After School Program Coordinator
Brightfield School is seeking an innovative, collaborative, and passionate Program Coordinator to lead and facilitate an After School program at its Bath campus. This part-time position is approx. 15 hours / week and begins in August 2024. The role comes with the unique opportunity to shape the After School program at a new independent school committed to place-based education that celebrates our surrounding natural environments and communities.
Summary
Brightfield’s After School program runs from 3pm – 4:30pm Monday – Friday on days when school is in session excepting the first and last weeks of the school year. For the 2024-25 school year, the After School program will begin on September 9th. The After School Program Coordinator position begins on August 19 to allow for three weeks of planning and participant enrollment in partnership with Brightfield School leadership.
Key responsibilities of the position include:
- Under the direction of Brightfield School leadership, establish a program that is thematic in nature, varies through the week, is consistent with Brightfield’s place-based learning approach, offers developmentally appropriate programming for students in grades 1 – 6, and uses the land, area, and communities surrounding Brightfield to create a program that is experiential in nature.
- Work with the school’s social media/web designer and Tuition Coordinator to market the program, coordinate online sign-ups, and oversee accurate billing
- Create partnerships with local organizations to enrich programming. For example, this past school year, our After School program partnered with the Maine Biking Coalition, the Wild Seed Project, the Bath YMCA, a local theater educator, and others
- Prepare a weekly newsletter highlighting the program for participating families and others in the Brightfield School community
- Lead Brightfield in its ongoing participation in the Coastal Running League (Fall and Spring)
- Focus the balance of programming on outdoor activities, including winter sports and activities
- Coordinate Brightfield’s winter downhill ski program with a partner mountain (one day of After School per week during the winter season)
- Attend occasional Brightfield faculty meetings and otherwise work with Brightfield School faculty and leadership to ensure smooth transitions from the school day to after school and a continuous and consistent approach to student support and behavior management from the school day to the after school program
While After School Program participants will be primarily draw from Brightfield School’s student population, the Coordinator will be expected to, with support from the Head of School and others on the Brightfield team, identify and pursue opportunities throughout the school year to enroll students from other schools in some After School programming.
At the discretion of Brightfield School leadership, the Coordinator will have access to additional staffing for days when enrollment or programming reasonably requires it.
The ideal candidate:
- Is ready to coordinate active, primarily outdoor, place- and play-based programming for a multi-age group of 10-20 students in all seasons.
- Can create a safe, supportive, and inspiring community with students, using the ‘whole child’ and responsive classroom approaches.
- Is ready to creatively incorporate the local natural environment and community – and local partner organizations – in their programming.
- Is comfortable setting clear behavior expectations for students, motivating students to meet them, and applying positive discipline as needed.
- Possesses general knowledge of Midcoast Maine and can craft programs for students that are developmentally appropriate.
- Values relevant and authentic learning experiences.
- Embraces collaboration with colleagues, students, parents, and the local community.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree.
- At least 3 years of relevant teaching, summer camp, after school, or comparable experience, including direct experience with primary school students and experiential education or programming.
- Excellent communication skills (interpersonal and writing).
- Understanding of positive discipline.
- Ability to be physically active with students in a variety of activities, ?eld sports, hiking, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, etc.
Joining Brightfield’s team represents a unique opportunity to shape the daily life of a new school community deeply committed to place-based education in Midcoast Maine. Brightfield School is committed to providing competitive pay and a supportive working environment in which staff collaborate to make critical decisions affecting their students.
Pay for this position will be between $24 - $30 per hour, depending on experience.
To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to: info@brightfieldschool.org.