Academic Tutor

Description About the Organization

Canal Alliance exists to break the generational cycle of poverty for Latino immigrants and their families by lifting barriers to their success.

Canal Alliance is a nonprofit champion of immigrants who are challenged by a lack of resources and an unfamiliar environment. Every day, we educate, empower, support, and partner with motivated immigrants to best meet all their unique needs—from putting food on the table, to becoming American citizens, to learning English, to graduating from college.

Canal Alliance strives for a trauma-informed collaborative and inclusive culture. We invest in high quality services, professional development, and work-life balance.

Position Summary

• The Academic Tutor is a key member of Canal Alliance's University Prep (UP!) team, providing individualized and small-group academic support to first-generation middle and high school students on their path toward college readiness and success.
• This is a part-time, temporary position averaging 12 – 14 hours per week.
• Tutors are assigned to middle school, high school, or both programs as needed, and may be assigned one or more subject areas including Math, English, Science, or other content areas — making this a flexible role that adapts to student and program demand.
• The Academic Tutor works closely with the Supervisor of Academic Success, Academic Coaches, and program supervisors to ensure students receive targeted, consistent academic support that strengthens their skills, builds their confidence, and keeps them on track toward graduation and postsecondary success.
• A successful candidate is a passionate believer in the power of education to transform the lives of immigrant youth and their families.

Essential Functions: Tutoring & Academic Support

• Provide individualized and small-group tutoring in assigned subject area(s) — which may include Math, English, Science, or other academic content — to UP!
• Students in grades 6–11 as assigned.
• Assess student learning, identify gaps in understanding, and adapt instructional approaches to meet each student's level and learning needs.
• Conduct regular goal-setting conversations with students to build ownership over their academic progress and develop study and time-management habits.
• Modify tutoring strategies based on ongoing student data, academic coach input, and supervisor guidance.
• Provide homework help and subject-specific skill-building support as needed.
• Collaborate with the UP!
• Team to develop and design curriculum for future academic workshops.
• Student Relationship & Program Participation Build positive, respectful, and culturally responsive relationships with students that support engagement, trust, and academic motivation.
• Communicate consistently with students and assist in identifying academic needs; escalate concerns to the Academic Success Supervisor or relevant program supervisor as appropriate.
• Support a safe, inclusive, and positive program environment during all tutoring hours.
• Participate in weekly or bi-monthly team meetings with the Supervisor of Academic Success and the broader tutoring and coaching team.
• Data & Documentation Maintain accurate tutoring session notes and student progress records using Salesforce or designated program tools.
• Track student academic progress and contribute observations to the Academic Success Supervisor to inform coaching and intervention strategies.
• Other Responsibilities Support Canal Alliance and UP! program events as needed.
• Participate in training and onboarding activities related to program tools, student support approaches, and Canal Alliance's values.
• Represent Canal Alliance's commitment to equity, inclusion, and cultural responsiveness in all interactions with students, families, and staff.
• Collaboration & Working Relationships

• The Academic Tutor works within the UP! team and coordinates closely with the following: Students (Grades 6–11, as assigned): Primary relationship; direct tutoring and academic skill-building with a student-centered and culturally responsive approach.
• Supervisor of Academic Success: Direct supervisor provides scheduling, assignments, professional development, and performance support.
• Academic Coaches: Close day-to-day partners; coordinate individual student needs, progress, and support strategies to ensure consistent student experience.
• Middle School Program Supervisor and/or High School Program Supervisor: Program content partners; may share student information and coordinate student-level needs relevant to the assigned program.
• Fellow Tutors & Volunteers: Collaborate Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Knowledge Strong content-area knowledge in assigned subject area(s)—which may include middle or high school level Math, English, Science, or other academic disciplines—and the ability to explain concepts clearly across varied student skill levels.
• Effective tutoring and instructional strategies for youth, including the ability to identify learning gaps and differentiate support.
• Basic understanding of systemic barriers faced by first-generation, immigrant, and low-income students in educational settings Familiarity with Salesforce or digital tools for session notes and progress tracking preferred.
• Skills Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to connect authentically and build warm, respectful, and culturally responsive relationships with diverse middle and high school youth from immigrant and first-generation backgrounds.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills for working with students and UP!
• Team members.
• Organizational skills to manage session notes, student data, and multiple student needs simultaneously Proficiency with Google Suite and basic computer literacy required.
• Abilities Adapt tutoring approaches flexibly across subject areas, grade levels, and individual student needs as assigned.
• Work reliably and independently with minimal supervision while remaining aligned with supervisor guidance.
• Maintain consistent availability for after-school hours, Monday–Thursday, as required by the assigned program schedule.
• Demonstrate genuine commitment to Canal Alliance's mission and to the academic success of immigrant and underserved youth.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or actively working toward a degree required.
• A minimum of 1 year of tutoring or teaching experience with middle or high school students is required.
• Strong content knowledge in at least one of the following: Math, English, or Science.
• Experience working with Latino, immigrant, or low-income communities preferred.
• Experience supporting English language learners preferred.
• First-generation college graduates and individuals with firsthand experience navigating educational systems as immigrants are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.