Lower School Afterschool Coordinator

Mary McDowell Friends School (MMFS) invites applications for a part-time Lower School Afterschool Coordinator beginning August 2026. 

Job Title: Lower School Afterschool Coordinator

Reports to: Director of Afterschool

Position Overview

The Lower School Afterschool Coordinator delivers daily operational support, activity execution, and site coordination for the Lower School Afterschool Program. Working under the directional oversight of the Director of Afterschool (who manages multi-site operations from the Middle School campus), this role ensures a warm, organized, and engaging environment. The Coordinator executes program plans, facilitates daily homework and activity sessions, and serves as the primary on-site liaison for parents, campus staff, and program leadership. 

Essential Responsibilities and Duties 

The duties of the Lower School Afterschool Coordinator during the academic year are inclusive of, but not limited to, the following:

• Partner with the Director to update bi-annual program materials, family handbooks, and registration systems. 
• Collaborate with afterschool teachers and student assistants to ensure a safe environment and shared expectations.
• Lead structured Clubhouse activities and create a quiet, productive environment for student homework completion. 
• Consult continuously with Lower School classroom teachers, counselors, and administrators to stay informed on student well-being and behavioral needs. 
• Plan and implement daily and weekly enrichment workshops, introducing innovative activity ideas tailored to Lower School students. 
• Order food, snacks, and instructional materials as needed, keeping accurate records of inventory and supply requests for the site. 
• Manage daily student attendance tracking, verify schedule changes, and direct the safe dismissal of all program participants. 
• Observe afterschool enrichment classes regularly to ensure quality engagement, support classroom management, and offer hands-on activity support as needed. 
• Communicate proactively with parents regarding program schedules, daily routines, and student progress reports. 
• Coordinate with the school nurse or certified health worker for students with medical conditions.
• Participate actively in professional development and MMFS workshops.
• Participate in recurring supervisory meetings with the Director of Afterschool to report on site logistics, share feedback, and align operational goals. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Diversity and Equity Commitments

• Understand and participate in all school-wide diversity and equity initiatives.
• Examine administrative practice through the lens of race, identity, equity, and privilege.
• Provide an equitable framework for leadership decisions.
• Support a school culture that allows for social identities to feel welcome.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a part-time, non-exempt ten-month position that follows the academic calendar. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You are responsible for remaining with students if there is a late parent pickup.

Travel

No travel outside the school building is expected for this position.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This position requires the ability to maintain the physical capacity to navigate the school environment and ensure the safety of students. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to speak and listen clearly. Good communication skills are essential.

This position is very active and intermittently requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, climbing, and lifting, transporting, or supporting students. The employee must frequently lift and/or move items up to 40 pounds. Additionally, this position ascends and descends stairs to navigate to different rooms throughout the building.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• BA in education or related field; special education experience a plus. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Child-centered with excellent organizational skills. 
• Willingness to learn and adapt to a new environment.
• Customer-service approach to employee and parent relations.
• Ability to maintain the highest levels of discretion and confidentiality.

Preferred Education & Experience 

• Familiarity with new technologies; G Suite and Veracross a plus.
• Deep knowledge of child development, learning differences, resources, and current trends in the field 
• Experience in special education, private sector, or Independent School system is a plus.

Application

To apply, please upload a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three professional references as a .pdf (preferable) or Word document. If your background and experience are appropriate for the position, you will be contacted directly by a member of our search committee.

We offer a rewarding work experience in downtown Brooklyn, NY, where we encourage employees to bring their whole selves to work. We recognize, appreciate, celebrate, and honor our diverse community as we build an awareness of who each individual is and who we are collectively.

Applicants who enhance the diversity of the school's faculty and administration are strongly encouraged to apply. Please visit our website for more information on our school and a full list of vacancies.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, this position's hourly range is $30.00 - $35.00, commensurate with experience. Mary McDowell Friends School considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, essential skills, internal peer equity, and market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

Employment at Mary McDowell Friends School is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position, without regard to race, color, ethnic origin, nationality, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, familial status, or any other category protected by the law. Mary McDowell Friends School’s policy of non-discrimination extends to all employment practices, including but not limited to hiring, transfer, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, layoffs, and termination.