STAY Program Teacher

The YMCA’s Support, Tutoring, and Adventure for Youth (YSTAY) teachers work within Manchester’s middle and/or high schools to support students in reaching their full potential and becoming the best version of themselves. YSTAY teachers foster meaningful connections with students, offer academic and social-emotional guidance, and help create experiences that encourage confidence, leadership, and engagement with the school and broader community. They also connect students who need additional assistance with appropriate academic, behavioral, and social-emotional resources, including those who may not otherwise have access to these supports.

Each YSTAY teacher works within one school with 20-25 students in small groups, providing them with support to experience more success in school and improve their GPAs, resist involvement in risky behaviors, get along better with people, and improve their overall social behaviors. The YSTAY teacher focuses on implementing curriculum activities that promote character development, asset building, alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention, and life skills development.

The YSTAY teacher is also responsible for managing day-to-day relationships with school administration, other teachers, and resource staff. The position also extends support to YSTAY alumni and to other students in the school as needed. The YSTAY Teacher also is responsible for keeping parents informed of students’ progress and is available for problem-solving, providing referrals for additional support, and offering suggestions on strengthening the parent-child relationship.

In addition to YSTAY, this position also helps to implement Power Scholars Academy throughout the summer.

• Independently manage assigned Y-STAY classroom.
• Provide Tutoring and classroom support to at-risk students.
• Plan, prepare and execute life skills and character development lessons and ensuring lessons meet YMCA, MSD and Gear-UP outcome goals.
• Track and report on student progress including behavior, attendance, and academic performance and ensure all Y-STAY teachers are meeting the same expectations.
• Prepare for and participate in monthly adventure trips.
• Create and sustain positive relationship with school personnel as well as with YMCA team members.
• Assist in developing and implementing fundraising and community service projects for Y-STAY program.

• Must present to work prepared and on time and assist YSTAY teachers in accomplishing this at their assigned school.
• Gain a thorough understanding of budget restrictions and timelines and assist in program and equipment procurement.
• Patience and persistence in working with families to enhance the learning of Y-STAY students.
• If unable to be at work, contact the Community Outreach Director and assigned school in a timely fashion and arrange for your substitute.
• Provide updated referral paperwork to guidance department and teaching staff as needed.
• Oversee the interview and student selection process for upcoming school year through specified recruitment process.

• The Y-STAY Teacher position requires a bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, sociology, counseling, or a related field. Previous experience with youth development is also required.
• Commitment to working with the middle school age group and at-risk youth is critical.
• Capacity to function independently in a classroom setting and build strong relationships with the various school personnel is essential.
• Comfort participating in adventure/experiential learning such as hiking, skiing, challenge course and rock-climbing trips is fundamental.

• Ability to tutor at an 8th grade level in math, science, social studies and language arts.
• Capacity to…