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[Technology 1243] Computers for Youth hiring Director of PD and Student Software Initiatives (NYC)Kallen Tsikalas ktsikalas at cfy.orgTue Aug 28 12:12:07 EDT 2007
Dear Colleagues... As part of our growth and expansion processes and our commitment to provide the highest quality experience to our families, Computers for Youth (CFY) is hiring a *Director of Professional Development and Student Software Initiatives*. This exciting, entrepreneurial position will definitely be a lot of fun for the right person. :) Please take a look at the job description and distribute it widely to people you think might be qualified! Applicants should follow the directions exactly as indicated in the description below. While we are accepting applications on a rolling basis, we do hope to hire for the position by mid-September. Warmly, --Kallen Tsikalas :) Director of Research & Learning Services Computers for Youth JOB ANNOUNCEMENT ================================================================= Position: Director of Professional Development and Student Software Initiative Location: CFY's New York City Office -- New York, NY ABOUT COMPUTERS FOR YOUTH Computers for Youth (CFY), a national non-profit organization, is the leader in improving the home learning environment for low-income middle school children. We select public schools with high poverty statistics and then offer all the sixth graders and their parents a free computer-based home learning center, which they are taught to use at our Saturday Family Learning Workshops before taking it home. Our home learning centers come with Internet access, award-winning educational software and tailored web content. Our supplementary programs increase parental involvement in their children's education and train teachers to strengthen the home-school connection. CFY is one of the largest non-profits of its kind; with operations in three cities and over 10,000 families served since operations began in 1999. CFY's expansion objectives are ambitious: by 2010 our goal is to operate in five cities, serving almost 10,000 students annually, and to support affiliates in each of the 50 U.S. states. CFY has begun drawing upon its programmatic experience and research findings to influence policy at the local and national level. For more information, please visit www.cfy.org. NYC - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SOFTWARE OBJECTIVES CFY is beginning to build its capacity to provide professional development to teachers in New York City. As a new vendor to the NYC Department of Education, we have been approved to offer courses in the following areas: 1) Supporting Families as Learning Partners; 2) Interactive Homework; 3) Developing Self-Directed Learners; and 4) Family Technology Nights. All of these courses make extensive use of home computing resources in supporting students' learning. Our goal is to help schools actively support and engage parents and families as active learning partners. The Student Software Specialist program was launched two years ago (in FY05-06) to test software for CFY's annual Family Learning Software Award and inclusion on CFY's home learning centers. The team members --15-20 middle school students from CFY's NYC partner schools -- are trained to be media emissaries for CFY, to test software products and to present software to educational technology executives and to other influential adults. The team experience introduces students to peers from different neighborhoods, and it builds their skills in teamwork, communication, media literacy, and computers. CFY is now expanding this program to test and develop software with key companies in the software and publishing sectors. POSITION DESCRIPTION The Director of Professional Development and Student Software Initiatives is a new and highly entrepreneurial position. S/he will be responsible for building and directing two distinct programs for which CFY has already laid the groundwork. Key responsibilities include day-to-day operations; recruitment and hiring; and program quality and oversight. This position will report to the Executive Director of CFY-NYC and work closely with CFY's National Director of Research and Learning Services. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (1) Student Software Specialist Program: --> In concert with CFY's overall strategy, set the goals and key milestones for CFY's Student Software Specialist Program. --> Recruit student team members and schedule team meetings. (The team has historically met on Saturdays twice a month from November - May, and weekly during the months of January and February.) --> Train students to evaluate software (based on appeal, usability, and comprehensibility) and to make public presentations using existing CFY curricula. --> Identify and recruit guest speakers and presenters (volunteers); and organize relevant field trips for students. --> Further develop/improve the Student Software Specialist Team curriculum and outreach opportunities in conjunction with CFY's Department of Research and Learning Services. --> Manage CFY's annual Education Executives Day -- a full-day event where students demonstrate software to education executives from some of the most prominent school districts across the country. --> Identify and develop opportunities for students to present software at non-CFY events, such as citywide or regional educational conferences. --> Work with CFY's Research Department to (1) identify high-quality educational software to be placed on CFY's home learning centers; (2) solicit nominations for CFY's Annual Family Learning Software Award; and (3) manage CFY's Software Experts Panel. --> Develop strong relationships with software publishing partners in conjunction with CFY's Development Department and CFY's Department of Research and Learning Services. --> Supervise program assistants (college and high school interns). --> Work with CFY's Research Department to evaluate the success of the program. (2) Teacher and Family Professional Development Program --> In concert with CFY's overall strategy, set the goals and key milestones for CFY's Teacher and Family Professional Development Program. --> Develop and refine existing professional development courses with the help of CFY's National Program Director and National Research Director. This involves identifying new technologies that support learning in the home and utilizing relevant research findings on effective training methods for diverse populations. --> Assist CFY's Program Director in marketing courses to CFY partner schools in NYC and design and implement strategy for marketing courses for non-CFY partner schools. --> Serve as an instructor for CFY courses. --> Recruit, hire and supervise other CFY instructors. --> Develop and utilize tools to track program performance and/or promote community. --> Document qualitative and quantitative program features. --> Work with CFY's Research Department to evaluate the success of the program. NOTE: This position requires occasional work on Saturdays (up to about 15 Saturdays per year). QUALIFICATIONS - BA or BS - Proficiency with computers, MS Office products and web technologies - At least 5 years experience working with students and teachers (work with middle school students is a plus) - Formal experience in teaching or training - Excellent interpersonal skills - Experience with and sensitivity to working with low-income populations - Detail-oriented with strong writing and project management skills - Team-player who is also capable of working independently and with minimal oversight - Problem solver - Self-motivated with the ability to thrive under pressure and on deadline - Demonstrated flexibility when priorities change - Capacity to simultaneously work on multiple tasks and projects, and the ability to set priorities for self, team and peers - Spanish language fluency is a plus COMPENSATION: Generous salary and benefits package, commensurate with experience. TO APPLY: Please send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample as attachments to jobs at cfy.org using the following conventions: Subject line: Director of PD and SSI Search Cover Letter: yourfirstname_yourlastname_coverletter.doc Resume: yourfirstname_yourlastname_resume.doc Writing Sample: yourfirstname_yourlastname_writingsample.doc Your cover letter should be one page and describe how your experience and background would make you an excellent fit for this position. We will ONLY accept materials via email. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Computers for Youth is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.nifl.gov/pipermail/technology/attachments/20070828/172f1a36/attachment.html
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