GED Instructor

• LAYC/MMYC in Montgomery County seeks a full-time GED Instructor to provide educational services to LAYC/MMYC youth ages 16 to 24 as part of a collaborative project in Silver Spring.
• The GED Instructor will work to reconnect youth and young adults to educational, workforce, and community-based services.
• The GED Instructor must be comfortable working in a blended classroom environment and developing strategies to meet the myriads of student learning styles and needs.
• Additionally, the educator should have familiarity with Positive Youth Development, popular education, critical pedagogy, and curriculum development.
• This position works in close partnership with all programs to ensure youth are getting all their basic needs met through case management.

Additionally, this position ensures youth have access to additional services such as workshops and curriculum to build community and develop life and socioemotional skills. This position requires a commitment to youth development and the ability to inspire lifelong learning.

This full-time position serves 40 hours a week. It is based 4 days on-site and one day virtual responsibilities (eligible after 60-day performance review).

Join us and support youth to live, work, and study with dignity, hope, and joy!

Latin American Youth Center’s (LAYC) mission is to empower youth to achieve a successful transition to adulthood, through comprehensive and innovative programs that address youths’ social, academic, and career needs. To achieve this mission, LAYC provides services and opportunities to approximately 4,000 individuals annually to support academic achievement, promote healthy behavior, and guide youth towards successful adulthood.

We believe in a future where all youth pursue their dreams, reach their goals and acquire the skills and self-confidence to live a life of purpose, connection, contribution and joy.

Competitive benefits

• In addition to having a friendly work environment, we are pleased to offer the following benefits to our employees.
• Medical, dental, and vision plans with prescription coverage.
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Voluntary long-term disability and supplemental life insurance
• Matching 401(k) program beginning at hire
• 3 weeks paid vacation leave per year; PTO is accrued, increasing to 4 weeks with tenure.
• 12 paid holidays per year, 12 days paid sick leave per year and 4 wellness days. Sick and wellness days are prorated during your first year based on your start date, then available in full in subsequent years.
• Eight weeks paid parental leave, including adoption and foster care.
• Health club discounts
• One to two days per week of telework for most positions (eligible after first 60 days).

Essential responsibilities

Curriculum Development

• Organize and develop engaging curriculum frameworks for GED classes, including lessons and activities that

• reinforce students’ understanding of academic concepts.
• There are usually 3 hours of planning per day and an administrative day on most Fridays.

Student Engagement

• Instruct, individually and in groups, using various teaching methods such as popular education, differentiated instruction, and/or critical pedagogy.
• Offer individual and small group tutoring hours.
• Assist with the recruitment and retention of participants for the GED classes.
• Plan and supervise culturally relevant class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers, contests, and other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from these activities.
• Provide services to learners with diverse educational needs and goals, including those with different learning styles, IEPs, and 504 educational plans.
• Build meaningful connections and support with youth using Positive Youth Development principles to better understand and support their academic, personal, and career needs both in and outside of the classroom.

Assessment

• Administer GED Ready practice tests on the computer.
• Assist students to register for the official GED examination.
• Ensure youth feel ready by providing them assessments and tutoring before they take the official tests.

Data Management

• All data needs to be inputted on a weekly basis.
• Update and enter engagements/attendance in the Efforts to Outcome (ETO) database system.
• Monitor students' progress and maintain accurate progress reports for all youth.
• Submit monthly reports to the supervisor regarding the status of GED programming.
• Work with all programs to ensure all GED program outcomes are met.

Department Collaboration (applies to all staff)

• Develop positive relationships and maintain regular contact and communication with students and staff.
• Work in partnership with case managers, direct service staff, and program managers to ensure youth are aware of and have access to all programming and services on-site.
• Coordinate education and employment-related information and services for the students. Work directly with workforce development specialists to identify and enroll potential students eligible for the job readiness program.
• Work with external partners to integrate curriculum tied workshops to the GED classes. This also includes being present and assisting during the workshop as well.
• Contribute to a collaborative, team-oriented environment by supporting organizational events and initiatives beyond classroom instruction. This includes assisting with planning and execution of youth-focused events such as holiday celebrations, GED graduations, back-to-school events, and other center-wide activities.

Professional Development

• Attend professional meetings, conferences, and workshops to maintain and improve professional competence. Participate in staff retreats, agency training, and office-wide initiatives to strengthen teamwork, and maintain alignment with LAYC’s mission.
• Prepare for quarterly observation of class instruction, typically conducted by the Manager and Director.
• Meet regularly with supervisor to track all programmatic goals and outcomes.

Compliance

• Adhere to all LAYC personnel policies and complete all duties as assigned by the Program Manager.
• All full-time LAYC staff are required to complete LAYC’s Positive Youth Development (PYD) training series within one year of hire, in alignment with the organization’s youth-centered approach and practice model.

• Education & experience requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in education, Human Services, or related.
• Experience in teaching, tutoring, or providing educational services to youth.

• Skills & qualifications
• Knowledge of positive youth development, popular education, and/or critical pedagogy.
• Working knowledge of GED 2014 official testing.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with people of diverse educational, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
• Strong and effective spoken and written (English) communication skills, including public speaking, facilitating groups, and presenting workshops.
• Basic knowledge of data entry systems such as ETO is a plus.
• Complete criminal and child abuse/neglect clearances.
• Flexible, energetic, positive individual with a commitment to youth development in a high-quality, collaborative, and respectful environment.
• LAYC/MMYC requires the COVID-19 vaccine of all its employees. You will be asked to provide proof of vaccination at the time of your interview and at your onboarding

This position is at-will, meaning that either you or LAYC may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, in accordance with applicable law.

Performance Evaluation

In addition to an annual performance evaluation, a 90-day introductory review will be conducted to assess organizational fit and ensure performance expectations are being met.

Physical requirements

This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear, see, and lift small objects up to 10 lbs. May require the ability to travel locally and/or regionally.

LAYC/MMYC is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing opportunities without regard to age, race, color, pregnancy, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or status within any other protected group.

TO APPLY

Please submit a cover letter and resume.