Nature and Scope
CDF’s mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. The CDF Freedom Schools® program is a direct service initiative coordinated nationally by the Children’s Defense Fund in partnership with local community organizations. It is an educational and cultural enrichment program that provides summer options for children and strengthens family and community involvement.
The mission of CDF Freedom Schools programs is to boost student motivation to read, generate more positive attitudes toward learning, increase self-esteem and connect the needs of children and families to the resources of their communities. The program serves children in grades kindergarten through twelfth for six to eight weeks. The activity based Integrated Reading Curriculum (IRC), which is aligned to the Common Core State Standards, integrates reading, conflict resolution, and social action, and is designed to promote social, cultural, and historical awareness. A multi-year assessment of CDF Freedom Schools program sites continuously demonstrates the effectiveness of the IRC, which has proven to avert children’s summer learning loss in reading achievement.
Beyond Housing, in collaboration with Deaconess Foundation and with support from the Berges Family Foundation, will sponsor a network of CDF Freedom Schools programs for children in grades kindergarten through five in the St. Louis region. The six-week program provides summer enrichment around five essential components: high-quality academic enrichment, parent and family involvement, civic engagement and social action, intergenerational leadership development, and nutritional, physical, and mental health. Enrichment is driven by the Integrated Reading Curriculum (IRC) which primarily focuses on literacy to curb summer learning loss and close opportunity gaps.
We will hire four individuals, as Site Coordinators, who are committed to active lives of leadership and service for children. Individuals with a valid Missouri teaching certificate are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application Process:
Please complete the form on this webpage and attach 1) resume and 2) three references, all saved as one document, or send in an email cdffreedomschool@beyondhousing.org. Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis.
Employment Type:
- Full-time, Seasonal, Non-exempt
Reports to:
- Project Director, Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools® Program
Salary Range:
- $7,750 stipend
Location:
- St. Louis, Missouri. (Remote work unavailable for this position)
Site Coordinator Position Description:
The Site Coordinator manages the day-to-day operations and serves as the supervisor for one CDF Freedom Schools program site. The Site Coordinator should be capable of leading an intergenerational staff. The Si Coordinator should be committed to the goals of the program, able to work collaboratively with all program constituents and be familiar with the culture and dynamics of the community.
Responsibilities
- Serve in a supervisory capacity and primary contact for the Servant Leader Interns, reporting to the Project Director
- Work in conjunction with site leadership to recruit, hire, train and manage staff
- Work with site leadership to recruit children and families that are our most vulnerable populations
- Attend all required trainings and ensure all program staff attends required training
- March 20 – 23 Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute: March Training for Site Coordinators (Virtual)
- June 3 – June 8 Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute: National Training for Site Coordinators and Servant Leader Interns (In-Person, Travel Outside St. Louis Required)
- All local trainings
- Work with site leadership to plan and facilitate local pre and post trainings before and after the Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute National Training
- Maintain the safety of all staff and scholars, which includes but is not limited to the following:
- Secure staff background checks and clearance
- Guarantee onsite safety procedures and protocols are in compliance with The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
- Communicate and confirm that all staff, scholars, and parents understand site guidelines
- Work with site staff to plan and implement all program components with fidel
- Work with Project Director to coordinate afternoon activities, field trips, family engagement initiative and volunteer responsibilities
- Work with Project Director to identify and schedule guest readers and lead Harambee
- Work in conjunction with site leadership to check book inventory upon receipt and notify the CDF designee of any discrepancies
- Ensure Servant leader Interns have the necessary books, materials, and supplies for daily activities through the scheduled collection and review of lesson plans
- Conduct daily debrief sessions to provide technical support and feedback for site staff in an effort maintain site cohesion
- Input child, parent and staff enrollment data in CDF’s reporting system
- Maintain regular communication and timely correspondence with emails and requests with the CDF Freedom Schools Project Director and national staff
- Submit all required documents, data reports, and evaluations to CDF by the required deadline
Qualification
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
- Servant Leader Intern or Site Coordinator experience at a CDF Freedom Schools site is preferred
- Possess strong leadership and management skills to lead and motivate an intergenerational staff
- Ability to translate a strategic plan into direct implementation
- Ability to motivate others, pay attention to detail, and lead long-term planning
- Solid commitment to the success and well-being of children
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Exhibit positive behavior and attitude, modeling a mature and professional demeanor.
- Ability to attend all mandatory trainings and meetings as required by the CDF Freedom Schools/ national staff
- Ability to implement the CDF Freedom Schools program with full fidelity
- Strong appreciation and understanding of individual cultural history and the willingness to be open and respectful of other cultures
- Provide authorization for background check for criminal and child protective finding
