Part Time Program Assistant - Education Specialist

Part Time Program Assistant - Education Specialist
EXPECTED START: January 2025

ABOUT THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROJECT  

Founded in 2004, YEP is a New Orleans-based non-profit organization that provides comprehensive services to underserved young people. Our mission is to empower young people to improve their lives and the lives of others. Since YEP’s inception as the first juvenile reentry program for formerly incarcerated children in Louisiana, we have grown significantly in scope, size and impact.   

YEP is the largest non-profit organization in the Greater New Orleans region focused on providing comprehensive services to young people disconnected from school and work and impacted by the justice system. We employ more than 50 staff, are governed by an engaged 20-member board of directors, and to date have operated with an annual budget of $5.6 million – about 50% coming from public contracts with local and state government agencies and 50% raised from private philanthropy.

• YEP’s programs have demonstrated impact on the young people we serve:
  • To date, YEP has served over 8,500 young people. Today, we average more than 800 participants per year. 
  • As of March 2023, YEP has helped 575 graduates aged 16-60 earn their HiSET – Louisiana’s high school equivalency diploma. 
  • 94% of young people and 100% of their parents felt YEP provided them with opportunities to develop skills, interact effectively with others and cope with new situations. 
  • 87% of young people said YEP has helped them feel like they have more control over their lives.
  • 93% of young people and their parents said YEP helped them feel better prepared to achieve their personal goals.
• YEP was named “Nonprofit of the Year” in 2021 by New Orleans City Business Magazine. Melissa Sawyer was named “CEO of the Year” in January 2023 by Biz New Orleans Magazine. 
• In 2021, we received a $3 million donation from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott, a reflection of YEP’s reputation as an equity-oriented, high-impact youth-serving organization. 

Other differentiators and points of pride include: 

• Strong Program Results. Across all of YEP’s services areas, 75% youth have consistently demonstrated emotional wellbeing improvement on at least one validated socio-emotional measurement instrument. 100% of parents and guardians surveyed say that their child benefitted from their involvement in YEP’s program and services. Last year, 90% of youth surveyed said that their involvement with YEP helped them to be better prepared to achieve their personal goals.
• Steady Organizational Growth. YEP originally started to serve court-involved youth, but has grown significantly to engage youth and families who live in chronic poverty, are out of school or work, or have experienced trauma. Today, we operate programs in five geographic locations, including Central City, Mid-City, Algiers, St. Charles Parish and New Orleans East. Demand for our programs is high, and we have grown our reach over time despite the challenges of COVID and Hurricanes Ida and Katrina.
• Consistent, Invested Senior Leadership and Highly Engaged Board of Directors. YEP’s leadership team of four has been at the organization for more than 50 years combined.  YEP’s Board of Directors is highly engaged and supportive of YEP’s mission and staff. As a group, we are highly invested and stable.
• Commitment to Staff Wellness. YEP offers generous benefits. YEP is a warm and caring place to work and in addition to many other benefits, offers a savings account and retirement match, pays 100% of employee health care, life insurance, and short- and long-term disability.  
• Strong Financial Position. For years, YEP has had strong, reliable and transparent financials. We have clean audits, a larger-than-average cash reserve and own three of our buildings outright. 

Position Description
The Education Specialist (ES) is responsible for overseeing and supporting the educational needs of youth within YEP Enriches. The ES collaborates with program leads and assists volunteers to deliver tutoring and educational activities that are fully integrated into YEP Enriches programming. The ES plays a key role in providing individualized educational support to youth and families, helping address unique educational needs through direct advocacy and assistance. In addition to maintaining participant records and documenting services in YEP’s Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) database, the ES manages educational resources and ensures the availability of necessary supplies and materials. The ES also leads the development and implementation of curriculum materials, lesson plans, and program documentation to deliver high-quality, replicable programming. Working closely with YEP Enriches Program Staff, the ES reports directly to the Director of YEP Enriches.

• Prior professional experience providing educational services (teaching, tutoring, educational assessment, etc.) or working with young people in an out-of-school time programming environment.
• Ability to regularly interface with youth participants during afternoon and evening hours on a consistent basis.
• Demonstrated ability to consistently meet internal and external deadlines while maintaining a high standard of work.
• Knowledge and ability to use computers and related technology in order to accomplish key employment responsibilities.
• Commitment to YEP’s organizational values and goals.

Hours/ Compensation:

This part-time role will require 20 - 25 hours of work per week. Work will be performed during late afternoon/evening hours, Monday through Friday with occasional weekends or later evenings. The primary worksite for this role is at YEP's Central City location. There may be times when flexibility is needed to travel to other YEP sites. The pay rate for this part-time position is $20 - $25 per hour.

Responsibilities:

Educational Support

• Provide individualized educational advocacy and assistance to YEP Enriches young people and their families identified as needing these services.
• Collaborate with YEP Enriches program leads to integrate educational programming into the weekly schedule, ensuring that youth have adequate access to these supports.
• Partner with YEP Enriches staff to identify and address the individual educational needs of youth participating in educational services.
• Coordinate with volunteers to provide educational support services in YEP's afterschool programming, as needed.
• Maintain inventory of educational supplies and materials, and assist with ordering supplies and equipment as needed.
• Manage educational resources (books, games, online tools) accessible to volunteers, families, and participants to enhance learning during and outside of program hours.
• Support the collection of data specifically related to educational impact to evaluate program effectiveness.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Participate in regular staff meetings and training, as appropriate.
• Assist with the collection of relevant data and demographic information in the YEP database / Efforts to Outcomes (ETO).
• Model prosocial behaviors for youth.
• Build relationships with youth, parents, guardians, and families to discuss successes and challenges.
• Represent YEP in the community at meetings and events.
• Document all services provided to youth participants in YEP’s ETO database, as appropriate.
• Assist with leading general enrichment onsite activities and supervising youth during onsite programming, as needed.
• Perform other tasks and duties as assigned.

Training:

YEP does not have the capacity to receive phone calls regarding a hiring process. Please contact Holly Hubbard via email at hhubbard@youthempowermentproject.org to ask questions or reschedule interviews as far in advance of the interview as possible.

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