Academic Success Advocate

Portland, OR, USA
33 days ago

Description

This role is an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of African immigrant and refugee youth and their families while working within a dynamic and supportive team environment. The Academic Success Advocate will lead ARIO’s Summer Reading Program and provide personalized academic support to families, helping students strengthen their literacy skills while preventing summer learning loss. This role will coordinate a four-week summer reading program where middle and high school students engage in structured reading activities, literacy-building exercises, and discussions with staff members. The advocate will also work directly with families, conducting twice-yearly family consultations to set student goals, enhance school engagement, and develop strategies for overcoming academic or behavioral challenges.

This position is ideal for a passionate educator, mentor, or advocate committed to empowering students, fostering a love of reading, and strengthening family-school partnerships.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required
● Bilingual/Bicultural proficiency (English/Maay-Maay/Swahili/Somali... preferred).
● Ability to work collaboratively with ARIO staff across programs to integrate literacy goals into broader student development initiatives
● Experience in literacy education, tutoring, or youth mentoring.
● Strong skills in family engagement, advocacy, and school-community partnerships.
● Knowledge of culturally responsive teaching methods and trauma-informed education
practices.
● Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with students and families.
● Ability to track student progress, analyze program data, and adapt instructional strategies.
● Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, etc.).
● Willingness to work weekends during the summer program and conduct home visits as needed.
● Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and insurance coverage.
Professional Development
● Attend Training for ARIO staff, including all Development of Black African Refugee and Immigrant Students for Success Program Training
● Attend Funder collaboration meetings.
● Participate in activities that bring joy to your work 
Education and Experience
● Associate Degree (Bachelor’s preferred) in Education, Literacy, Social Work, or a relate
  • Experience in teaching, tutoring, case management, or academic mentoring.
  • Experience working with diverse youth populations and immigrant/refugee communities


Bonuses

Discussed upon hire.

Benefits

Discussed upon hire.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Summer Reading Program Leadership
● Manage ARIO’s four-week Summer Reading Program for at least 20 middle and high school students each year.
● Facilitate weekend reading sessions (Saturdays & Sundays, two hours per session) where students read with staff members and receive literacy coaching.
● Select culturally relevant reading materials that reflect the diverse backgrounds of program participants, fostering engagement and cultural pride.
● Provide literacy-building strategies, assign home reading activities, and guide students in summarizing and reflecting on their readings.
● Track and assess student progress to measure literacy improvements and provide individualized support.

Family Engagement and Academic Support

● Conduct twice-yearly family consultations for 30-50 families (expanding as needed) to discuss student goals, school involvement, and academic challenges.
● Develop alternative methods of family engagement, such as virtual consultations or distributing at-home resource guides, for families facing participation barriers.
● Equip families with tools to support reading at home and engage in their child's
education.
● Collaborate with parents to develop personalized academic success plans.
Program Monitoring and Reporting
● Maintain accurate records of student participation, reading progress, and family
engagement outcomes.
● Collect and analyze program data to evaluate impact and recommend improvements.
● Prepare reports for the Program Manager on student progress and program
effectiveness.
● Utilize ARIO’s data management tools to track student progress, analyze literacy improvements, and produce monthly impact reports.
Community Collaboration
● Partner with schools, libraries, and community organizations to enhance reading resources and support literacy development.
● Advocate for educational equity and literacy access within the African immigrant and refugee community.
● Collaborate with ARIO leadership to identify systemic barriers to literacy and advocate for policy changes that improve educational outcomes for African immigrant and refugee students.

Additional Responsibilities
● Collaborate with the Program Manager and Team to develop program strategy and cultivate and manage key relationships with families and funding partners.
● Meet regularly with the Program Manager for training, feedback and coaching.
● Meet regularly with the Program Manager and team members to ensure compliance with project deliverables
● Advocate for systemic and policy change, including access to community resources most needed by program participants: food, housing, health care, and more.
Apply Now