ELL Instructor at Rikers Island (Part-Time)

About the role

The Petey Greene Program supports the academic goals of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people through high-quality volunteer tutoring programs, while educating volunteers on the injustice manifest in our carceral system. We operate the largest multi-state volunteer tutoring program for currently and formerly incarcerated people.

Responsibilities

• Aim to provide a high-quality educational service that centers students' goals and interests, supports student engagement, adapts to students working across a variety of levels, implements culturally responsive and trauma-informed teaching practices, provides wrap-around educational support by engaging with PGP volunteer tutors, and incorporates student academic progress data to inform and adjust instruction.
• Regional Programming Responsibilities:
  • Assess and identify ELL student goals and levels.
  • Design engaging ELL lessons, covering English speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, that are appropriately leveled and relevant for approximately 2-10 students per class.
  • Facilitate 4-9 class sessions per week, 1.5-2 hours per class, based on agreed-upon schedule.
  • Plan and implement formative and summative assessments, as appropriate.
  • Incorporate PGP volunteer tutors into lesson plans to offer supplementary and 1-on-1 support to incarcerated students outside of class time.
  • Review and provide feedback on student work between classes, as needed.
  • Collect and review student academic progress data on a weekly basis and adjust curricula, as needed.
  • Review and implement feedback on curricula and instruction from students, PGP colleagues, and NYCDOC staff.
  • Adjust and adapt teaching as needed to ensure ongoing alignment with student needs.
  • Provide a positive educational presence at the facility by building rapport with learners and discussing students' academic, personal, and professional goals.
  • Collaborate with other instructors and the PGP’s Program Manager - ELL Programs at Rikers Island to provide a continuum of educational support for learners and a supportive educational community.
  • On in-person days, participate in daily on-site meetings with PGP’s Rikers team members to align services, ensure coordinated student support, and collectively navigate daily work inside a carceral space.
• National Organizational Responsibilities:
  • Participates in and prepares for weekly meetings with the regional team and all PGP staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in education or a related field.
• Certification or degree in TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA.
• At least 1 year of experience providing direct ELL instruction for adults.
• Familiarity with adult learning theory, culturally responsive pedagogy, and trauma-informed teaching practices.
• Ability to interpret academic progress data and implement data-driven approaches to instruction.
• Ability to adjust communication style for various stakeholders (incarcerated students, correctional facility administrators, university or other educational partners, volunteer tutors, etc.).
• Ability to develop, implement and adapt curricula to meet program needs while remaining aligned with the organization’s mission and vision.
• Ability to develop and adapt processes and lesson materials for low-tech/no-tech environments.
• Extremely organized and detail-oriented.
• Ability to problem solve.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Proficiency in Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Calendar.
• Awareness of issues related to mass incarceration and broader social justice concerns.

Skills

• Ability to interpret academic progress data and implement data-driven approaches to instruction.
• Ability to adjust communication style for various stakeholders (incarcerated students, correctional facility administrators, university or other educational partners, volunteer tutors, etc.).
• Ability to develop, implement and adapt curricula to meet program needs while remaining aligned with the organization’s mission and vision.
• Ability to develop and adapt processes and lesson materials for low-tech/no-tech environments.
• Extremely organized and detail-oriented.
• Ability to problem solve.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Proficiency in Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Calendar.
• Awareness of issues related to mass incarceration and broader social justice concerns.

Benefits

• 401k retirement plan.
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Paid winter break between Christmas and New Year’s day, in addition to 10 paid holidays throughout the year.
• Full-time employees accrue 20 days of vacation time, 1 floating holiday, and 12 days of sick time per year. Part-time employees’ accrual is prorated.