NDMV AmeriCorps Adult Education Associate

The IRC’s Adult Education program works to address the language, job skills, and integration needs of refugee and immigrant adults through a range of classes operating and enrolling continuously, year-round. More than 90% of the individuals that the IRC in Atlanta resettles each year are considered to have low English proficiency, limiting employment opportunities and the ability to fully participate in their new communities. All newly arrived families participate in a multi- day interpreted community and cultural orientation (CO) program covering a wide range of topics to support community integration. English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class curriculum is designed to increase language skills for adult learners at various proficiency levels and includes integrated workforce and digital literacy components. Instruction is focused on developing vocabulary and confidence for dealing with real world situations such as financial literacy and budgeting, navigating the community and public transportation, employment expectations, and other daily life skills. Interested and eligible students that take part in training programs to gain industry credentials, have the opportunity to be supported by the program through the Integrated Education and Training (IET) program and receive supports through the IRC Career Development team with the goal of successfully completing the training and earning their credential.

JOB OVERVIEW:

IRC in Atlanta will utilize two NDMV AmeriCorps Adult Education Associates. Through the NDMV program, they will serve full time (40 hours per week) for a total of 11 months, September 2023 through July 2024. These members will assist in collaboratively teaching ESOL classes, teaching IET support sessions, and lead the CO program. Both members will be an active part of the IRC’s Adult Education instructional team, will lead classes and projects with direct programmatic outcomes, and will oversee classroom assistants (community volunteers). The hours of this position include some flexibility, but members typically commit to a schedule close to 8:30am-4:30pm (EST), Monday through Friday.

PLEASE NOTE****: This position is a Notre Dame Mission Volunteer (NDMV) AmeriCorps position. AmeriCorps oversight will be conducted through NDMV of Atlanta, and the IRC will serve as a site placement. For more information about NDMV, please visit http://www.ndmva.org. Candidates will need to complete the AmeriCorps application process through the NDMV site liaison in addition to the IRC’s interview and selection process. Throughout their service, members will meet regularly (generally twice per month) with the local NDMV AmeriCorps group for professional development and cross-training opportunities. **RESPONSIBILITIES: • Lead CO programming o Plan and prepare orientations following organizational guidelines and federal learning objectives with supplemental educational activities. o Deliver cultural orientation curriculum through interpretation. Coordinate with IRC logistics team to schedule and present orientations with in-person interpreters. o Track individual progress through orientations, keeping documentation and maintain communication with logistics and case management teams. • Lead ESOL class programming o Plan and deliver daily classes with curricula focused on basic through intermediate language learning, digital literacy skills, workforce and job readiness skills, and integrated life skills. o Guide and support Adult Education classroom assistants, both volunteers and college interns, as they lead and facilitate large group, small group, and one-one-one instruction, and deliver curriculum content. o Collaborate with the IRC’s Economic Empowerment early-employment team to align focus towards current workforce priorities. • Lead IET programming o Plan and prepare integrated education for small groups of students each quarter that are simultaneously enrolled in workforce credential training. o Provide small group supportive sessions supporting English language learning and workforce skills education. o Collaborate with the IRC’s Career Development team and with external training providers to ensure the curriculum aligns with training objectives and is in line with federal IET standards. • Orient and conference with current and potential students, assisting students in completing necessary intake and enrollment forms, both virtually, using phone and web-based platforms, and in-person. • Administer English language assessments to measure student progress and gains. • Assist with record-keeping and data entry to support program administration and compliance with programmatic requirements. Document student progress by keeping accurate and up-to- date attendance records, case notes, assessment data, program participant surveys, and observation of student progress. • Maintain a positive learning environment. Facilitate student learning activities that build cultural and community knowledge and encourage collaboration and positive peer support. • Maintain open and effective communication with adult education team members. Report regularly on program goals, client attendance, learning activities, student progress and any problems or concerns with clients or program. • Actively participate in regularly scheduled staff meetings and professional development.

Qualifications REQUIREMENTS: • Strong desire to support vulnerable individuals and families and enthusiasm for working in a multi-cultural setting. • Enthusiasm for adult education and language learning. • An interest in immigrant and refugee and asylee issues and resettlement processes • Strong communication abilities, including the ability to lead classes and oversee community volunteers and adult learners. • Comfortable working in a cross-cultural environment with adult learners, sometimes with little or no English proficiency. • Ability to take initiative, work independently on projects, and follow through on critical tasks. • Ability to work in a collaborative environment, co-teaching and facilitating learning through others. • Strong time management skills and comfortability with computer and web-based office and communication platforms. • Fluent spoken and written English. • Undergraduate degree preferred.

The IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.