NDMV AmeriCorps Adult Education Associate

SCOPE OF ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM:

 The IRC’s Adult Education program works to address the language, job skills, and integration
needs of refugee and immigrant adults through a range of classes operating and enrolling
continuously, year-round. More than 90% of the individuals that the IRC in Atlanta resettles each
year are considered to have low English proficiency, limiting employment opportunities and the
ability to fully participate in their new communities. All newly arrived families participate in a multi-
day interpreted community and cultural orientation (CO) program covering a wide range of topics
to support community integration. English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class
curriculum is designed to increase language skills for adult learners at various proficiency levels
and includes integrated workforce and digital literacy components. Instruction is focused on
developing vocabulary and confidence for dealing with real world situations such as financial
literacy and budgeting, navigating the community and public transportation, employment
expectations, and other daily life skills. Interested and eligible students that take part in training
programs to gain industry credentials, have the opportunity to be supported by the program
through the Integrated Education and Training (IET) program and receive supports through the
IRC Career Development team with the goal of successfully completing the training and earning
their credential.

JOB OVERVIEW:

 IRC in Atlanta will utilize two NDMV AmeriCorps Adult Education Associates. Through the NDMV program, they will serve full time (40 hours per week) for a total of 11 months, September 2023 through July 2024. These members will assist in collaboratively teaching ESOL classes, teaching IET support sessions, and lead the CO program. Both members will be an active part of the IRC’s
Adult Education instructional team, will lead classes and projects with direct programmatic outcomes, and will oversee classroom assistants (community volunteers). The hours of this position include some flexibility, but members typically commit to a schedule close to 8:30am-4:30pm (EST), Monday through Friday.

PLEASE NOTE: This position is a Notre Dame Mission Volunteer (NDMV) AmeriCorps position. AmeriCorps oversight will be conducted through NDMV of Atlanta, and the IRC will serve as a site placement. For more information about NDMV, please visit http://www.ndmva.org. Candidates will need to complete the AmeriCorps application process through the NDMV site liaison in addition to the IRC’s interview and selection process. Throughout their service, members will meet regularly (generally twice per month) with the local NDMV AmeriCorps group for professional development and cross-training opportunities.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Lead CO programming
o Plan and prepare orientations following organizational guidelines and federal learning
objectives with supplemental educational activities.
o Deliver cultural orientation curriculum through interpretation. Coordinate with IRC
logistics team to schedule and present orientations with in-person interpreters.
o Track individual progress through orientations, keeping documentation and maintain
communication with logistics and case management teams.
• Lead ESOL class programming
o Plan and deliver daily classes with curricula focused on basic through intermediate
language learning, digital literacy skills, workforce and job readiness skills, and
integrated life skills.
o Guide and support Adult Education classroom assistants, both volunteers and college
interns, as they lead and facilitate large group, small group, and one-one-one
instruction, and deliver curriculum content.
o Collaborate with the IRC’s Economic Empowerment early-employment team to align
focus towards current workforce priorities.
• Lead IET programming
o Plan and prepare integrated education for small groups of students each quarter that
are simultaneously enrolled in workforce credential training.
o Provide small group supportive sessions supporting English language learning and
workforce skills education.
o Collaborate with the IRC’s Career Development team and with external training
providers to ensure the curriculum aligns with training objectives and is in line with
federal IET standards.
• Orient and conference with current and potential students, assisting students in completing
necessary intake and enrollment forms, both virtually, using phone and web-based platforms,
and in-person.
• Administer English language assessments to measure student progress and gains.
• Assist with record-keeping and data entry to support program administration and compliance
with programmatic requirements. Document student progress by keeping accurate and up-to-
date attendance records, case notes, assessment data, program participant surveys, and
observation of student progress.
• Maintain a positive learning environment. Facilitate student learning activities that build
cultural and community knowledge and encourage collaboration and positive peer support.
• Maintain open and effective communication with adult education team members. Report
regularly on program goals, client attendance, learning activities, student progress and any
problems or concerns with clients or program.
• Actively participate in regularly scheduled staff meetings and professional development.