ITWorks Instructor, NPower PA

Posted by on November 26, 2012

ITWorks Instructor

ITWorks is a life-changing program for at-risk young adults who are 18-24 years old, have a GED or high school diploma, but have not completed college. In southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware, more than 100,000 young people meet these criteria.  Most are living on incomes well below the poverty line if they are working at all.  There is a 72% unemployment rate among this demographic. Currently, workplace internships and other opportunities to gain job skills and experience are available to only a fraction of these young people.

Through 11 weeks of intensive classroom training, students work toward their Cisco IT Essentials certification and CompTIA A+ professional certification, learning the skills they need to be successful in entry-level IT positions.  Students also receive intensive career guidance, mentoring, and valuable life skills that will help them succeed in their new careers.  ITWorks provides these students with an experience that will help improve their income potential for life and help them become self-sufficient.  All these services are provided free of charge to the student.  Learn more at http://www.itworks.org.

Who we’re looking for
We are looking for a gifted education professional with a strong commitment to the mission and values of our organization and program. A strong candidate would have the desire, appreciation, and patience to work with the unique strengths and challenges of our target population, have a strong sense of accountability for student achievement, have the interest in working with and motivating students, ability to adjust instructional strategies in order to reach goals, and be excited to make a difference in these young adults’ lives.

Our instructor will have the flexibility and ownership to create a strong classroom, get to teach in a non-traditional setting, and get to work with students in a short, intensive training program to have a positive effect on their future.

Masters level Education Degrees are preferred.
About the Position
This position requires the candidate to be comfortable, or become comfortable, with a wide spectrum of technology, from basic computing including hardware and software, to setting up & maintaining networks, database administration and basic web development. The instructor is responsible for curriculum delivery as well as continuing to improve it. The instructor will lead a training class that prepares students to enter the workforce with the skills to be a junior technology professional.

If you’re coming from a teaching background, it’s probably intimidating to look at a program that’s so tech heavy.  We would train you in the curriculum, but you have to have interest in it.

This is a full time job with benefits.  Our main office is located in Philadelphia, with operations around the region, including Wilmington, Delaware.

The instructor is expected to work closely with the students to maintain an environment of trust, nurture, and high engagement in a way that contributes to the students’ success.

The instructor will be responsible for the following:

•    Daily instruction of IT: Help Desk, Network Admin skills to a class of 18
•    Desktop Support and Troubleshooting: Windows 7 & XP; Network Connectivity; Printing; Internet and Email Applications
•    Networking: Peer to Peer and Client Server Technology and Applications: Disaster Recovery & Backup Procedures, Active Directory, File and Print Service, Network Security, and Imaging Software like Ghost
•    Increase critical thinking, analysis, and problem solving skills of students
•    Provide guidance and structure for self-directed and life-long learning
•    Be able to impart real-world scenarios that are outside of “core” course of study (example: handling server down-time with users, etc)
•    Produce and instruct high-quality, well-prepared classes where students learn, are challenged and enjoy the learning process
•    Ensure students’ technical skills meet needs of internship partners and job placement requirements
•    Help to maintain and create internship host partnerships
•    Interact with, and guide the work of, Friday Session volunteers.

To Apply

Please e-mail your resume and a thoughtful cover letter with the subject line “ITWorks Instructor” to: resumes@npowerpa.org.  To learn more about ITWorks please visit http://www.itworks.org.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. NPower PA offers a competitive salary and benefits, commensurate with experience and skills. NPower PA is an equal opportunity employer.