Summer Academy Program Support Staff

Overview 

Horizons Greater Washington seeks enthusiastic, dedicated candidates to serve as Program Support Staff during our Summer Academy 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, 8:30 am to 3:15 pm. For staff members who are riding the bus for bus duty, your schedule will adjust accordingly, based on bus schedules.

KEY DATES include:

Staff Orientation: 06/23/2026-06/26/2026

Summer Program: 06/29/2026-07/31/2026

*There will be no program on Friday, July 3rd in observance of Independence Day on July 4th.

Organizational Background  

Horizons Greater Washington (HGW), an affiliate of Horizons National, is a dedicated leader in advancing educational opportunities by creating long-term partnerships with students, families, communities, and schools to create enriching out-of-school experiences that ignite the joy of learning for our students.

HGW supports over 400 students across grades 1–9 with robust year-round programming. Our approach is centered on whole-child development, specifically focusing on building problem-solving skills, fostering a strong sense of community responsibility, and instilling respect for self and others. By maintaining this multi-year commitment from the first to the ninth grade, HGW cultivates meaningful, long-term connections between diverse learners and dedicated, supportive staff. Our program design and staff practices utilize a Positive Youth Development framework, prioritizing engagement, interaction, support, and a safe environment to effectively meet the needs of our youth.

The cornerstone of our work is the five-week Summer Academy, which expertly blends high-quality academics—with a specific focus on math, humanities, literacy, and STEAM—with comprehensive social-emotional learning, arts instruction, swimming, and confidence-building opportunities.

Position Description  

HGW seeks enthusiastic, dedicated candidates to serve as Program Support Staff during our five-week summer program. Responsibilities include supervising transportation to and from the program, as well as recess time and social spaces, aiding in swimming instruction (under the direction of the Water Safety Instructor and Swim Director), and supporting teachers in classroom instruction. Program Support Staff are assigned to a classroom and/or grade.  

Core Duties and Responsibilities  

Under the direction of the Site Director and/or Program Director, the Program Support Staff responsibilities include, but are not limited to:  

• Supporting assigned teaching staff as they provide instruction to no more than 20 students 
• Accompanying students to and from spaces outside of the classroom, including during recreational periods (e.g., meals and recess) 
• Supporting classroom preparation and management needs at the direction of the Lead Teacher 
• Monitoring and enforcing all health, safety, and regulatory protocols, both before the program at the bus stop and during regular program hours  
• Supervise students on the bus during daily transport to and from the program and on field trips as necessary 
• Attend to administrative tasks, including attendance taking and food distribution tallying, as assigned 
• Assist in swimming instruction, as directed by the Water Safety Instructor, which involves time in the water 
• Assist in evaluating program effectiveness through the use of surveys and observations 
• Meet regularly with Lead Teacher, Site Director, Program Director, and others as needed to accomplish goals and/or problem-solve as issues arise 

Qualifications and Competencies  

Candidates must be a minimum of 16 years old.  The ideal candidate will be a flexible, collaborative, reliable, and mature self-starter who is willing to adapt to the needs of the overall program. Applicants must be ready to help implement strategies to engage students in active learning. In addition to possessing a strong commitment to HGW’s mission, this position requires planning, communication, and coordination skills. Spanish proficiency is a plus.  

Minimum Qualifications  

• A passion for working with young people in learning contexts, especially those designed to address disparities in educational opportunities and outcomes  
• Ability to learn from feedback and work as a member of a multidisciplinary team  
• Basic swimming proficiency and comfort being in the water  
• Eligibility to work in the District of Columbia or the State of Maryland 

Compensation

The pay range for this position is as follows: Under 18 pay range: $15.45 to $19.00 per hour; Over 18 pay range: $17.95 to $21.75 per hour.

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, and also includes regular time in a chlorinated pool and on commercial school buses.

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.