Centro Presente seeks a highly motivated Education Organizer
Teaching Is Organizing! We want to teach for change and build social justice starting in the classroom!
Centro Presente is looking for a highly motivated individual dedicated to racial, social and economic justice to serve as our Education Organizer. This bilingual person would coordinate our adult education program, Education for Empowerment (EFE), which offers ESL, Spanish literacy, U.S. citizenship and computer skills classes to the Latino immigrant community of Massachusetts. We are seeking a dynamic and flexible organizer who can run an education program consisting of a cadre of dedicated volunteer teachers, and hundreds of immigrant students over the course of the year’s classes, while expanding the social justice organizing components of our popular education curriculum and inspiring students to become involved in the advocacy activities of Centro Presente.
Qualifications:
A passion for social and economic justice and a strong commitment to the mission of Centro Presente
Bilingual (English and Spanish) required
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Education
Community organizing and activist experience preferred
Experience in program coordination/management in a nonprofit or university setting
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Knowledge of popular education techniques is a plus
Attention to detail and ability to multitask in a fast-paced office environment
Flexibility to accommodate a non-traditional working schedule
To Apply:
Send resume, cover letter and two letters of recommendation to Patricia Montes, Executive Director, pmontes@cpresente.org
Applications are due no later than Tuesday January 31st 2012. There will be 2 rounds of interviews starting February 1st.
The job description is on our web site. No phone calls please.
Education for Empowerment (EFE)
Centro Presente’s dedication to the self-sufficiency of the Latino immigrant community and to the creation of community power is evident in its unique Adult Education program, EFE. While addressing the very real educational needs of the community, our programs use this teaching moment to educate our members about social and economic justice. The fundamental concerns of immigrant rights, of worker rights, of civic participation, of the root causes of immigration and of the global movement for economic and social justice for all people are incorporated into our course curricula. In receiving classes in English, our students also receive training in leadership development and community organizing.
Centro Presente
17 Inner Belt Road, Somerville, MA, 02143
Phone: 617-629-4731
Fax: 617-629-2436
Job Description
Education Organizer
Education for Empowerment Program
Organizational Overview:
Centro Presente is a member-driven state-wide Latin American immigrant organization dedicated to the self-determination and self-sufficiency of the Latin American immigrant community of Massachusetts. Operated and led primarily by Central American immigrants, Centro Presente advances immigrant rights and economic and social justice. Through the integration of community organizing, leadership development and basic services, Centro Presente strives to give our members voice and build community power.
General Description of Position: Under the supervision of the Executive Director, the Education Organizer is responsible for the overall administration of our Education for Empowerment program. The Education Organizer is responsible for setting and achieving program goals and objectives related to serving at least 450 students who enroll in ESL, citizenship, computer and literacy classes.
Education for Empowerment (EFE)
Centro Presente’s dedication to the self-sufficiency of the Latino immigrant community and to the creation of community power is evident in its unique Adult Education program, EFE. While addressing the very real educational needs of the community, our programs use this teaching moment to educate our members about social and economic justice. The fundamental concerns of immigrant rights, of worker rights, of civic participation, of the root causes of immigration and of the global movement for economic and social justice for all people are incorporated into our course curricula. In receiving classes in English, our students also receive training in leadership development and community organizing.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Management/Leadership
• Work with Executive Director in the development of a yearly work plan, including goals, objectives, activities, timeline, monitoring and evaluation methods and budget. The annual plan should include projections for number of students, cycles and classes that will be offered in the different areas: ESL, citizenship, computer and literacy. Plan should include, whenever it is appropriate, plan for growth in other areas. Finally, annual plan should include methods by which program will be evaluated and estimates of costs and revenues (budget).
• Develop appropriate policies and procedures for the efficient day to day operation of program.
• Develop, implement and maintain a computerized program evaluation system including: basic demographics, program outcomes, teacher/volunteer effectiveness, fees collected and other appropriate variables to be measured and tracked.
• Monitor yearly departmental budget.
• Work with fundraising department in the preparation of grant proposals and reports and participate in funders’ site visits.
• Prepare and submit to Executive Director a monthly report updating progress towards goal/objective achievement and documenting successes and challenges. The report should document progress toward achievement of key program outcomes.
• Coordinate/integrate adult education program with other program initiatives at Centro Presente, i.e., legal services, community organizing and mobilization activities, etc.
Represent Centro Presente in external coalitions, alliances and at community events.
Perform weekly home visits and outreach activities
Door knocking activities
Produce a monthly radio show with the participation of the students
II. Program Coordination
• Recruit students through various outreach methods including but not limited to radio announcements, flyers and in-house outreach among our clients and other constituents.
• Ensure that classes are appropriately staffed through teacher and volunteer recruitment.
• Ensure that education provided is top quality and that curriculum agrees with Centro Presente’s mission and goals through teacher and volunteer supervision and through regular revision and updates of curricula.
• Ensure orderly enrollment process at the beginning of each cycle, including accurate in-take process for appropriate student placement.
• Organize class schedules for each cycle
• Prepare student lists for each class.
• Prepare classrooms to ensure that teachers have appropriate classroom supplies and that the rooms are neat and orderly.
• Ensure staff/volunteer coverage during class meetings, including evenings and Saturday mornings.
III. Program Administration
• Receive all student payments and work with finance department to maintain proper records and reconcile student payments.
• Procure department’s program supplies.
• Maintain teacher and volunteer records, including hiring paperwork and time sheets.
• Maintain program’s database through regular entering of appropriate program records.
IV. General
• Participate in departmental, inter-departmental and organization-wide staff meetings to improve coordination and integration of work and to contribute to overall departmental and agency-wide organizational development.
• Participate in cross-organization work groups or teams to coordinate Centro Presente’s community events and to enhance Centro Presente’s administrative functioning.
• Close the office on Monday and Wednesday evenings.
• Submit bi-weekly time-sheet
• Participate in staff rotation list to provide lunch-time reception coverage.
