Career Center

OVERVIEW
Brooklyn Friends School (BFS), a thriving Preschool-12 grade school located in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn, seeks an Extended Day Guide within a dynamic community of colleagues (BFS uses the all-inclusive term, colleagues, to refer to all rather than one that delineates faculty/staff). Founded in 1867, Brooklyn Friends School’s pillars of social justice, service learning/civic engagement, and Quakerism, serve as guideposts for our action-oriented collective work. Our school’s history has been illustrious and reflective of the expansive nature of human experiences. Guided by our mission, BFS provides a dynamic, diverse, and robust social/emotional environment and academic program that cultivates compassionate, intellectually curious, and confident changemakers. As a school, we affirm that human diversity includes, but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, family structure and physical ability, as well as diversity of thought, talents, and learning style. Brooklyn Friends School does not discriminate based on these characteristics or any characteristic prohibited by law and provides reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified colleagues and applicants. If you need an accommodation related to any part of the hiring process, please send an email to hiring@brooklynfriends.org.

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THE POSITION

We are seeking an Extended Day Guide for Brooklyn Friends School’s extended day program, BFXplorations (“BFX”). The BFX program runs Monday-Friday, from 3:00-5:30pm. The position hours are 2:15-5:45pm, with occasional hours required for meetings and professional development activities. Specific tasks, duties, and areas of coverage will be assigned in accordance with program needs. This role could include assignment to a specific classroom or as a “floater” where needed most. Guides should be comfortable working with children ranging from 2 to 12 years old. While, we will try our best to assign a Guide to their preferred age group and in accordance with their skills and talents, some flexibility is required.

The Extended Day Guide will work under the direction and supervision of the BFX Director and the BFX Program Manager during the designated Extended Day hours (2:15pm to 5:45pm). This is a part-time position.

Primary Responsibilities Include:

General:

• Actively facilitate and guide children in play
• Encourage the active participation of all students
• Seek to gain greater understanding of the various needs and learning styles of the children
• Attend to individual student needs
• Become familiar with classroom routines, program and materials
• Lead an activity, conduct a meeting, read a story, etc. in collaboration with the BFX Team and in consideration of talents and skills
• Accompany the class when leaving the classroom or building as needed, including at dismissal
• Be attentive to issues related to the social justice and Quaker ethos of Brooklyn Friends School 

Behavior Management:

• Establish and maintain appropriate levels of authority with students
• Consistently implement age-appropriate behavioral standards
• Is observant and proactive
• Is attentive to student participation, engagement and behavior
• Encourage age-appropriate autonomy
• Is cognizant of using direct, affirming and constructive language with students
• Discipline in a positive, firm, and age-appropriate manner
• Supervise and maintain children’s safety at all times, especially during gym/roof playground
• Assist children in gaining good habits of personal hygiene
• Escort children to special activities and assist with dismissal

Management of Classroom Space:

BFX utilizes Lower School spaces on a rotational basis; respectfully maintaining this borrowed space is a high priority.

• Maintain order with classroom materials and personal items
• Ensure that toys, games and other materials are treated respectfully and put back properly at the end of the day

Tasks and Meetings:

• Perform any reasonable task deemed necessary by the BFX Team
• Complete Mandated Reporter training every two years
• Assist with maintaining materials and supplies
• Participate in scheduled BFX All-Team meetings 
• Check BFS email daily to stay up-to-date on important communications

Communication:

• Is direct, accessible and reliable when communicating with other colleagues
• Is warm and professional with families
• Keep BFX Team in the communication loop, checking in regarding parent conversations and health issues (i.e., visits to nurse, student injury/illness)
• Take initiative with collaborating BFX Team regarding personal needs, concerns and questions
• Seek clarity to resolve conflicts
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality
• Report suspected child abuse/neglect to the BFX Director and the supervising BFX Coordinator according to Mandated Reporting Guidelines
• Seek guidance from BFX Coordinator
• Check BFS email daily to stay up-to-date on important communications

School Policies:

• Be familiar with school policies as defined in the Employee Handbook, including but not limited to:
• Completing all onboarding requirements prior to the start of employment
• Adherence to expected hours
• Timely reporting of absence - ideally the night before or as early as possible on the day of absence
• Reporting lateness to the team. Notify leadership by text or email (BFX@brooklynfriends.org)
• Immediately notifying the BFX Leadership of any changes in contact information

Union Status: Non-Union

Salary Range:  $20/per hour

Qualifications and Characteristics Sought:

• The Extended Day Guide must have experience working with young children and families
• Early childhood education and/or experience is a plus
• Demonstration of strong classroom management skills, an investment in continued professional growth, comfort using classroom technology, and a commitment to promoting a diverse community is expected
• The successful candidate will be able to work in close collaboration with their co-Guides(s)  
• The Extended Day Guide should have some knowledge of child development, the ability to facilitate and design play and hands-on concrete experiences for young children, and a willingness to play and have fun!

Physical Requirements of the Job:

• Must be able to physically navigate classroom and common spaces.
• Must be able to lift and carry small children up to 20lbs in the case of emergency.
• Must be able to be outdoors in hot and cold weather (supervising children on our roof playground) or in spaces which are subject to variable temperatures and humidity (gym spaces)

To apply, please provide the following:

1. Cover letter addressed to the Program Director. Along with highlighting your interest and experience, your cover letter should also address how you feel that your professional journey aligns with our school’s Quaker values and pillars of social justice and civic engagement. 
2. Resume/Curriculum Vitae
3. List of three references (with emails, phone numbers, and relationship to you).
4. Completed online application.

Please email the above attachments (if possible as a single PDF) to hiring@brooklynfriends.org, cfobbs@brooklynfriends.org and jroberts@brooklynfriends.org, and put Extended Day Guide in the subject line. Qualified candidates will be contacted after materials have been reviewed. 

Brooklyn Friends School COVID-19 Vaccination Policy:

We appreciate your interest in employment at Brooklyn Friends School. We would like to note that the School has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, which requires all faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated, including the booster once eligible and provide proof of vaccination.

About Brooklyn Friends School

Brooklyn Friends School (BFS) is a thriving Preschool-12 grade school located in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn with a dynamic community of colleagues (BFS uses the all-inclusive term, colleagues, to refer to all rather than one that delineates faculty/staff). Founded in 1867, Brooklyn Friends School’s pillars of social justice, service learning/civic engagement, and Quakerism, serve as guideposts for our action-oriented collective work. Our school’s history has been illustrious and reflective of the expansive nature of human experiences. Guided by our mission, BFS provides a dynamic, diverse, and robust social/emotional environment and academic program that cultivates compassionate, intellectually curious, and confident changemakers. As a school, we affirm that human diversity includes, but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, family structure and physical ability, as well as diversity of thought, talents, and learning style.

Connections working at Brooklyn Friends School