Job Description

Writers’ Room Slam Poetry Coach at John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science

About the Opportunity

826 Boston seeks a dynamic and experienced poet to serve as the Slam Poetry Coach at the

John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science in Roxbury, Massachusetts. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in developing writers and slam poets in grades 7-12. This role would start October 3, 2023 and end May 23, 2024, with the possibility for renewal next school year. There is a mid-year break from December 11, 2023 – January 11, 2024.

Mission:

826 Boston is a nonprofit writing, tutoring, and publishing organization where students in grades K-12 and beyond can share their stories, amplify their voices, and develop as leaders in school and in life.

How to Apply

Please include why you are interested in 826 Boston and how your experience has prepared you for this position in your cover letter. The priority application deadline for this position is August 10. After that date, applications will be considered on a rolling basis. It is in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.

Responsibilities:

• Lead hour-long Slam Poetry Club meetings in person on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons
• Develop and carry out written weekly lesson plans, approved by the Writers’ Room Manager ahead of time, to support student artists with strengthening their writing, performance, and public speaking skills
• Build rapport with students and nurture a safe community where students of all backgrounds feel supported and comfortable expressing themselves artistically
• Track student attendance during biweekly club meetings
• Communicate Slam Poetry Club meeting progress to the Writers’ Room Manager, during  but not limited to weekly one-on-one meetings, and seek counsel when help is needed to execute goals for student artists
• Plan, advertise, and chaperone regular in-school open mic opportunities for students
• Oversee rehearsals with students for in-school and community performances, such as events hosted by 826 Boston and other local partner organizations
• Cultivate, maintain, and connect students with a network of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, and local artists, whom you invite to lead guest workshops
• Along with the Writers’ Room Manager, act as an 826 Boston representative for the Edvestors High School Credit-Bearing Program, which includes responding to emails from the partner organization and attending a couple virtual meetings during the school year
• Track weekly student progress in preparation to grade student artists during the spring semester for the Edvestors High School Credit-Bearing Program

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate is a team player with a steadfast commitment to improving the quality of K-12 education, including adopting antiracist/anti-oppressive approaches, a desire to work in a collaborative and inclusive culture, and a passion for youth empowerment through writing and publishing.

826 Boston recognizes that impostor syndrome and the confidence gap might prevent some applicants from applying. Few candidates will have all of the relevant experience listed below, but 826 Boston is committed to assessing candidates with transferable skills and a willingness to be trained for this role.

Skills and experiences:

• 2+ years as a slam poet
• Some experience tutoring, teaching, or coaching middle and/or high school students
• High school diploma
• Ability to build genuine and responsive relationships/community with a diverse group of students and embrace values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities, manage your time, and take ownership of projects
• Familiarity with the Boston Public Schools system, particularly the schools in Roxbury
• Experience with Google Suite and digital platforms, including Zoom, Google Classroom, and Google Meet, is helpful but not required

Compensation:

• 6 hours per week, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30-3:30 PM, at $18 per hour

This is a non-exempt, part-time, temporary position that reports to the Writers’ Room Manager. 826 Boston is an equal opportunity employer committed to being a multicultural organization. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

826 Boston Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

At 826 Boston, we honor and actively work toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across our organization. We are committed to centering the voices of the students who we serve, to creating inclusive spaces, and to incorporating feedback from our community into our decision-making processes. Our DEI lens is always evolving through the courageous conversations in which we participate and the relationships that we build through our work and service. We strengthen our cultural competency through experience, training, and feedback, which informs the development of all new organizational practices and goals and the evaluation of all existing procedures.

826 Boston is dedicated to providing a platform for student advocacy through writing and publishing opportunities. In our work and mission, we are committed to dismantling white supremacy culture by recognizing that we are complicit in systems of racism and oppression. We will work to hold ourselves accountable in addressing these harmful structures and behaviors. To learn more about our DEI Action Plans across the organization, please click here.

About 826 Boston

826 Boston is part of a national network of youth writing centers, co-founded by the award-winning author Dave Eggers, that were named in GOOD Magazine’s “30 Places We Want to Work.” Since opening in 2007, 826 Boston has delivered its free youth writing and tutoring programs to more than 25,000 students and has been recognized by The Boston Globe as one of the best places in the city to volunteer. 826 Boston’s youth writers have published their work in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and in numerous award-winning 826 Boston books, including A Place for Me in the World, which was hailed as a “triumph of middle school education” by The Boston Globe. In 2014, the 826 network garnered the American Literacy Prize from the Library of Congress for its pioneering work to eradicate illiteracy in the United States.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

How to Apply

Job Types: Part-Time. Salaries: Less than 20,000.

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