Teaching Assistant for BEAM Entry Points After-School Math Club

Description of the Position

This upcoming academic year will be part of a transformative experience for students from low-income and historically marginalized communities with exceptional potential in math. Be a role model and mentor to your students as they begin their path to advanced mathematics.

Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM), a project of the Art of Problem Solving Initiative, Inc., is seeking teaching assistants for our pilot year of an after-school math club that gives 4th grade students an opportunity to develop their problem solving skills and have fun with math.

What You'll Do

• During BEAM's Entry Points club, you'll support a lead instructor and a group of 12-18 fourth graders as they tackle logic puzzles, math games, and challenge problems.
• Our club staff are supported by a full-time team who manage our school partnerships and provide curriculum materials.
• This is our pilot year, and we are actively refining the program based on what actually happens in the classroom.

As a Teaching Assistant, you will

• Assist the lead club instructor with classroom management and implementing curriculum.
• Step into a mentorship role, building relationships with students and supporting their growth to develop a positive club environment for elementary students.
• Supervise students during club while the lead instructor pulls students aside for one-on-one or small group conversations and vice versa.
• Work with students on mathematics, both one-on-one and as a teaching assistant.
• Support student safety during club and the transitions before and after club.
• Provide feedback on clubs to Entry Points full-time staff.

Who You Are

• Teaching assistants must have experience with elementary-aged children in a group setting, be reliable, and take initiative.
• They should be able to balance helping the kids have fun while ensuring students meet behavior expectations.
• Ideally, our TAs will also be able to relate to our students and build positive connections through shared lived experiences.

• All teaching assistants must be at least 18 years old by the beginning of the program.
• In addition, applicants must be authorized to work for an employer in the US.
• We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.
• International students able to obtain CPT or OPT are welcome to apply.

Exceptional candidates will also have

• Strong conceptual understanding of 4-8th grade math, especially fractions and integer operations.
• Experience with math competitions and logic puzzles/games
• Prior experience with BEAM, either as a student or staff
• Classroom management skills
• Flexibility to go to at least 3 of our schools as needed

Application Process

• Our process, as described below, has approximately two stages and we anticipate the process lasting about 4-6 weeks in total with someone starting in the role as soon as possible, although we are flexible with the specific date.
• The initial step is to submit your application, including resumé and responses to a few short application questions, via our online portal. When your application is complete, we will follow up with next steps.
• Next steps in our process will include a 45-minute virtual interview and reference checks.
• We will review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Physical Demands

• Constant (50%+) sitting/standing
• Frequent (26-50%) walking/bending

Pay and benefits

The hourly pay for this role is $19/hour.

• Club times/locations: note that time ranges include a buffer before and after club for setup, dismissal, and cleanup. Actual club durations are between 90-120 minutes, depending on location.

You must be able to commute to one Tuesday location and one Wednesday location.

• Tuesdays 3:00-5:30pm, 1077 Remsen Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11236
• Tuesdays 3:00-6:00pm, 188 Rochester Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213
• Wednesdays 3:15-5:45pm, 625 W 133rd St, New York, NY 10027
• Wednesdays 1:30-4:00pm, 655 Parkside Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226

In addition to hours worked in-person at schools, you will also be asked to provide feedback on clubs in virtual debrief meetings and/or in writing. The total estimated hours per week is 6-7 hours

Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Beyond a commitment to nondiscrimination, we are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.