Summer Academy Program Assistant

Overview 

HGW seeks enthusiastic, dedicated candidates to serve as Program Assistants during our five-week Summer Academy enrichment program. 

Work Locations 

In the application, candidates will be asked to share their preference for the following locations: 

Maret School

3000 Cathedral Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20008

St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School

4700 Whitehaven Parkway NW

Washington, DC 20007

Norwood School

8821 River Road

Bethesda, MD 20817

Schedule 

The typical daily schedule will be Monday through Friday 8 am to 3:15 pm. 

2025 Program Dates 

Pre-Program Planning Period: 06/16/2025-06/20/2025 (if candidate schedule allows) 

Staff Orientation: 06/23/2025-06/26/2025 

Summer Program: 06/27/2025-08/01/2025 

*There will be no program on Friday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day  

About Horizons Greater Washington 

Horizons Greater Washington (HGW), an affiliate of Horizons National, advances its mission of educational equity by building long-term partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools to create experiences outside of school that inspire the joy of learning. HGW supports over 400 students in grades 1-9 with year-round programming, developing the whole child through experiences that build problem-solving skills, foster awareness of community responsibility, and instill respect for self and others. By spanning from first to ninth grade, the program nurtures long-term connections between diverse learners and dedicated staff who support them throughout the year. HGW program design and staff practices follow a Positive Youth Development approach, emphasizing engagement, interaction, support, and a safe environment as key components that meet the needs of youth.  The five-week Summer Academy is Horizons’ core program, blending high-quality academics – with an emphasis on literacy, math, and STEAM – with social-emotional learning, swimming, hands-on projects, high-quality art lessons, and confidence-building challenges to boost engagement and improve outcomes.    

Position Description  

HGW seeks enthusiastic, dedicated candidates to serve as Program Assistants during our five-week summer enrichment program, which helps students in grades 1-9 build a mastery of fundamental skills, become creative problem-solvers, and to work effectively in teams. Program Assistants support student and family engagement by working with site leadership to communicate with families about events, provide translation for families who only speak Spanish, and track attendance and follow up with families regarding absences.  Additionally, Program Assistants play a key role in ensuring our students are nourished each day by managing the summer food program, and they help with various tasks to keep the program running smoothly day to day. Successful applicants will be enthusiastic about working directly with youth, passionate about Horizons’ mission, and demonstrate strong self-motivation and work ethic. 

Core Duties and Responsibilities  

Program Support: 

• Participate in program activities and build strong, supportive, caring relationships with Horizons students, parents, volunteers, and staff. 
• Support program volunteers in the completion of daily program-related tasks. 
• Support logistics for field trips, enrichment activities, and special events (Parent Night, End of Program Celebration, etc.). 
• Assist in ordering and organizing supplies, materials, books for the classroom and program with feedback from the Site Director and Program Director. 
• Meet and communicate with Horizons personnel on a regular schedule. 

Student Attendance and Family Engagement: 

• Support student engagement by tracking student attendance in Salesforce and contacting families about student absences. 
• Communicate on behalf of Directors and Teachers with parents who speak Spanish. 
• Translate for site leadership (if needed) during Family Night events. 
• Encourage family participation by communicating with families about Horizons events. 

Food Service: 

• Serve as the point of contact for meal service and delivery, and complete the required paperwork for the Summer Food Program. 
• Oversee the coordination, delivery, meal service, and clean-up of breakfast, lunch, and snacks for up to 150 students. 
• Track meal counts for program reporting.  

Overseeing Summer Academy Volunteers 

• Track volunteer attendance & hours.
• Coordinate the efficient deployment of volunteers during the day. 
• Keep ongoing list of potential volunteer tasks and assign to volunteers as needed.
• Support volunteers in the completion of daily program-related tasks. 

Qualifications and Competencies  

In addition to having a steadfast commitment to Horizon’s mission, the ideal candidate will possess classroom experience in project-based instruction, behavior management, and differentiation. Candidates must also be flexible, organized, and self-driven.

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish required 
• High school diploma preferred; college enrollment or college degree strongly preferred 
• Enthusiasm for working with youth in a program that advances educational equity 
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal 
• Proven ability to be discrete and confidential regarding important information 
• Experience in collaborative and team settings, working together with diverse colleagues to achieve a common goal 
• Availability for duration of five-week program, punctuality and reliability, and reliable transportation to and from program site 

Compensation  

The pay range for this position is $20 to $22 per hour based on experience.

Work Permits  

Employees under the age of 18 must have a work permit from DC or MD.  

How to Apply  

Please fill out our online application which will include uploading a current copy of your resume. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with interviews beginning in mid-January. Final candidates will be subject to a reference check.  

Background Check Requirements  

All offers of employment to employees 18 or over are contingent on the successful completion of the background checks described below:

• Fingerprinting (FBI) (MD & DC)
• MD Criminal Database Background Check (MD)
• Maryland Child Protective Services Clearance (MD)
• DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) Child Protection Registry (CPR) (DC)
• Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Criminal Background Check (DC)
• National Sex Offender Registry (DC)

All offers of employment at Horizons Greater Washington are contingent upon clear results of the above suitability checks. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates immediately after acceptance of employment offer and on all employees who are promoted, as deemed necessary.  

COVID-19  

Horizons Greater Washington is committed to providing and maintaining a workplace that is free of known hazards.  As such, we strongly encourage our employees to receive the latest COVID vaccination to minimize the risk of infectious disease in our workplace. 

Environmental and Physical Conditions  

The environmental factors and/or physical requirements of this position include the following: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to have ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of up to 20 pounds. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard. The employee frequently is required to be in one position for long periods of screen use, reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear both in person and over devices. The employee interacts in close spaces and frequently with children and other staff. May be in situations which require conflict resolution. The employee must have visual, auditory, and physical ability to respond quickly to critical incidents involving students and act in an emergency situation. Work is performed in a school environment with artificial light and air, with occasional trips off-site to parks, museums, etc.

Horizons Greater Washington is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, matriculation, source of income, place of business or residence, pregnancy, homeless status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.