Summer 2024 - Program Instructor, Justice Scholars

Who you are:

The Justice Scholars Program

Vera s Justice Scholars Program is for up to 10 New York City high school students for a 4 week period in the summer. This educational program is centered around the concept and practice of justice, and its aim is to provide a robust experience during which young people can be thoughtfully exposed to the work of social justice research, policy analysis, and community engagement.

Each week students will learn about different aspect of the American criminal legal system, including its history and the aftereffects of mass incarceration. Students will be encouraged to think critically about what values they believe should be promoted in society and how our institutions reflect those values. Through guest speakers, field trips, group projects and class lectures, they will learn about the intersections of race, education, economics, and the criminal legal system.

Primary Responsibilities:

Curriculum development

• Create, edit and disseminate a rich social justice-focused curriculum appropriate for a summer program for high school students.


• Develop and teach a multi-modal, interactive, engaging and includes social learning principles curriculum that builds students' knowledge of America's criminal justice system in partnership with Verans and subject matter experts in the criminal legal field


• Develop and implement a one-day orientation for parents/caretakers at the beginning of the summer, hosted at Vera, and intended to preview the program s content and support parents /caretakers abilities to support the youth through the program.

Pre-program activities

• Assist with pre-program activities such as logistical coordination, admissions and selection process, pre/post-program survey development.


• Plan, prepare for, and lead daily activities, including field trips, in alignment with lesson plans.

Lead the Justice Scholar program of up to 10 students in an instructional setting

• Provide proper, and continuous, supervision of all students.


• Engage effectively with talented and diverse students, their parents/caretakers, external partners in the criminal justice system, community-based organizations, and others.


• Coordinate with Vera s internal subject matter experts and ensure that their time engaging with the students and program, via presentations, Q&A, and/or short interviews, is efficiently and effectively managed.


• Demonstrate our commitment to learning from and building on each other's ideas, respecting others' experiences and thoughtful exploration.


• Solve challenges before and during the Program and to move it from development to fruition quickly.


• Engage commitment to cultural competence and equity and a thoughtful perspective on how best to advance them within the summer program.

What qualifications do you need?

Required:

• Ability to work in-person at Vera s Industry City and other NYC based locations


• You are an experienced instructor, who has taught middle or high school students, and can provide clear evidence of student learning and growth.


• Enthusiasm for criminal legal reform.


• A desire to expand the minds and lives of students in and out of a classroom setting.


• At least 2 3 years of working with youths in an educational environment.

Preferred:

• Valid State Teacher Certification is helpful but not required.


• Familiarity with Vera s work.

Compensation and Benefits

The compensation for this position will be a $1,400 weekly stipend. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff both personally and professionally is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time. To learn more about Vera s benefits offerings, click here.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People Resources / Summer Program Instructor, Justice Scholars
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2-A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

As a federal contractor, and in order to ensure a healthy and safe work environment, Vera Institute of Justice is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine before their start date. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical contraindication or sincerely-held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.g., an exemption) to this requirement.

Vera is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org