RISE AmeriCorps NMH Upward Bound 2016 Tutor Counselor Application and Program Description

Checklist for application: • Read through the position description (pages 2-4) to learn about the program • Fill in our online form. http://goo.gl/forms/LLCGts0AOa • Answer the following 5 questions in short paragraphs in a Word document • Send an email with 3 separate attachments: your resume, your Word document with answers to the 5 questions and a signed scanned copy of the attached Background Check Release (page 5) [email protected].









1) What about the NMH Upward Bound Program most interests you? 2) List at least three things you hope to accomplish through this experience. 3) Do you have any experience working with adolescent students in an educational or a residential setting? Please explain. 4) If you are selected, are there any special activities or projects you would like to offer? Are there any elective classes that you would be interested in organizing or teaching? These could be academic or recreational. Please specify. 5) What roles do you think class and race play in terms of college access in the U.S.?

We will review applications on a rolling basis once we have received the online form, your resume and the answers to the above 5 questions. We will acknowledge receipt of complete applications. After reviewing the materials we will contact you if you are a finalist to request college transcripts, recommendations and an interview. Sometimes our 12 positions are filled by early February, other years we continue to recruit until April. Early applications will receive priority. NMH Upward Bound Program One Lamplighter Way / Mount Hermon, MA 01354 AmeriCorps Members must be at least 18 years-old and U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or lawful Permanent Residents. RISE celebrates diversity, is intentionally inclusive, and protects against discrimination on the basis of color, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, or disability. We make reasonable accommodations for interviews and service.

RISE AmeriCorps is funded in part by the Massachusetts Service Alliance.

RISE AmeriCorps Northfield Mount Hermon Upward Bound TC Position Description Program Dates: 40 hours of pre-service preparation off campus (Reading, research, reflection) mid May to June 17th (from any location with internet at your own pace) On campus: June 19th to August 5, 2016 Overview The AmeriCorps NMH UB Tutor-Counselor position introduces college students and college graduates to careers in education, counseling, social justice and related fields. Members receive hands-on experience serving a diverse student body from low-income families. By providing opportunities in a broad combination of roles, the Tutor-Counselor position offers leadership experience that is applicable to a wide variety of careers. The program is located on the beautiful campus of Northfield Mount Hermon School, an independent secondary school located in Western MA. These are some of the major components of the experience: Mentoring and tutoring Most members will be assigned a group of students with whom they work closely throughout the summer. By overseeing study hall, tutoring, conducting individual meetings, facilitating orientations, and planning a range of extracurricular activities, members hone leadership skills while positively shaping the experience of Upward Bound (UB) scholars. Classroom Experience All members will gain valuable experience in leading academic activities, managing groups, teaching/tutoring to a wide range of needs. Some will either assist in a classroom, helping an experienced teacher differentiate, leading small groups, editing papers, etc. If a member has skills that meet our needs, they may have the opportunity to teach a small section, oversee a summer reading group, or teach an elective or seminar. Designing and Planning Activities. Most members will develop activities in areas such as sports, drama, music, crafts, and community service. Additionally, members can facilitate social justice workshops, produce performances, and assist with event planning. Designing and planning activities allows members to tailor the experience to her or his interests and abilities. Modeling Responsibility and Mediating Behavior. As a member of a six-week residential program, members live in dorms with students. As a part of our dorm team, members supervise and counsel students. As adult members of the community, members model the behavior and cultural capital that leads to success in academic environments. Living with students allows members to share the students’ joys, frustrations, set-backs, and triumphs while giving them a perspective on college life. The program is student centered and focused on providing a strong structure that allows them to successful. RISE AmeriCorps is funded in part by the Massachusetts Service Alliance.

Training and Support To prepare for the summer, members will complete pre service reading, reflection and research, which will prepare them for the intensive training and service. On arrival, members receive five days of intensive orientation. Topics covered include the following: classroom management, differentiated instruction, cultural capital, UB policies and procedures, program structure, staff roles and responsibilities. Ongoing support is provided through individual and group meetings with supervisors as well as mentorship by lead teachers.



