VISTA, School-based Community Partnership Coordinators and School District-Based School Liaisons, PHENND

Posted by on March 25, 2013

Help Philadelphia communities support their under-resourced schools!

PHENND seeks 6 full-time AmeriCorps*VISTAs, four of which will serve as school-based Community Partnership Coordinators, and two of which will work directly in the School District of Philadelphia in offices that support specific groups of schools as well as community partnerships.

About this project:

This is the first year of a three to five year AmeriCorps*VISTA project in which VISTAs will be placed  in selected Philadelphia public schools and the School District of Philadelphia to help them manage, develop, and track external community partners (such as colleges and universities, nonprofits and community-based groups, and businesses).

About the school-based positions:

The AmeriCorps*VISTAs sought for this coming year will coordinate and facilitate partnerships between their school and existing and/or potential outside community partners with the goal of integrating their services into the school’s schedule and meeting major school needs, thereby ensuring that these partnerships are mutually beneficial, sustainable and serving students effectively.  The VISTAs will work directly with administrators and teachers to ensure strong communication between and among external partners and key school leadership.

Primary Goals:

The VISTA will build their school’s community partnership capacity in four major areas through specific initiatives:
1) Coordination and Collaboration
Build and/or enrich relationships between community partners, school and the larger community

2) Communication
Collect and manage database of resources and events offered by community partners at the school, both by keeping it current and making it widely available and useful to school community (parents and staff) as well as inputting this information into the School District of Philadelphia’s existing Community Partnership Database.

3) Recruitment
Recruit new community partners for programs or workshops  for school community or staff professional development in response to the school’s need.

4) Evaluation
Track increase in number of community partnerships as well as quality  of these partnerships (i.e., whether they are mutually beneficial and long lasting)

About the School District-based positions:

One AmeriCorps*VISTA sought for this coming year to work with the Office of Charter Schools to help develop and support School Advisory Councils (SACs) at Renaissance Schools.  The SAC VISTA will work with existing staff to identify the SAC members at each Renaissance School, help ensure that the SACs are meeting and functioning, serve as a liaison between the SACs and the District, and help organize and conduct District-wide meetings and trainings for SAC leaders.

One AmeriCorps*VISTA sought for this coming year to work with the Offcie of Community and Family Engagement to promote and manage a new School District partnership network relationship of key District officials with Higher Education external partners, primarily faculty and administrators, from local universities. The VISTA will serve as a School District point of contact for existing and prospective external university partners and act as a liaison between external partners and key School District Officials.

AmeriCorps*VISTA needed for this program should be:
–    passionate about improving educational opportunities for low-income youth
–    familiar with the general landscape of urban schooling, community partnerships, and parent/community involvement
–    able to work both independently and collaboratively as needed
–    able to network and build relationships with diverse constituencies
–    an excellent writer and verbal communicator
–    a quick learner
–    comfortable with a school-based work environment
–    able to navigate public transit (or with access to a car though public transit preferred)
–    facility with word processing and managing databases

Preferred, but not required:
–    Spanish proficiency
–    Web design skills
–    Interest in STEM and the health sciences
–    Interest in the visual and performing arts

Timeline:
–    today-April 15-Applications accepted
–    April 15-26 – First round interviews
–    April 29-May 3 – Second round interviews and school matching meeting
–    May 6-10 – Candidates notified
–    May 15 – Candidate commitment expected
–    July 2013 – VISTA term begins
–    July 2014 – VISTA term ends

Compensation:
AmeriCorps*VISTAs commit to a full-time year of service for a minimal living stipend of approximately $12,962 per year.  VISTA members are provided health insurance and loan forbearance for any current federal student loans.  Upon completion of the full year, they also receive an AmeriCorps Education Award of $5500 that can be used to pay for future educational expenses and/or pay off student loans.

For more details contact Eden Kainer or Kate Boccella-Perras at 215-573-2379.

You must register and apply directly on the AmeriCorps website to apply for any of these positions. You may apply for more than one position. To see the listings and complete the AmeriCorps application you can go through the following links:

To apply for the School-Community Partnership Coordinator position, complete the AmeriCorps application here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=46127

To apply for the position in the Office of Charter Schools, complete the AmeriCorps application here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=48442

To apply for the position in the Office of Family and Community Engagement, complete the AmeriCorps application here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=49087