Academic Mentor

# Academic MentorEPWPLC - Brooklyn, NY 11211## OverviewSalary Range$25.00 - $25.00 HourlyPosition TypePart Time## Description**The Opportunity**El Puente is seeking an engaging, dependable, and community-centered Academic Mentor who is passionate about helping young people strengthen their academic skills, confidence, and love of learning. The Academic Mentor plays an important role in creating a supportive after-school environment where young people can receive individualized academic assistance, develop stronger study habits, and build the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. Through one-on-one support, small-group instruction, literacy development, test preparation, and enrichment activities, the Academic Mentor helps participants work toward greater academic independence and achievement. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys working directly with young people, understands that every student learns differently, and believes academic support should be encouraging, culturally responsive, and connected to the whole development of a young person. Working closely with program leadership, school-based staff, families, and fellow youth development staff, the Academic Mentor helps create an environment where participants feel supported, challenged, and empowered to reach their goals. **About El Puente**Founded in 1982, El Puente is a youth-centered human rights organization rooted in Brooklyn, New York and Puerto Rico, using the arts, education, and environmental justice as tools to inspire and nurture leadership for peace and justice. For over four decades, El Puente has been building community-led movements grounded in self-determination, where young people, families, and communities are not only participants, but leaders shaping the future of their neighborhoods and beyond. Through a holistic leadership and membership model, the organization creates spaces where culture, identity, education, and activism intersect.El Puente's work spans Youth Leadership Centers across Brooklyn, a nationally recognized public high school, environmental justice initiatives, and organizing efforts that place community voice at the center of change. From local neighborhoods to global conversations, the organization continues to stand at the forefront of movements for equity, climate justice, and human rights. At its core, El Puente is deeply relational, intergenerational, and community-rooted. As a staff member of El Puente, the Academic Mentor is expected to uphold and embody the mission, philosophy, and principles of the organization. **The Role**The Academic Mentor provides direct academic support to young people participating in El Puente's youth programs. Reporting to the Program Director and working collaboratively with program and school-based staff, the Academic Mentor monitors and develops systems to support academic growth and success with homework completion, literacy and math development, study skills, test preparation, and other academic needs . The Academic Mentor will work individually and in small groups with participants, helping identify areas where additional support is needed.Beyond academics, this position contributes to El Puente's broader youth development model by building meaningful relationships with participants, supporting family engagement, participating in enrichment activities, and helping young people develop the skills and confidence needed to advocate for themselves and their communities. **Key Responsibilities***Academic Support and Mentoring*● Provide individualized and small-group homework assistance and content-specific academic support. ● Support participants in strengthening skills in mathematics, reading, writing, and other core academic subjects. ● Help participants develop effective study habits, organization, time-management skills, and academic independence. ● Design and facilitate literacy activities and interventions that strengthen reading comprehension, writing, and communication skills. ● Develop and facilitate study-skills, test-preparation, and academic enrichment activities.● Identify areas where participants may need additional academic support and work with program leadership to develop appropriate strategies. ● Encourage participants to set academic goals, recognize their progress, and build confidence in their abilities. ● Provide patient, strengths-based academic guidance that responds to different learning styles and needs. *Youth Development and Engagement*● Build meaningful, supportive, and consistent relationships with young people. ● Participate in a team-based approach to mentoring and supporting participants through El Puente's membership model. ● Create learning environments that are welcoming, structured, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of young people. ● Collaborate with staff and participants to develop educational and enrichment activities beyond homework support. ● Support youth in developing critical-thinking, leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. ● Participate in El Puente's human rights, leadership, cultural, and community-building activities. ● Support recreational, enrichment, and community activities as needed. *Family and School Partnership*● Build positive relationships with parents and caregivers and share appropriate resources and strategies that can reinforce academic development at home. ● Collaborate with program leadership and school-based staff to support participants' academic progress. ● Coordinate with program and school staff around portfolio presentations, projects, assessments, and exam preparation. ● Communicate relevant academic needs, progress, and concerns to the appropriate program staff. ● Help connect youth and families with academic resources when additional support may be beneficial. *Program Planning and Documentation*● Meet regularly with program leadership to discuss participant progress, academic priorities, and work plans. ● Collect and review participant academic information and help identify strategies based on student needs and progress.● Maintain accurate attendance, participant records, and other required program documentation. ● Assist with youth and program evaluations as required. ● Prepare lesson plans, learning materials, and academic activities in advance of programming. ● Participate in staff meetings, supervision, professional development, and required trainings. *Program Operations and Team Collaboration*● Work collaboratively with program leadership, Group Leaders, school-based staff, and other El Puente team members. ● Assist with participant transitions, including escorting youth from school to the program when required. ● Help maintain classrooms and program areas that are organized, clean, safe, and welcoming. ● Assist with setting up and breaking down program spaces and materials. ● Provide reasonable support with moving program supplies and materials when necessary. ● Remain flexible in supporting programming across El Puente locations based on organizational and program needs. ● Perform other related duties that support the successful operation of the program.## Qualifications**Key Qualifications**Successful candidates will demonstrate a strong interest in education and youth development, the ability to build positive relationships with young people, and the patience and adaptability necessary to support participants with different academic strengths and learning needs. **Required Qualifications**● High school diploma or equivalent required; college enrollment or completion strongly preferred. ● Experience tutoring, mentoring, teaching, or providing academic support to children or adolescents. ● Ability to provide strong academic support in mathematics, English language arts, reading, and writing. ● Strong communication and interpersonal skills. ● Ability to explain academic concepts in ways that are clear, encouraging, and age-appropriate. ● Strong organizational and time-management skills.● Ability to work collaboratively as part of a youth development team. ● Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality when working with young people and families. ● Ability to successfully complete all required background checks, clearances, and fingerprinting. **Preferred Qualifications**● Current college student or graduate with coursework or a degree in Education, Psychology, Social Work, Human Services, Youth Development, English, Mathematics, or a related field. ● Experience working with youth in after-school, school-based, tutoring, summer, or community-based programs. ● Experience developing or facilitating academic lessons, literacy interventions, or enrichment activities. ● Experience supporting youth-led projects. ● Experience developing integrated, theme-based, culturally responsive, or human-rights-centered learning activities. ● Familiarity with New York City public schools and academic expectations. ● Spanish/English bilingual proficiency. ● Demonstrated commitment to El Puente's mission, values, and community-centered approach. **Schedule and Location**This is a part-time, in-person position based in Brooklyn, New York. **Compensation**$25.00 per hour at 15 hours per week **Equal Employment Opportunity**El Puente is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Latinx, Indigenous, immigrant, LGBTQIA+, and other historically underrepresented communities. We value lived experience, community leadership, multilingualism, and cultural knowledge as essential assets in advancing our mission of youth leadership, justice, and community transformation.If you are passionate about helping young people build academic confidence, develop lifelong learning skills, and recognize their own potential, we encourage you to apply #J-18808-Ljbffr