About Jumpstart
Jumpstart’s mission is to work toward the day every child in America enters school prepared to succeed. To this end, Jumpstart trains and supports caring adults to serve as part-time Corps members, working with young children to build skills crucial to school success. Jumpstart focuses on three program areas: building School Success for young children by fostering their early language, literacy, social, initiative skills; encouraging strongFamily Involvement to help families support children’s learning; and training college students to be Future Teachers and leaders in early childhood education. Jumpstart serves young children in more than 60 communities nationwide.
About the Position
Jumpstart Corps members have the unique opportunity to inspire young children to learn, serve in a local community, work on a team, and build professional skills. All Corps members receive professional-caliber training to help them implement Jumpstart’s outcome-based program, promote children’s school success, and build family involvement.
Corps members have the following option for participation in Jumpstart:
200-hour term OR 300-hour term: serve part-time during the school year
Jumpstart School Year
Corps members complete 300 hours of service during the school year. This intensive commitment will make a substantial impact in the life of a young child. During the school year, Corps members participate in the following activities:
- Serve part-time, 8-12 hours per week, during the school year, including:
- Jumpstart sessions with team and small groups of children, 4 hours per week (two afternoons a week for two hours each)
- Team planning meetings and session preparation, which includes planning, reflection, and/or training, 2-3 hours per week
- 2-5 hours each week in a preschool classroom during the regular school day
- 1 hour of individual planning and preparation for Jumpstart sessions
- Communicate with children’s family
- Participate in intensive pre-service and on-going trainings
- Attend periodic service days, often held on weekends
Qualifications and Experience
Dedication to early childhood education
- Experience working with young children, and/or a desire to learn more about early childhood education
- Strong language and communication skills
- Ability to build relationships and collaborate with children’s families
- Willingness to learn about session implementation and planning
- Willingness to implement Jumpstart’s research based curriculum with integrity
Commitment to service
- Community service experience
- Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds
- Ability to fulfill a yearlong community service commitment
- Enthusiastic and positive attitude toward helping others
Professionalism
- Ability to work well on a team
- Desire to seek opportunities for self and team growth
- Willingness to receive and provide feedback in an effort to improve quality
- Availability, dependability, and willingness to be flexible
- Maturity and good judgment in relating to Jumpstart peers, partners, and families
Compensation and Benefits
- Potential to earn Work-Study award during term of service
- AmeriCorps education award upon completion of service term (up to $1,175)
- Extensive training in the field of early childhood education
- Unique opportunity to join a national network of individuals serving young children
- Invaluable opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young children
Contact site manager Jenessa Flores Parker or call (909) 607-9290
For information or to apply online, visit www.jstart.org
