Student Support Specialist

Position Summary

The Bayview Hunters Point YMCA is seeking a dedicated and dynamic Student Support Specialist to foster a strong partnership between the school day and afterschool program, creating a positive and impactful experience for students. This role involves working with students during both structured and unstructured times of the school day and afterschool hours.

During after school hours, the Student Support Specialist is responsible for running a classroom of approximately 20 students during enrichment and homework time. During the school day, this role works in consult with the instructional leadership of the school to serve the needs of our school’s lowest performing students and by providing academic and socio-emotional interventions. Additionally, the Student Support Specialist works closely with the MLK Family Resource Center, managing a caseload of families. The Student Support Specialist will assist families in navigating and overcoming barriers, ensuring they receive the resources and support needed to thrive.

This position requires a compassionate, organized, and proactive individual who is passionate about making a meaningful difference in the lives of students and their families.

Student Support Specialist Responsibilities

• Plan a project-oriented curriculum to support youth’s social-emotional, academic, and physical success by: 
  • Incorporating the five supports and opportunities of Youth Development Theory and Practice:  safety, youth participation, skill building, community involvement, and relationship building. 
  • Developing and leading a comprehensive curriculum that embeds high quality skill-building through activities that are sequenced, active, focused, and explicit. 
  • Planning regular, creative literacy-based activities that allow youth to build listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills and leadership abilities through the class content. 
• Organize teaching materials and prepare lessons for each class. 
• Review program-wide lesson plans to ensure Youth-Development best practices.  
• Assist Beacon Site Director with all attendance monitoring, sign-in/out, and auditing processes.  
• Lead an academic hour focused on boosting youth’s academic achievement and strengthening their study skills. 
• Attend all training sessions throughout the year and weekly staff meetings. 
• Support meeting the required average daily attendance of the program by effectively recruiting and retaining youth by:  
  • Creating and distributing flyers  
  • Builds relationships with families and community leaders  
  • Collecting and organizing all paperwork required for registration; and 
  • Maintaining information in database. 
• Assist in evaluating program effectiveness by participating in the QAP and YPQA processes.  
• Support overall program logistics through coordination of activities, parent communication, attendance monitoring, and other duties as assigned.
• Coordinate services to support food access, utility bill assistance, therapeutic services, medical services, transportation services, and other services as needed.
• Connect families to social services and resources for basic needs.
• Manage a caseload of students identified by the school to receive academic/behavior support. 
• Collaborate with school-day teachers and after school staff to lead restorative/transformational circles with students. 

Minimum Qualifications

• 21 years or older 
• Associate’s degree or higher, or High School diploma/equivalent plus any of: 
  • Completed 48 college units verified by transcript 
  • Passed CA Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST) 
  • Passed District Instructional Aide Exam 
• Two or more years’ experience working with multi-ethnic and multi-cultural middle school youth 
• A commitment to providing young people with the highest-quality youth development experience 
• Passion for social justice and knowledge of the Bayview Hunters Point community, its residents, and a desire to make a difference 
• Strong understanding of the theory and practice of youth development 
• Experience teaching specific content area(s) 
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and verbal/communication skills 
• Ability to engage with middle school youth and build meaningful relationships with them. 
• Creativity and interest in planning hands-on projects for youth 
• Team player with proven ability to work with people from a variety of different ethnic, socio economic, educational, religious, sexual, and generational backgrounds 
• YMCA approved CPR/First Aid Certification (may complete upon hire) 
• TB test clearance 
• Fingerprint background check clearance 

Preferred Qualifications

• 23 years or older 
• BA/BS in education or related field 
• Bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Tagalog 
• Three or more years’ experience working with multi-ethnic and multi-cultural middle school youth 
• Understanding and experience with Trauma-Informed Systems in a school setting 

What You’ll Gain

When you join our team as a Student Support Specialist, you’ll gain more than a job—you’ll gain a career alongside a community dedicated to making a difference. We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being, professional growth, and work-life balance:

• Financial Security: Life insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, and access to both 403(b) retirement plans and 401(a) plans to help you plan for the future.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, mentorship, and career advancement within the organization.
• Perks & Discounts: Enjoy a free YMCA membership with access to facilities and discounts on programs for you and your family.
• Community Impact: A chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of youth, families, and your local community every day.

Join us and be part of a team that values your contributions while empowering you to grow personally and professionally!