The UACS Literacy Program Coordinator (coordinator) is a place-based position primarily rooted at local UACS K-12 West Philadelphia public schools and involves direct service, supervision, and administrative duties. The coordinator will take a comprehensive approach to improving the literacy rates for youth in Netter’s University Assisted Community School (UACS) schools. This position will partner with school day teachers, university staff/ faculty and OST staff to help improve literacy initiati... more details
University Overview
The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.
Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.
The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.
Posted Job Title
Part-Time UACS Literacy Coordinator, The Netter Center
Job Profile Title
Coordinator A-01
Job Description Summary
The UACS Literacy Program Coordinator (coordinator) is a place-based position primarily rooted at local UACS K-12 West Philadelphia public schools and involves direct service, supervision, and administrative duties. The coordinator will take a comprehensive approach to improving the literacy rates for youth in Netter’s University Assisted Community School (UACS) schools. This position will partner with school day teachers, university staff/ faculty and OST staff to help improve literacy initiatives for grades 1st-10th with a specific focus on the elementary grades phonics and comprehension. This role will oversee the engagement of Penn students for school day and after school tutoring( ie. the Penn Reading Initiative and GSE students). In addition, any resources and/or curricula will be reviewed and purchased through the coordinator. Alignment of school day literacy supports will be achieved through regular meetings with school leadership and teachers as well as ongoing collaborative planning. This position will collaborate closely with ABCS courses and foster connections with faculty partners interested in engaging with ABCS, community-engaged scholarship. Additionally, it will oversee undergraduate work-study and volunteer Penn students. This position requires in-person interactions with Penn communities as well as external communities.
Job Description
Founded in 1992, the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships is the University's primary vehicle for advancing civic and community engagement at Penn. It brings together the resources and assets of both the University and the wider community to help solve universal problems such as poverty, health inequities, environmental sustainability, and inadequate, unequal education as they are manifested in the University's local geographic area of West Philadelphia and Philadelphia at large. The Netter Center develops and helps implement democratic, mutually transformative, place-based partnerships between Penn and West Philadelphia that advance research, teaching, learning, practice, and service and improve the quality of life on campus and in the community. The Netter Center works with and serves as a model for other higher education institutions across the United States and around the world. The Netter Center’s university-assisted community schools (UACS) is a strategy to educate, engage, empower, and serve all members of the community in which the school is located and engage students (K-16+) in real world, community problem solving.
Duties:
Implementing literacy initiatives to support students with below grade level reading skills
Working with Penn faculty to help develop, implement and expand literacy supports in school-this may include
Supporting evaluation and fundraising efforts
Planning family engagement activities to support additional at home literacy activities
Reviewing and ordering curricula and other administrative duties
Supporting the Netter Center’s overall UACS approach in West Philadelphia
Hiring and training Penn students and volunteers
Regularly attending school based meetings to ensure alignment with school academic goals
Working closely with UACS site coordinators and staff
Assisting Netter’s evaluation team to measure program effectiveness
Convening teachers during summer for reflection and program planning
Garner the support of community partners (ie. the library, Philadelphia Reading Captains, Children’s Literacy Initiative, Read by 4th, Read to Succeed, and the Philadelphia Writing Project)
Integrate all university resources that focus on literacy to foster a comprehensive approach to supporting UACS reading initiatives
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and 1 to 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
Master's in Education, Reading, Writing, Literacy, or equivalent degree and 2 to 4 years of experience or equivalent combination is strongly preferred.
1-2 years of working in schools is preferred.
A strong candidate will have experience in education, approaches to engaging youth in literacy, and supervision.
Knowledge about Penn and West Philadelphia is a plus.
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and foster high quality connections is critical.
Must be collaborative, flexible, and work productively with diverse groups.
Must possess a track record of both self-directed and team-oriented accomplishments and be organized, detail-oriented, dependable, and flexible.
This position is contingent upon funding.
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Department / School
School of Arts and Sciences
Pay Range
$20.45 - $22.00 Hourly Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.
Affirmative Action Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.
Special Requirements
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.
University Benefits
Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.
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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay
