As-Needed Temporary Employee - ESL Program Specialist

Company: City of Santa Clara, CA
Location: Santa Clara
Posted on: January 22, 2023

Job Description:

Description

The Department:

Read Santa Clara, the adult and family literacy program of the Santa Clara City Library, is starting a new English as a Second Language (ESL) program. The program will offer conversation groups for parents/caregivers with limited English language skills at various community outreach sites in the City of Santa Clara. The program will serve parents/caregivers at beginning ESL levels who often have transportation or child-care constraints preventing them from attending ESL classes. Conversation groups will meet at outreach sites that would be accessible to these parents, so they may attend classes while their children are in school.

The Position:

The ESL Program Specialist will facilitate large and small conversation groups for limited English-speaking adults, using learner-centered strategies to provide ESL instruction. The goal of the groups is to help parents/caregivers strengthen their English speaking and listening skills and gain the skills needed to be more involved in their children's education. The ESL Program Specialist will assess the literacy needs and goals of the parents/caregivers at outreach sites and use and adapt curriculum to meet those needs. They will also recruit, train, and support volunteers from the community to assist with the conversation groups and provide additional tutoring for those who need it. The role also includes collecting and maintaining accurate data on adult learners and volunteers for grant reporting. The ESL Program Specialist will also oversee and work with the ESL Program Assistant. The ideal candidate has a passion for serving adults with limited English language skills from historically underserved communities

As an as-needed employee, this is an "at-will" position and there is no guarantee of hours. Hours are limited to 999 in a fiscal year or 960 hours in a fiscal year for retired CalPERS annuitants.

Typical Duties

* Provide outreach, lead orientations, and assess the language skills of individuals who do not speak English as a first language
* Select and adapt curriculum and teaching strategies to meet the needs of adults with limited English-speaking skills
* Facilitate conversation groups for parents/caregivers at outreach sites and offer relevant parent education resources to help their children succeed in school
* Recruit and train volunteers to assist with conversation groups and to provide supplemental tutoring as the need arises
* Promote effective community engagement strategies that are culturally sensitive and responsive to the needs of learners from diverse cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds
* Collaborate with community partners to meet community needs
* Consult with literacy staff to define data collection, assessments, and outcomes needed for grant reporting
* Collect and maintain accurate data and turn in reports on time
* Oversee and support the work of the ESL Program Assistant.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

* Bachelor or Masters degree or related credential for teaching ESL, or in Literacy, Education, Social or Human Services
* One or more years of experience teaching ESL to adults and/or teaching parent education

Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of Santa Clara will not sponsor, represent, or sign documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

* Methods of teaching ESL and/or parent education
* MS Office applications, and using technology to enhance literacy instruction
* Curriculum, tutoring techniques, assessment, and best practices for adult ESL programs

Ability to:

* Respect confidential and sensitive information
* Work independently, take initiative, and prioritize work assignments with minimal supervision
* Communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, and listen actively
* Keep an open mind and be receptive to new ideas
* Collaborate with co-workers, supervisors, and volunteers through a consensus-building approach
* Leverage partnerships with community agencies and library staff to enhance services to adult learners
* Act with integrity and professionalism
* Seek professional development opportunities to gain knowledge and skills to enhance job performance

Supervision Received: Works under the general supervision of the Literacy Program Supervisor

Additional Information:

To receive consideration for the screening process you must answer all job-specific questions, or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applications must be filled out completely (i.e. do not write "see resume or personnel file."). Incomplete applications will not be accepted. A resume is recommended, but not required. Application packets may be submitted online through the "Apply Now" feature on the job announcement at www.santaclaraca.gov. Applications must be submitted by the filing deadline of January 25, 2023 at 4:00 PM.

The City of Santa Clara is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of Santa Clara is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 615-2080 or HumanResources@santaclaraca.gov.

Keywords: City of Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara , As-Needed Temporary Employee - ESL Program Specialist, Other , Santa Clara, California