Have you always had a way of connecting with kids? Are you interested in becoming a teacher or gaining experience in an educational context? Or are you looking for a way to make a difference in your community? At CASW, the work we do each day would be impossible without the dedication of group leaders and assistant group leaders, who spend each day working, not just as instructors, but as mentors to elementary and middle school students. In many ways, it is an ideal opportunity for aspiring educators in the NYC area.
What Is a Group Leader/Assistant Group Leader
Here at CASW, group leaders and assistants work directly with children and youth – which is a key opportunity for anyone aspiring toward education or youth-based work. Leaders and assistants work in pairs and are often responsible for upwards of 12 students during after school program hours. Aside from supervising their respective groups, leaders and assistants play an active role in the hands-on educational model that defines CASW; they are expected to create and implement lesson plans based on the program’s STEAM-focused curriculum. An ideal candidate may come from the following backgrounds (though we embrace diversity in experience and perspectives!):
- Someone studying education, child development, social work, or a related field
- Individuals preparing for student teaching or certification
- Candidates with previous childcare or youth work experience – this can look like previous positions at similar programs, tutoring, volunteer work, or even babysitting!
- Students or professionals with backgrounds in the arts, STEM, or with a general interest in providing hands on enrichment opportunities to NYC youth
In essence, we’re looking for people who are eager to work directly with young people and help shape future generations!
A Stepping Stone to Your Career: The Benefits of Being a CASW Group Leader
In many ways, working as a group leader/assistant at CASW can provide you with concrete skills and real world perspectives. By making CASW a part of your professional journey, you’re able to grow in the following ways:
- By gaining classroom experience, you’ll learn classroom and behavior management, lesson plan facilitation and activity planning; and in terms of more general skills, you’ll learn your own lessons about communication, problem solving, and working as a part of a larger team. All of these are indispensable skills for both future employers and educational opportunities.
- CASW serves young people from a variety of backgrounds and personalities. Group leaders and assistants learn to adapt their approach to different learning styles. Through real classroom exposure, you’ll learn to apply different engagement strategies to varying academic, social, and emotional needs.
- Becoming a group leader/assistant gives you the chance to work beside experienced site directors, program coordinators, and education professionals who can offer guidance, insight, and even recommendations for the next step in your journey.
Why CASW Group Leaders Love What They Do
At the end of the day, every one who works at CASW understands that our day to day interactions with youth can help shape our communities tomorrow. The ideal group leader knows that their work makes an impact on countless young people, as well as our city as a whole. Aly Hernandez, a group leader from our COMPASS program at PS 115, says as much: “It’s an amazing way to show kids from all over the city how to explore and experiment, it showed me what patience and dedication can mean for these children.”
