Family Literacy Instructor

POSITION SUMMARY: 

Are you a person of compassion? An advocate for justice? Someone who stands up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaks out for the marginalized, the exploited and the forgotten?  Do you believe in our calling as Christians to welcome the least of these and love our neighbor? If you answered ‘yes’, to any of the above, World Relief, and millions of people around the world need you.

Recently arrived refugee children in the United States face the unique challenges of adjusting to a new cultural environment, mitigating past traumas associated with seeking refuge, learning a new language, and adjusting to myriad new situations. World Relief Western WA (WRWW) provides Family Literacy Classes as a space for refugee children ages 0-5 to participate in Kindergarten readiness, English language acquisition, and social-emotional learning activities. We are launching additional classes in response to the many recently arrived families from Afghanistan.
WRWW seeks a Family Literacy Instructor to facilitate these classes. The Family Literacy Instructor will be responsible for planning age-appropriate lessons for students, teaching, classroom management, and maintaining student records. Caregivers of children simultaneously participate in English as a Second Language (ESL) and cultural orientation classes on-site and are given tools to ensure their children are successful in their development and preparation for Kindergarten in the American school system.

Compensation: $24.50- $27.00 DOE

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

• Work closely with families and children who have experienced trauma and displacement, helping them navigate these changes and challenges with a playful curriculum that engages and empowers children as they learn and grow
• Communicate closely with families and children and carefully assess needs and create personalized plans for quality early learning experiences and kindergarten preparedness
• Serve as primary instructor (for children and parent/child together times) of Family Literacy Classes serving newly arrived Afghans
• Plan and implement daily lessons and activities following a curriculum, both in person and online (as needed) classroom instruction - base this on WAkids and early learning best practices
• Continue to develop, refine and preserve early childhood curriculum for future use
• Create class calendar and plan class events (holiday celebrations, potlucks, etc.) alongside adult ESL instructors and other staff
• Keep classroom organized, clean, neat, and safe for children
• Foster a positive and respectful learning environment
• Manage student behavior through establishing and implementing positive classroom norms
• Communicate with the Children and Youth Programs Manager regarding class progress and any issues that arise
• Ensure classroom has appropriate material and equipment needed to support planned activities
• Maintain student attendance records
  
  
• Complete pre-/post-assessments of children and families, to assess Kindergarten readiness, language acquisition and social emotional learning
• Conduct program evaluations and seek community feedback on a regular basis
• Work alongside others in the Youth and Family Team, assisting the program as a whole and being a strong and supportive team member. Contribute to Youth and Family Program reporting and work planning.
• Attend Kaleidoscope Play & Learn (KP&L) and other relevant trainings and events
• Complete necessary reports and evaluations required by funders as applicable in conjunction with Children and Youth Programs Manager and ESL Program Manager
• Continue to grow existing relationships with community and church partners
• Communicate with and oversee volunteers on-site at Family Literacy Class
• Other related tasks as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Demonstrated ability to implement innovative curricula and teach quality, engaging lessons in a culturally sensitive manner

• Experience implementing and refining a curriculum, lesson-planning and individualizing learning activities depending on each child's developmental level and need of support
• Familiarity with WAkids and early learning best practices
• Skilled at classroom management
• Demonstrated experience in planning and managing robust program assessments and evaluation
• Desire to serve children and their families as a whole unit for greater success for the whole family, and experience successfully engaging families in children's learning and development
• Experience working with English Language Learner students
• Committed to continual professional development and skill development in MEL practices and methods
• Ability to communicate effectively, professionally, collaboratively, and positively with students, volunteers, and other staff
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Good organizational skills and ability to prioritize and balance multiple tasks/deadlines
• Dependability, flexibility, and a desire to learn
• Proficiency in Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint); previous database experience helpful
• Individuals with lived immigrant experience strongly encouraged to apply

REQUIREMENTS:

• Mature and personal Christian faith
• Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief
• Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities
• Able to affirm and/or acknowledge World Reliefs Core Beliefs, Statement of Faith, Christian Identity and National Evangelicals For the Health of The Nation document
• Experience with kindergarten readiness and social and emotional development and support required
• Demonstrated ability to work sensitively and effectively with children and families from a variety of cultural backgrounds required; previous experience working with immigrants and refugees preferred
• At least 2 years of experience in the early learning field, including direct service/teaching
• AA (or higher) degree in Early Childhood Education or related field, or equivalent
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, and oral proficiency in Dari and/or Pashto required
• First Aid/CPR certification required (or ability to quickly secure certification)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations
• The ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10-15 pounds
• Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and read application information
• The employee frequently is required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

• General office setting
• Great lengths of time working on computer, reading from computer screen, entering information, standing at copier or fax machine, and some time on the phone or in skype meetings may be required
• Year-end archiving activities involve repeated lifting and bending
• Physical, emotional and intellectual demands
• Equipment used: Employee computer (desktop or laptop), printer, and copier
• All of the above duties and responsibilities are essential job functions subject to reasonable accommodation. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. Individuals may be required to perform any other job-related instructions as requested by their supervisor, subject to reasonable accommodation. This position description is not all-inclusive and is always under review. 

World Relief offers a competitive benefits package (25 hours per week): 

World Relief contributes to monthly premiums: 

• Medical 
• Dental  

Additional Benefits: 

• Offer 16 Paid Holidays! 
• Vision
• Offer Paid Sick and Vacation Leave 
• Paid Maternity & Paternity Leave
• Parental Leave
• FSAs: Medical & Dependent Care, & Commuter Funding 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (employee, spouse, and children)  
• Hybrid Schedule Available

World Relief pays 100% for eligible employees: 

• Group Term Life (employee, spouse, and children) 
• Long Term & Short-term Disability 
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) 
• Long Distant Travel Insurance  
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)  

World Relief - Retirement: 

• 401K & Roth  
• WR matches up to 4%, then an additional quarter percent up to 10% 
• Eligibility: Full Time is eligible after 3 months of employment. Part time is eligible after 1000 hours in a year  

World Relief Discounts (Immediately Eligible): 

• Verizon 
• Pet Insurance through Nationwide 
• Home and Auto insurance through Liberty Mutual 

 We are proud to be an EEO/AA employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.

For World Relief staff, strong commitment to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief is essential, and Christian faith is a prerequisite for employment, based upon United States federal guidelines provided in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Legal Background in the United States

World Relief is both an equal opportunity employer and a faith-based religious organization. This means that we conduct hiring without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, marital status, parental status, membership in any labor organization, political ideology, or disability of an otherwise qualified individual. The status of World Relief as an equal opportunity employer does not prevent the organization from hiring staff based on their religious beliefs, so that all staff share the same religious commitment.

Pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 702 (42 U.S.C. 2000e 1(a) World Relief has the right to, and does, hire only candidates who agree with World Relief’s Statement of Faith.

Salary : $25 - $27