Computer Science Workshop Teaching Assistant; Berkeley

2026 Computer Science Workshop Teaching Assistant (Berkeley)

About SMASH

At SMASH, we aim to build a strong STEM workforce through academic learning and experiential engagement for high school and college students. We empower dedicated students in STEM fields through intensive education, rigorous coursework, and access to resources, aiming to cultivate success in college and careers. Our vision is to create a STEM ecosystem where every student can thrive in the global economy.

By providing opportunities, we seek to enrich our communities and workplaces with well-prepared, competitive leaders.

This is a pivotal time for SMASH as SMASH builds on the success of our programs. Working at SMASH is about rapid growth, grit, personal commitment, accountability, and courage to challenge the status quo. If you have what it takes to change the STEM landscape, we want to hear from you.

SMASH is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization operating under the umbrella of the Kapor Center family of organizations.

About Create and Learn

As a CS Facilitator you will be working with the Create & Learn platform. Create & Learn is an award-winning computer science education program for K-12 students, based in Silicon Valley, California. Co‑founded by a former Google Product Director and an Apple engineer, we offer over 40 courses covering a wide range of topics, including coding, game development, AI, robotics, digital design, and cloud computing.

No matter children's interests or experience level, we have classes that will inspire and engage them!

Position Description

The Teaching Assistant will play an integral role in supporting the transformative learning experience that SMASH Scholars need to pursue, persist, and succeed in CS. Each Teaching Assistant will support a group of around 25 scholars through project‑based learning.

The CS Workshop is a scholar‑centered course that allows scholars to develop CS skills by way of projects and challenges. Scholars will work in various configurations including whole‑group, small group, and individually while solving coding challenges using basic skills in Scratch or Python. In addition to supporting scholars' development of CS skills, Teaching Assistants will help scholars understand the importance of CS as a work readiness skill and ways in which CS applies to scholars' career interests.

Strong Teaching Assistants will empower scholars to take ownership of their own learning and guide through inquiry rather than providing direct answers. This is a shift from the traditional model of education and requires letting scholars lead, and stepping in to provide support when necessary. Teaching Assistants will need to embrace and model flexibility, adaptability, and a solution‑oriented mindset.

The SMASH Computer Science Workshop is held from July 13th to July 25th 2026, with an additional commitment of training prior to launch. Teaching Assistants are required to be available on all days (except weekends) for half day or whole day during the period.
All candidates must be able to work in‑person in Atlanta, GA, Ann Arbor, MI, Berkeley, CA or Boston, MA.

As this role has a virtual component, we expect staff to provide the following – their own personal computer (desktop or laptop) that has a working webcam, speaker and microphone for video conferencing capabilities (i.e. Zoom, Google Hangouts, Cisco Webex); reliable Internet connection (at least 25 Mbps download speed); and quiet work space for virtual programming. If you cannot provide your own equipment, please speak with your Program Director.

All staff and scholars will be required to comply with the SMASH COVID‑19 policy for in‑person programming. Currently, staff working in‑person are expected to test at least once each week they are working in‑person with colleagues. Additionally, we encourage testing before and after in‑person company and non‑company sponsored events and travel. All staff and scholars must also comply with any site specific COVID‑19 requirements.

Site specific requirements will be shared as they become available and are subject to change. If a quarantine mandate is enforced by local government, university, or…