Curriculum Specialist Vista

What is IYT?

Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) was founded in 2013 with the mission to increase the number of young men of color (YMOC) to attend and graduate from colleges and universities. We envision a world where men of color are overrepresented in higher education, underrepresented in the criminal justice system, and leaders in their communities. We work to combat academic inequities and build a college-to-community pipeline with remarkable resilience, authenticity, and passion.

What is AmeriCorps VISTA?

Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) is often referred to as the 'domestic Peace Corps.' Individuals who serve as AmeriCorps VISTA members support organizations in making sustainable changes in areas that effect poverty, including education, public health, climate, access to benefits and more. Through activities such as fundraising, grant writing, research, and volunteer recruitment, VISTAs gain professional experience and leadership skills that prepare them for a life of service in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Learn more https://americorps.gov/serve/americorps/americorps-vista 

What do IYT VISTAs do?

IYT's VISTA program is an opportunity for diverse recent college grads or early career professionals to support in IYT's ongoing growth and development as California's leading nonprofit serving young men of color. VISTA's support departments at our National Office in Sacramento as well as directly at our school sites. Activities vary by department but they may include: supporting with developing new programs, working to improve systems to increase efficiency, developing new tools and resources or conducting research and analysis. Overall, these roles support in the capacity building of IYT as we rapidly expand across California and the nation.  

Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Director of Training and Development, the IYT Curriculum Specialist VISTA will: 

• Research and develop an understanding of IYT culture and after school programming
• Conduct meetings with programming team to gather perspectives
• Research and collect resources for curriculum that are fit for our target population (MS and HS young men of color) 
• Identify key facilitation skills and best practices for virtual and in-person.
• Update Monday.com Training and Development boards.
• Identify a centralized location for curriculum that is separated by grade levels
• Identify key ways to enhance engagement through curriculum (gamification, digital access etc.) 
• Platforms for housing and tracking curriculum development and outputs (research if there is a way to bridge our current data systems *Salesforce/Engagement Score* and historical tracking of curriculum outputs) 
• Work with consultants on emerging curriculum for IYT (mentorship, alumni network etc.)
• Create and develop a shared services curriculum library or vault 
• Design alternative activities that meet nuances and other scenarios outside of after school programming
• Develop and archive materials and curriculum

Qualifications:

• Be 18 years or older (no upper age limit)
• Hold one of the following citizenship or legal residency statuses: US citizen, US National, Lawful Permanent Resident (i.e. Green Card status), and persons legally residing within a state. Examples of persons legally residing within a state may include those holding the following classifications: refugee, asylee, temporary protected status throughout VISTA service, and holding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.
• Interest in education and passion for IYT's mission

• Proficient knowledge of Powerpoint or Canva
• Familiarity with curriculum development methods, tools and techniques appreciated, but not required
• Strong communication skills with the ability to ask questions and convey information clearly
• Eagerness to learn with a proactive mindset towards professional development
• Ability to work collaboratively with a team and also perform tasks independently
• Openness to receiving constructive feedback and using it for personal improvement

Benefits of Service: 

• Living Stipend: $877.66 (Pre-Tax) paid biweekly
• Housing Stipend: $250 per month - Must be paid directly to landlord or loan holder if homeowner
• AmeriCorps VISTA Health Benefit Plan - learn more americorpsvista.imglobal.com
• Annual Leave (10 personal days and 10 sick days)
• Non-Competitive Eligibility for federal government employment
• End of Service Award - VISTA's can choose between a Segal Education Award of $7,395 or $1,800 cash stipend
• Professional Development Training from AmeriCorps via webinars or access to self-paced learning modules
  
• Term of service qualifies for Public Student Loan Forgiveness
• Student Loan Deferment and Interest Accrual Payment for qualified student loans
• When you become an IYT VISTA you also become part of the AmeriCorps Volunteer Network and the Employers of National Service jobs network.  This connects mentors to over 600 employers across every sector that highly value and recruit AmeriCorps service members after their year of service.

Additional Benefits with eligibility requirements

• Relocation Allowance - $.40 per mile (if moving over 50 miles to serve)
• Settling-In Allowance - $750 (if moving over 50 miles to serve)
• Child Care - Paid directly to childcare provider - learn more americorpschildcare.com

Length of Service: 

• 40 hours per week
  
• 1 year from start (365 days) 

Application Requirements

• A cover letter is not required, however, all application questions must be answered in order to be considered.
• Candidates must also complete application on AmeriCorps website: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=121663

Questions: Please email vista@improveyourtomorrow.org

IYT provides equal employment opportunities to all employees, service members and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.