2015 NMH Upward Bound Tutor Counselor Intern Application and Program Description

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1 2015 NMH Upward Bound Tutor Counselor Intern 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. Answer the following 5 questions in short paragraphs in a Word document Send an with 2 separate attachments: your resume and your Word document with answers to the 5 questions upwardbound@nmhschool.org. 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. Some years 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

2 Northfield Mount Hermon Upward Bound TC Position Description Program Dates: 7 weeks in dorm on campus: June 13 th to July 31 st, Most weekends interns will be free. Overview The NMH UB Tutor-Counselor position introduces college students and college graduates to careers in education, counseling, social justice and related fields. Interns 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 interns 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, interns hone leadership skills while positively shaping the experience of Upward Bound (UB) scholars. Classroom Experience All interns 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 interns will develop activities in areas such as sports, drama, music, crafts, and community service. Additionally, interns can facilitate social justice workshops, produce performances, and assist with event planning. Designing and planning activities allows interns 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, interns live in dorms with students. As a part of our dorm team, interns supervise and counsel students. As adult interns of the community, interns model the behavior and cultural capital that leads to success in academic environments. Living with students allows interns to share the students joys, frustrations, set-backs, and triumphs while giving them a perspective on college life.

3 Training and Support To prepare for the summer, interns will complete pre service reading, reflection and research, which will prepare them for the intensive training and service. On arrival, interns 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 Every intern is funded in some way to an amount between $1500 and $3000. Possible funding includes work study funds, grants from college career offices, or AmeriCorps education award. We will work with you on a case by case basis if you are selected. 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 upwardbound@nmhschool.org

4 The TC experience is an intense, challenging, and rewarding endeavor. TCs learn and grow tremendously alongside our students. Recent interns report that their summer experience helped shape their career choices and their perspectives on education, counseling and social justice. Interns 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. Interns prepared to come and learn as much as possible will likely have a life shaping experience. Former, Volunteers and AmeriCorps Interns 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 because of the relationship I have with them and the support I have provided. It s very rewarding to see the impact! 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. 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

5 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 UB Recent outcomes: alumni provide mentoring and 90% of seniors enrolled in a tutoring. program of postsecondary The Annual Social Justice education Conference provides the 93% of college enrollees opportunity to explore a wide were retained range of social justice issues Over 65% complete a degree, facing students now and in college. NMH Upward mostly a B.A. Bound Program has received national recognition Alumni are excelling in every for its work on social justice issues. field including engineering, Students live in dorms, which prepares them computer sciences, for the experience of moving away from transportation, law, family, living with roommates, and learning education, politics, business, about diversity. health careers All services are free to students and most Recent graduates attend transportation is provided. many colleges including Fee waivers are provided for college Brown, Eckerd, Bard, Beloit applications and required testing fees. Franklin and Marshall, Families support the program through Middlebury, Smith. Simmons participation in the Parent Advisory Council, College Holy Cross, Brandeis, Family Days, and fundraising activities. DePauw, Elms, UMass, as well as many Massachusetts Academic Year Support (September May) state colleges, universities, Weekly academic advising is provided to and community colleges. each student at his or her school. Mandatory tutoring is provided twice a week in each school for any core subject grade lower than a B. 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.