What you will receive on completion • Written and oral feedback on your successes as well as suggestions on areas for growth • Resume-building experience as a tutor, teaching assistant, dorm assistant, and mediator • Experience planning and facilitating elective classes, fieldtrips, workshops, performances, and other extracurricular activities • Letters of recommendation on request for jobs and graduate school applications • An AmeriCorps Education Award up to $1500 that can be applied to college costs and loans. A total of 450 hours must be completed (including 40 pre-service assignment hours) to receive the full educational award. • The ideal applicant will: • Believe in the promise of all students. • Work well in a dynamic, fast-pace, student-centered environment • Communicate openly and proactively about their experience and concerns • Have teaching, tutoring, or dorm experience • Have an interest in exploring social justice themes such as classism, cultural capital, and undoing racism and be willing to challenge self in these areas • Be prepared for a challenging, high-energy, and rewarding summer experience Accommodations include: (For the duration of the 7 week residential segment) • Meals and coverage of any program-related expenses • A double or single room with an Internet connection, bed, desk, chair, bookcase • Materials and equipment needed for classroom teaching, electives, and activities Contact: NMH Upward Bound Program One Lamplighter Way Mount Hermon, MA 01354

[email protected] 413-498-3416 RISE AmeriCorps is funded in part by the Massachusetts Service Alliance.

The AmeriCorps TC experience is an intense, challenging, and rewarding endeavor. TCs learn and grow tremendously alongside our students. Recent members report that their summer experience helped shape their career choices and their perspectives on education, counseling and social justice. Members should be prepared to fully immerse themselves in the work, knowing there will not be a lot of time or space for social and personal pursuits during the week. Members prepared to come and learn as much as possible will likely have a life shaping experience. Former Interns, Volunteers and AmeriCorps Members talk about their experiences “High school students have tremendous potential to grow both academically and socially over only 6 weeks! Here students have a safe space where they can really be themselves without worrying about other people’s judgments. This is a rare thing for almost all of these kids. The academic and social support network allows students to take risks and to get help if they need it from people that really care about them.” “The amazing people (staff and students) here have inspired me to look for work environments like this one.” " I can say confidently that most of our scholars have grown a lot these past six weeks, and there are students where I can identify changes that have happened in part because of the relationship I have with them and the support I have provided." “I broadened my personal understanding of different backgrounds and cultures. I am grateful for the tremendous personal growth that I have had here at UB.” “UB taught me to raise my standards and to enlarge my vision.” UB taught me just about everything! It planted seeds that continue to grow in my work with young people.” “UB make me love working with and empowering teens and it has directly effected my career choice. It is a fantastic life-changing program!” “UB helped me develop as a teacher and educator; as a mentor to other young men; as a white person learning to practice anti-racism (in and outside the classroom); as a friend and coworker and person.”“[I learned] how to keep better track of all the details of a hectic, but manageable, schedule.” This is an amazing intersection of cultures, ages, races, and classes and the perfect place to probe our understanding of racism and white privilege. Reading and writing can only go so far: UB is a place where one can truly be challenged to respond to social injustice. “I feel very inspired by this experience. The work here is exhausting but also very rewarding” “My work at UB has helped to prepare me if I choose to become an educator. I have gotten amazing experience with just about every aspect of the classroom” RISE AmeriCorps is funded in part by the Massachusetts Service Alliance.

