AmeriCorps Program Coordinator
The Power of Play
These positions are for the 2013-14 school year. Interviews for these positions are held throughout the spring and summer with start dates in early/mid August.
About AmeriCorps:
AmeriCorps is national movement of “service.” It’s a chance to apply your skills and ideals toward helping others and meeting critical needs in the community. It is an opportunity to make a big difference in your life and in the lives of those around you. Each year, AmeriCorps offers more than 75,000 opportunities for individuals of all ages and backgrounds to “serve” through a local or national nonprofit organization. Serving in a non profit as an AmeriCorps member is an intensive experience that meets our country’s critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. AmeriCorps programs focus on work to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. More information can be found on our AmeriCorps FAQ.
About the Position:
Our AmeriCorps member position or "Coach" is a full-time position bringing healthy play and physical activity to low-income schools to create a positive environment for learning and teaching. Members are trained and placed at an urban elementary school to run Playworks’ physical activity program focused on teaching and organizing safe and inclusive games before, during and after school. Members teach conflict resolution strategies, inspire all children to get off the sidelines and into the game and work to generate more community and family involvement through recruiting and supporting volunteers. This term of service will span approximately one full school year -- typically starting sometime in August or September and ending in May, June or July. Member start and end dates may vary depending on the academic calendar at the member's school site.
Program Duties
Planning and implementing positive sports and play based programming during recess, in school and after school hours at a public elementary school.
- Recess - create a safe and inclusive playground yard and be a significant presence on the yard by organizing and playing large games with 20+ students as well as role modeling
- Junior Coach Program – organize a youth leadership program by facilitating trainings and working with teachers and staff
- Class Game Time - lead individual classes in skills building, cooperative games, and activities to increase awareness of rules and boundaries at recess
- Out of School Program – continue to promote Playworks’ core values in an out of school setting through an after school program, including small group homework, snack and physical activity or a before school program, consisting of early morning play and physical activities on campus
- Interscholastic leagues - recruit and coach students for developmental sports leagues
- Volunteer Program - recruit and coordinate volunteers (e.g. school family members) to build a school community that supports positive, inclusive play and physical activity
- Service Projects - participate in monthly service projects and national days of service, working together as a team to serve the community
Administrative Duties
- Maintain communication between Playworks staff, school staff, teachers, families, and volunteers
- Collect and maintain paperwork including organizing daily, weekly, and monthly schedules, timesheets and volunteer logs
- Collect and enter data for various grant requirements in online database
Want to know more about the coach position?
Visit our Coach FAQ page
- Demonstrated experience leading groups of children with the ability to engage and inspire youth
- Demonstrated commitment to serving the greater community
- Commitment to serving for one full school-year and completing 1700 hours of service during that school-year (40+ hours/week of service, including participating in occasional night and weekend service opportunities such as community service projects)
- Motivated self-starter with strong interpersonal communication skills, both oral and written
- Humorous and playful with ability to set clear goals and follow through with flexible and creative problem solving tools
- Conceptual ability for the larger perspective with a strong attention to detail and multitasking
- Experience interacting with diverse communities and the ability to integrate into and existing school community
- Knowledge of computer and internet based programs for use in communication and grant requirements
- Individuals will be enrolled as AmeriCorps service members (info at www.americorps.gov)
- Living allowance for the service period
- Education award for use at Title IV institutions or to pay back qualified student loans (pending completion of a minimum of 1700 hours of service)
- Health plan includes medical benefits
- Possible child care expense reimbursement (http://www.americorpschildcare.com/)
This position is for the 2013-14 school year. Interviews for these positions are held throughout the spring and summer with start dates in early/mid August.
- Please no phone calls
- Position will remain open until filled
- Playworks employees please visit the HR Google site to submit your resume and cover letter
As an equal opportunity program, Playworks encourages applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, or physical ability, and evaluates all candidates on a merit basis.
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