Youth Poetry & Empowerment Coach
Job Description
Background
Split This Rock calls poets to the center of public life and fosters a national network of socially engaged poets. From our home in the nation's capital we celebrate poetic diversity and the transformative power of the imagination. We are committed to fostering the voices of the next generation poets through our youth programs.
Split This Rock's robust youth programs use poetry to teach and empower teens from the DC metropolitan area to speak up about issues of social justice. We are currently based in 20 high schools throughout the DC metro area, creating and facilitating poetry clubs. Our youth programs operate year-round to offer exceptional learning, writing, bonding, and performance opportunities to young people interested in the power of language. Our primary youth programming includes the DC Youth Slam Team, Louder Than A Bomb – DMV (LTAB-DMV), and The World & Me Poetry Contest. Our teaching artists and teens also host monthly open mics and poetry slams, and frequently lead workshops, teach classes, and perform for schools, community groups, NGOs, and social justice demonstrations.
Position Description
Our Youth Poetry & Empowerment Coaches support and cultivate middle and high school students' love for creative writing, poetry, and spoken word performance. Through our in-school and after-school programs, we seek to popularize poetry, establish and maintain poetry clubs and slam teams in schools, and help students develop their writing and performance skills as well as a culture of literacy, camaraderie, and truth-telling. Our goal is for every high school to have and support a poetry slam team that represents the school at regional competitions just as they do with basketball and football teams. Our top-notch coaches and mentors are critical in achieving these goals.
Each year our high school poetry clubs work together in preparation for the regional LTAB-DMV Teen Poetry Slam Festival, bringing together over 20 high school slam teams for a weekend of sharing, listening, and connecting with other young poets. The Youth Poetry & Empowerment Coach will run one or two high school poetry clubs, working with the students to form a team of 4-6 poets for competition in LTAB-DMV. Running the club involves scheduling and facilitating meetings, recruiting students and organizing slams, showing and teaching students high quality poetry performance techniques, and helping the team craft individual and group poems. Maintaining communication with the faculty sponsor of the club and Split This Rock staff is also an important component of the Coach's job. In short, the Coach is responsible for ensuring a successful and continuing poetry program at their assigned school.
This is a part-time, contract position.
Key Responsibilities
The Youth Poetry & Empowerment Coach will be responsible for:
· Maintaining an amicable and effective working relationship with school staff, and students
· Recruiting, organizing, inspiring, mentoring, and coaching students
· Leading and facilitating high school slam teams
· Ensuring teams are adequately prepared for LTAB-DMV with multiple new poems written, revised, rehearsed and memorized before April
· Meeting once per month for mandatory professional development sessions with other Split This Rock coaches and teaching artists
Schedule
Youth Poetry & Empowerment Coaches work from October through May.
October – January: Coaches meet with their poetry clubs at least twice per month or at most, weekly visits, and attend monthly professional development sessions.
February – May: Coaches meet with their poetry clubs weekly and bi-weekly, and attend monthly professional development sessions.
As Coaches bond with their students and poetry clubs, they may wish to volunteer their time and visit the club at additional times. While this is highly encouraged, Coaches must communicate with supervisors prior to all meetings with students.
Payment
$25/hour (with max of 1.5 hours per poetry club meeting)
Split This Rock cannot pay for more than one weekly meeting until February. From February through May (in preparation for LTAB), coaches will be paid for twice weekly sessions with their youth poetry clubs.
Qualifications
You must have:
· At least 2 years of demonstrated experience working directly and effectively with youth (preferably teens)
· High school diploma, or equivalent, (Bachelors degree preferred)
· Passion for social justice and youth empowerment
· Interest in, and some familiarity with, spoken word poetry (YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A POET)
· Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills
· Clean TB test and background check for working with students (can be completed after interview)
To Apply
Email a thoughtful cover letter outlining your interest in this position, your current resume, and 3 references to Tucker@SplitThisRock.org
