Assistant Program Coordinator, Hartford, CT

Read to a Child’s Read Aloud Mentoring Program pairs a volunteer mentor with an elementary school student for a rewarding weekly read aloud experience either during the child’s lunch or other non-instructional time. 

The Assistant Program Coordinator is responsible for working in conjunction with the Program Coordinator to ensure that volunteer mentors, students and school staff have a positive and meaningful experience.  Depending on the needs of the school, coordination of the Read Aloud Mentoring Program may be conducted in-person, virtually, or a combination thereof. 

Specific Job Responsibilities Will Include All or Some of the Following (will vary by Region & School/Site)

• Ensure that the program starts smoothly, including solicitation of teacher referrals, student permission, re-matching or matching pairs, and other start-up tasks
• Communicate regularly with Program Coordinator and supervisor as appropriate
• Notify students, teachers and potentially parents/guardians of volunteer mentor cancellations or schedule changes
• Assist the Program Coordinator with mentor communications and updates
• Support volunteer mentors with book choice and student engagement.  This could include providing volunteers with book ideas or, if the program is on site (ie: not virtual), help maintain an organized and inviting book card for volunteers
• Monitor reading sessions to ensure smooth operation of program
• If coordinating on-site, ensure that state and school guidelines for hygiene and safety are followed carefully and that rooms are left clean and orderly
• Collect surveys and assessments from volunteer mentors, students and teachers, as applicable and as needed
• Help plan and implement year-end celebration (in person or adapted for virtual setting), as applicable
• Attend required Program Coordinator meetings
• Substitute for Program Coordinator as needed
• Facilitate other activities or tasks as requested
• Submit timesheets accurately and on time
• Participate in the Performance Evaluation and goal setting process

The current open Assistant Program Coordinator role is an on-site position working in school directly with students. Successful candidates must be comfortable working in an in-school environment and in keeping with all safety protocols required by the school. 

Essential Job Duties For In-Person Positions

• This person working in this position will be in a school setting. It involves constant movement throughout the building and designated session areas guiding students to their reading session. Depending on the school, this may require occasionally ascending/descending stairs. It also requires frequent positioning of books and/or program materials of various weights and sizes on a rolling book cart, as well as rolling the book cart to/from various locations within the school. 

Location, Schedule and Estimated Hours: 

RAMP sessions run from Monday-Friday during school hours. The current Assistant Program Coordinator (APC) position will primarily assist with the school locations listed below. Hours will vary between approximately 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on these days during the school year from August/September to June.  Also, some availability outside of these days and times for data entry, communications, meetings, and possible substitute opportunities*, as needed. An average of 9-12 total hours per week. 

Mondays from approximately 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at  M.D. Fox Elementary School, 470 Maple Ave, Hartford, CT

Tuesdays from approximately 9:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. at  S.A.N.D. School, 1750 Main St, Hartford, CT.

Fridays from approximately 10:30 a.m. -2:00 p.m. at Betances Learning Lab Magnet School, 42 Charter Oak Ave, Hartford, CT

*The APC may also function as a substitute for the planned absences of Program Coordinators at any of the five Hartford school locations, including the above, as well as Annie Fisher STEM, 280 Plainfield Street, Hartford, CT, and Parkville Community School, 47 New Park Avenue, Hartford, CT.

Key Qualifications

• Commitment to Read to a Child’s mission, viability and growth
• Experience working with young children
• Enthusiastic about children’s books, willingness to become familiar with the Read to a Child book collection
• Communicates well in person, on the telephone & via email
• Commitment to actively and continuously working toward achieving the organization’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals
• Highly organized, able to prioritize and multi-task — with flexibility and a positive attitude
• Professional, positive and self-directed
• Comfortable working with and hosting group video conference platforms
• Comfortable working with e-mail, Word, Excel, and some data entry
• Access to transportation

Hourly Rate:  $17.00/hr

Benefits:  Employee Leave, 401k, flexibility and countless non-monetary rewards

Desired Start: April 2024

Interested Applicants Contact Information

Please email donna.sennott@readtoachild.org and include a resume and cover letter explaining  why you are a good fit for this position as well as how the hours work for your schedule.