strengthen the skills needed for the NYC school system.

• Understand trauma-informed education and programming

• Help supervise and assist teachers and staff with afternoon activities and field trips on Fridays

• Act as a positive role model for newcomer youth

• Understand and practice methods to help students resolve conflicts and build peaceful, inclusive relationships within the classroom and beyond.

• Adapt to the needs of a diverse, multilingual student population and apply flexible problem-solving in fast-paced, interdisciplinary settings.

• Develop skills in and practice translation and interpretation

This is an unpaid opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to seek out scholarships or additional funding opportunities.

Timeline:

Interviews and hiring occur on a rolling basis. Outreach to candidates will be within two weeks of application submission. All applications are due at 11:59 pm on January 31st, 2025.

Working Environment: The Academy takes place in a centrally located New York City public school. All participants must be willing to relocate to New York City for the entirety of the Program.