About NMH Upward Bound Summer Academy on NMH campus • 87 students from Greenfield, Turners Falls, Holyoke, and Springfield attend our six-week Summer Academy on the campus of Northfield Mount Hermon School. • All students take a challenging course of study (40 hours of classes per week) designed to develop and strengthen skills in English, Math, Science and World Language. • Seminars prepare students in these areas: study skills, standardized college tests, and the college application process. • Students participate in athletic and cultural activities including trips. UB is a program that works! • College students and Recent outcomes: UB alumni provide mentoring 97% of seniors enrolled in a and tutoring. program of postsecondary • The Annual Social education Justice Conference provides Over 45% complete a degree the opportunity to explore a within 6 years, mostly a B.A. wide range of social justice Alumni are excelling in every issues facing students now and in college. field including engineering, NMH Upward Bound Program has received computer sciences, national recognition for its work on social transportation, law, justice issues. education, politics, business, • Students live in dorms, which prepares them health careers for the experience of moving away from Recent graduates attend family, living with roommates, and learning many colleges including about diversity. Brown, Bard, Beloit, Franklin • All services are free to students and most and Marshall, Middlebury, transportation is provided. Smith. Simmons College Holy • Fee waivers are provided for college Cross, Brandeis, DePauw, applications and required testing fees. Elms, UMass, as well as many • Families support the program through Massachusetts state colleges, participation in the Parent Advisory Council, universities, and community Family Days, and fundraising activities. colleges. Academic Year Support (September – May) • Weekly academic advising is provided to each student at his or her school. • Mandatory tutoring is provided twice a week in each school • SAT Prep, college research, college visits, interviewing skills, financial aid workshops, MCAS preparation, decision-making skills, and study skills are offered all year. • Intensive assistance is provided to students and parents throughout the college and financial aid application process. • Students contribute a minimum of 50 hours of community engagement each year. • RISE AmeriCorps is funded in part by the Massachusetts Service Alliance.

RISE AmeriCorps NMH Upward Bound Summer Program Member Background Check Release BACKGROUND CHECK POLICY

Satisfactory completion of a background check is a requirement for participation in RISE. Background checks are conducted by RISE and include state criminal registry information checks in Massachusetts and in the applicant’s state of residence; FBI fingerprint check; and National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSOPR) check. If relevant information appears on the background check report(s), then RISE may choose to complete a review process with the applicant. Any applicant listed or required to be listed on a sex offender registry or convicted of murder as defined and described in section 1111 of title 18, United States Code is ineligible to serve in any CNCS-funded service stream, including AmeriCorps. Background check information is kept in a locked file in the DIAL/SELF Administrative Office. Applicants will be given an opportunity to review their own background check information. In accordance with CORI regulations, RISE does not release background check information to other agencies. Therefore, Site Partners follow their own policies regarding background checks for applicants, and applicants may be asked to complete an additional background check at their service sites. I have read and understood this policy. ______________________________________________________ SIGNATURE

DATE

CERTIFICATION

Your application must be certified with your original signature in ink. I certify that all of the statements made in this application are true, correct, and complete, to the best of my knowledge, and are made in good faith. I understand that misinformation or omission of information could result in disqualification and/or termination as an AmeriCorps member. I also understand that my selection for participation in some AmeriCorps programs, including AmeriCorps*NCCC, will require a physical examination, including drug and alcohol testing. Background and security checks may also be conducted by some programs. PRIVACY ACT NOTICE: The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C & 552a) requires that the following notice be provided to you: The authority for collecting information from you in this application is contained in 42 U.S.C 12592 and 12615 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 as amended, and 42 U.S.C 4953 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 as amended. You are advised that submission of the information is entirely voluntary, but the requested information is required in order for you to participate in AmeriCorps programs. The principal purpose for requesting this personal information is to process your application for acceptance into an AmeriCorps program, and for other general routine purposes associated with your participation in an AmeriCorps program. These routine purposes may include disclosure of the information to federal, state, or local agencies pursuant to lawfully authorized requests, to present and former employers, references provided by you in your application, and educational institutions, for the purpose of verifying the information provided by you in your application. In some programs, the information may also be provided to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to determine the existence of any prior criminal convictions. The information will not otherwise be disclosed to entities outside of AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National Service without your prior written permission.

SIGNATURE

DATE

RISE AmeriCorps is funded in part by the Massachusetts Service Alliance.