Technology Coordinator, Computers for Youth

Posted by on September 7, 2009

Position: Technology Coordinator – Part-time position
Location: Philadelphia, PA

ABOUT COMPUTERS FOR YOUTH
Computers for Youth (CFY) is tackling an important national problem—across our country, we are failing to provide low-income children the support they need during the critical middle school years. As a result, test scores (particularly in math) are falling between the fifth and sixth grades. CFY’s approach is innovative and effective. Unlike efforts that focus solely on the classroom, CFY helps low-income students do better academically by improving their learning environment at home. Specifically, CFY partners with high-poverty middle schools to improve the educational resources in students’ homes, enhance parent-child interaction around learning, and help teachers connect classroom learning with the home. Our innovative technology (topnotch educational software loaded onto refurbished computers) in conjunction with family training both enriches students’ home learning environment and increases the confidence of their parents as learning partners. CFY has shown significant results on student test scores, class effort and parental confidence in helping their children learn. Over the past decade, we have reached more than 35,000 students and parents from 50 schools in New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. We are now growing our Affiliate Network to reach all 50 U.S. states and beginning to work on a national scale to
influence education policy. For more information, please visit http://www.cfy.org.

PHILADELPHIA GOALS
Since the launch of the Philadelphia office in spring 2006, we’ve distributed over 2,100 home computer systems for students in more than 14 middle schools, including more than 400 families in FY08-09. Over the next two years, we intend to serve up to 1,000 families in the Philadelphia area.

POSITION DESCRIPTION
The ideal candidate for the Technology Coordinator position has the proven ability to coordinate technical support activities for CFY, ensuring that the students and parents who participate in our Family Learning Workshops have an excellent training experience and can successfully utilize their home learning centers (refurbished computers loaded with educational software.)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Facilitate delivery and storage of CFY home learning centers for CFY Family Learning Workshops held at local schools in the city of Philadelphia.
• Visit school(s) with the Director to ensure that the school building(s) are able to meet the technical requirements of the CFY program.
• Track and record an accurate inventory of equipment before and after each workshop.
• Direct the work of part-time technology assistants.
• Set up and breakdown classrooms for workshops at schools on Friday afternoons and on Saturdays before and after each session.
• Solve any technical problems that arise during workshops, including repairing non-functioning home learning centers and providing desktop support to families who have technical questions.
• Provide ongoing tech support to CFY families by repairing home learning centers as necessary. Repairs may be completed on school campuses during the school week.
• Provide technical support to the CFY staff members in the Philadelphia office.

Note: This position requires work on Fridays and Saturdays. Travel in the city of Philadelphia also required.

QUALIFICATIONS
• Technical Associates Degree or equivalent experience.
• A+ Certification and networking skills or equivalent experience.
• 1+ years of relevant experience with computer systems and architecture. Can include work done in a learning environment.
• Ability to use all Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Superior relationship or “people” skills.
• Enjoys working with families and students.
• Proficiency in Spanish is a plus.
• Team-player who is also capable of working independently and with minimal oversight.
• Problem-solver.
• Detail oriented.

TO APPLY: Please send a resume and a brief cover letter to mrashid@cfy.org using the subject line: CFY-PHL Technology Coordinator Search. Submission deadline: September 14, 2009. Computers for Youth is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.