Job Announcement - Project Return Coordinator/Friendly Chaps Teacher

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Project Return Coordinator/Friendly Chaps Teacher

Closing Date: July 31, 2009

Founded in 1930, Friendly House, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit neighborhood center located in Northwest Portland.  Project Return is a part of Friendly Chaps, one of several programs at Friendly House.  Friendly Chaps is a before- and after-school program for about 100 kindergarten through fifth grade children who attend Chapman Elementary School.  Project Return is a sub-program that serves 25 Chapman students experiencing homelessness. A job in the Friendly Chaps program is an excellent step in a career in Elementary Education, Social Work, Recreation, or Psychology. For more information on Friendly House, visit www.friendlyhouseinc.org.

SCOPE OF THE POSITION

Desirable candidates for the Project Return Coordinator position bring enthusiasm for helping children who are members of homeless families to learn and develop to their fullest potential within a neighborhood center setting. The coordinator is responsible for the management of groups of children Monday - Friday, 1:15 – 6:00 p.m., one day a week from 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. and varying hours on most school closure days. The coordinator will also attend regular staff outside of those hours.  From 1:15 to 2:00 each day, the coordinator will prepare for the day and liaise with Chapman staff about the academic and social development of Project Return participants. From 2:15 – 4:00, the coordinator will work with 12-15 Project Return participants on homework, social/emotional skill-building, and projects including art, literacy, and science. From 4:00 – 5:30 or 6:00, the coordinator will go from classroom to classroom, observing Project Return participants, communicating with teachers about children’s progress, and giving breaks to other staff people.

Essential Functions

•           Provide a safe, healthy, enriching environment for children in care.

•           Be responsible for a group of up to 15 children, or a group of 30 children with the help on an Associate Teacher.

•           Plan and implement daily activities that are developmentally appropriate and relevant for children experiencing homelessness.

•           Follow Childcare Division (CCD) rules for school-age programs.

•           Lead intensive homework club and help children achieve academic goals. Track homework completion and individual achievement.

•           Plan and implement weekly classroom curriculum that includes art, literacy, music, science, physical education and social/emotional skill-building. On-going, child-driven projects and monthly units are required.

•           Provide a weekly calendar of classroom activities to the Program Director by the last day of each week.

•           Conduct literacy activities such as story time a minimum of two times a week.

•           Lead a once-a-week club sessions throughout the school year. Plan club curriculum that culminates in a final presentation or performance. Examples of clubs are Music, Painting, Photography, Science, and Gardening.

•           Develop and sustain classroom systems that promote positive behavior and accountability.

•           Observe and log progress of Project Return participants. Periodically complete academic, behavioral, and social/emotional assessments.

•           Model appropriate, cooperative behavior for a diverse group of children and set a tone of inclusion and mutual respect.

•           Work cooperatively with other Friendly House program staff members, especially Safety-Net Services and Preschool staff who also serve Project Return families.

•           Communicate regularly and positively with children, parents and co-workers.

•           Communicate with program director regarding concerns about a child’s developmental progress or behavior problems.

•           Communicate with Chapman teachers, staff, and Project Return liaison about the progress of students.

•           When available, give 10-minute breaks to staff people.

•           Walk Project Return participants to the school bus at the end of the day.

•           Lift or restrain children as needed.

•           Lift and move chairs and tables as needed for set-up of room.

•           Meet CCD (15 hours per year) and Friendly House training requirements.

•           Attend Friendly Chaps teacher planning meetings, monthly Friendly Chaps all-staff meetings, monthly Friendly House all-staff meetings, and other required Friendly House functions.

•           Follow Friendly Chaps Risk Management Plan

•           Keep track of essential paperwork.

•           Contribute toward Friendly House’s goal of building community in NW Portland.

•           Assure that classroom and storage areas are kept clean and organized.

•           Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

The Project Return Coordinator must exhibit cultural competency, sensitivity, and professionalism in working with families and children experiencing homelessness. The coordinator must have a love of learning that s/he is willing to share with a diverse group of children through academic and extra-curricular enrichment. In addition, the coordinator must be patient and flexible as s/he may be called upon to perform a variety of duties simultaneously depending on the needs of the overall group and individual children. 

•           Ability to supervise children in an appropriate, positive manner.

•           Education, social work, or related degree preferred.

•           At least 20 semester hours (or 30 quarter hours) of training at a college or university in elementary education, child development, physical education, recreation, special education or early childhood education (K-3), or At least one year of successful, full-time work experience in a certified day-care center or comparable group child-care program in the care of school-age children.

•           Social service case-management experience or experience in work with families experiencing homelessness preferred.

•           Fluency in English and Spanish preferred.

•           Ability to establish effective relationships with children, parents, co-workers, and Chapman staff.

•           Excellent customer service skills.

•           Effective communicator, question-asker, initiative-taker and teammate.

•           Must possess excellent organization skills.

•           Must be able to lift, carry and restrain children who weigh up to 50 pounds.

•           Must be 18 years of age or older.

•           Must pass Child Care Division Criminal History check.

•           Must have current Food Handler’s card within 60 days of employment.

•           Must have current First Aid and CPR certifications within 60 days of employment.

•           Must take a Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect class within 60 days of employment.

Interpersonal Contacts

The Project Return Coordinator necessarily interacts with children, families and staff within the Friendly Chaps program and Chapman School, as well as other staff at Friendly House and volunteers. 

Job Conditions

This job is performed at Friendly House Activity Building, Community Center, Chapman School, and the outdoor areas surrounding Chapman and Friendly House, as well as the walking route between the two.  The coordinator must have the physical ability to participate in the activities of the program. The program moves to outside locations for field trips on foot and by bus.  Lifting or restraining children is required from time to time.

Salary is $12.80 per hour.  This is a 25-hour per week position with health benefits, paid vacation and sick leave.  Staff training budget and paid training time.  A membership in the Friendly House Community Center is given to all Friendly House staff members.

COVER LETTER AND RESUME MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2009, 5:00PM.  SEND TO: FRIENDLY CHAPS, PROJECT RETURN COORDINATOR OPENING, 2617 NW SAVIER, PORTLAND, OR 97210 OR EMAIL TO [email protected]. 

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

It is the policy of Friendly House, Inc. to treat all people with dignity and respect.  The agency prohibits discrimination based upon race, sex, religion, creed, color, gender identity, age, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, citizenship status, military service, veteran status, housing status, familial status, source of income, political affiliation, union affiliation, physical disability, mental disability or other protected status in accordance with applicable law.  In addition, we shall not discriminate against minority-owned, women-owned or emerging small business.

Denise Lafond

Operations Manager

Friendly House, Inc.

[email protected]

503.935.5286 (direct line)

503.228.4391

www.friendlyhouseinc.org

Building community, one friend at a time.