Teacher Mentor

Steven Tito Academy (STA) is a small, charity-funded, English-medium primary school that serves a very special population of students in Bagamoyo—those who have displayed a high aptitude for learning but who cannot afford the tuition of a safe, quality primary school.

Position

Teacher Mentors are an integral part of our school and will have the opportunity to help shape our programs for years to come. It is an opportunity to affect real change in children’s lives as well as gain valuable experience in childhood education. The Teacher Mentors ensure that each student feels safe at school and receives a high-quality education. The main role of the Teacher Mentor is to train and guide our Tanzanian teaching staff. The successful applicant needs to have initiative, be flexible and be able to adapt to change and last-minute setbacks and frustrations. You will need to be hardworking and passionate about improving as an educator and helping others to improve.

Key Objectives

  • Create a safe learning environment for all students
  • Train teachers to provide a quality education to all students and raise academic standards

Responsibilities

Select an area of expertise from the following. Your focus while volunteering will be in your selected area(s):

  • English language (reading, writing, speaking, listening)
  • Mathematics
  • Social studies (civics, history, geography, economics)
  • Science
  • Sports
  • The arts (dance, drama, music, visual arts)
  • Vocational skills (bicycle, cooking, sewing/needlework, Scouts, agriculture, business studies, crafts, ICT/computer)
  • Early childhood education
  • Adult English language teaching (improving our teachers’ English language skills)

Provide one-on-one academic advising to each teaching staff member:

  • Observe each teacher in the classroom for a lesson in your area(s) of expertise using the Classroom Observation Form (at least once a month for each teacher)
  • After the observation meet with the teacher to provide feedback and suggestions
  • When needed, before or after the observation, model a lesson/s in the teacher’s classroom
  • Meet again with the teacher after the demonstration lesson to discuss your lesson and what they learned from it or questions they may have
  • Assist teachers to complete pre- and post-tests in your area(s) of expertise as well as reading tests (running records, PROBE tests). Help teachers to use the assessment data to inform their teaching.
  • Assist teachers to plan a unit of work using the syllabus for the subject
  • Assist teachers to integrate subjects (for example, using reading strategies when teaching history)

Conduct weekly Professional Development (PD) sessions attended by all teaching staff:

  • With the academic leaders and head teacher plan and run PD sessions
  • Keep accurate records of what has been covered in each PD session
  • Use the STA Teaching Principles to prepare PD sessions that link to the curriculum
  • Research teaching methods, programs and assessments in your area(s) of expertise and train teachers to use them to strengthen teaching and learning

Ensure continuity of programs and teacher training at STA:

  • Create termly (or at the end of your volunteer period) reports about student learning with reference to the Teaching and Learning Implementation Plan, in your area of expertise
  • Communicate regularly with the Teaching and Learning Advisory Committee
  • Gather, prepare and purchase resources and materials as needed, with the assistance of the Head Teacher and Marketing and Fundraising Coordinator
  • Train teachers to implement existing assessments: running records, Number Fluency Assessment (NFA), VCOP and Big Write, SMART Spelling, M100W
  • Know and abide by the school values

English language teaching:

  • Assess the English language level of teaching staff members
  • Conduct one-on-one or small group English language lessons for teachers focusing on reading, writing, speaking and listening skills

Qualifications

  • University qualification in Education
  • Early childhood or primary level teaching experience
  • Experience with primary school assessments in English and mathematics (for example, Running Records, NFA, M100W)
  • Strong administrative and management skills
  • Evaluation and reporting skills
  • CELTA/TEFL/TESOL certificate, if teaching staff members English
  • A desire to use your experience and skills to empower our teachers and enrich the learning experience of our students

Preferred but not required:

  • Experience training early childhood or primary school teachers
  • Swahili language skills

Remuneration

This is a volunteer position. The successful applicant will be required to fund their own trip. As a charity school supported mostly by donations, the applicant will be required to pay for their own airfare, travel and/or health insurance, visa and any other travel expenses.

Basic housing on campus can sometimes be provided. If housing is not available the successful applicant will be housed in town at their own cost.

Duration

We require a minimum commitment of at least 3 months (1 full school term) and you will be asked to work 5 days per week, 8 hours per day.

What we Offer

  • The chance to gain an insight into the running of a small, unique, international development charity
  • A gateway into another culture: through your work, you will experience Tanzanian life and have the opportunity to build cross-cultural relationships
  • The opportunity to develop your management, teaching and teacher training skills
  • A chance to truly help children and families living in poverty and affected by HIV/AIDS
  • References can be supplied upon successful completion of the contract
  • Great travel advice for exploring Tanzania and a very friendly team

Ready to Apply?

Send the following to [email protected], with 'Teacher Mentor' in the subject line:

  • Resume/CV
  • Cover letter
  • Proposed dates of volunteering

We will only contact people who send us a resume/CV, cover letter and proposed dates of volunteering.

There will be many varied opportunities for dialogue, so candidates can learn about the school, the responsibilities of the position and the community it helps to support. We look forward to hearing from you!

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