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10-11th Grade ELA Instructor (Summer 2026)

New York, New York, United States

Title: ELA/Advisory Instructor (10th/11th Grade) 

Department: SEO High School Scholars, New York

Report to: Senior Manager, Teaching & Learning 

Compensation: $50/hour

FLSA: Non-Exempt  

Location: New York, NY

Work Arrangement: This role requires on-site work at an SEO program site

Hours: ~40 hours/week

Schedule: 8:45-3:05 PM (Mon-Thurs); 9:30-12:30 PM (Fri)

ABOUT SEO  

Founded in 1963 during the Civil Rights Movement, SEO closes educational and career opportunity gaps for 7,000 ambitious young people annually. 

SEO Scholars is a free, eight-year, academic program that transforms public high school students in New York City, San Francisco, North Carolina, and Miami into college graduates. SEO Scholars successfully educates and mentors students to and through college. 100% of Scholars are accepted into four-year colleges, 85% of Scholars graduate with a Bachelor’s degree, and 80% are first-generation college graduates. All are welcome to apply.

POSITION OVERVIEW 

Instructors will join SEO’s community of passionate educators to implement a rigorous college prep curriculum for motivated and driven high school students. Using our original curriculum and a student-centered, anti-oppressive approach to teaching and learning, instructors play an integral part in supporting our Scholars’ journeys to a competitive college and beyond. Instructors promote depth of understanding and skill acquisition by serving as a coach and facilitator of learning. 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Instruction & Facilitation
    • Teach three to four periods of ELA and/or Advisory. 
    • Follow provided lesson plans and meet lesson objectives, abiding by SEO’s articulated criteria for rigorous instruction and student engagement. 
  • Navigate Instructional Technologies
    • Learn and efficiently utilize our instructional technologies such as Brightspace (Learning Management System), GSuit applications, and Zoom chat (instant messaging tool) in a Blended Learning environment. 
  • Content Preparation
    • Read, internalize, and practice all lesson plans and materials provided by SEO prior to teaching. 
    • Implement thoughtful adjustments to pacing and activities based on specific student needs.
  • Grading and Record-Keeping
    • Calculate grades according to rubrics and stipulations in provided lesson plans. Provide actionable, growth-oriented feedback to students. 
    • Complete all grading in a timely manner (1 week turnaround) and keep the electronic gradebook up to date on Brightspace (our LMS).
  • Classroom Culture
    • Maintain responsive & restorative approaches to promote students’ connection to the content, investment in the learning experience, and positive relationship to all members of the community.
  • Collaboration with SEO Staff and Instructors
    • Attend all scheduled meetings, professional development trainings, check-ins, and debriefs and respond to all emails and Zoom chats in a timely manner. 
  • Responsiveness to Coaching and Feedback
    •  Meet with your assigned instructional coach (Lead Instructor) at least twice during the semester to receive and implement feedback and recommendations from their classroom observations.  

Courses:

Instructors will be placed in either 10th or 11th Grade. The English Language Arts (ELA) courses offered this semester are:

10th Grade course: Journey into Fiction 

    • In this unit, scholars read a variety of short fiction with the goal of diving deeper into their meanings. Scholars will hone their ability to identify and analyze themes, break down character development, and interpret figurative language. They will also spend time diving into vocabulary skills and learning how to cite sources using MLA style. During the second half of the unit, they will compose a literary analysis essay that explores a short story’s theme and analyzes its development. 

11th Grade course: Writing for Social Change

    • Historically, writing has been a way to create both personal and social change. In this unit, scholars will learn how writing can influence social change by reading, analyzing, and writing op-eds. Traditionally known as “opposite the editorial page,” op-eds are a form of opinion writing used to inspire change. Scholars will read and analyze how writers have used evidence and rhetorical strategies to make their arguments persuasive. Then, scholars will choose something they would like to change within their community and develop their own op-ed supported by research. 

ELA instructors also teach Advisory, a course designed to support scholars’ academic and social success. ELA instructors will teach two Advisory courses: Identity & Empowerment (IE) and Level All.

  • Identity & Empowerment (IE) focuses on helping scholars explore their identities, understand systems that shape their experiences, and build the self-awareness and confidence needed to navigate school and society.
  • Level All is SEO’s college and career readiness partner. Through our partnership with Level All, scholars receive curriculum, tools, and resources to help them navigate high school, college planning, career exploration, financial literacy, and other essential life skills.

Based on ELA Instructors’ grade placements, they will teach the following Advisory course: 

  • 10th Grade– The Power of My Academic Identity & Level All
  • 11th Grade– Identity and Motivation & Level All 

Sites: 

Summer Academy takes place at one of our partner sites through the semester where the Instructor will be placed based on the grade level they are assigned:

  • 10th Grade: Baruch College, (Vertical Campus Building, 55 Lexington Ave., New York).
  • 11th Grade: LIU Brooklyn, (1 University Plaza, Brooklyn).

Occasionally, Orientations and/or Friday Professional Development for all grade assignments will be held at the SEO Office at 55 Exchange Place, New York, NY (Financial District).

Dates:

  • Instructor Orientation: Thursday, 6/18, 5:30-8:00 PM on Zoom
  • On-Site Kick-Off: Monday, 6/29
  • Summer Academy: 6/30-7/2, 7/6-7/9, 7/13-7/16, 7/20-7/23
  • Friday Professional Development: 7/10, 7/17, 7/24

Grades & Report Card Comments Due: 8/1

QUALIFICATIONS  

Required:

  • Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in content related field.
  • Teaching certification, K-12 classroom teaching experience, and/or experience teaching at the college or university level.
  • The use of a reliable personal laptop. Seasonal instructors must have access to their own device that meets basic technology requirements to carry out all instructional and administrative duties.
  • Experience working with high school-aged students.
  • Comfortable with navigating technological learning systems.
  • Expertise and depth of knowledge in advanced high school-level English and Humanities subjects.
  • Eagerness to engage in conversations analyzing the historical and continued causes of societal ills and challenges.

Preferred: 

  • Understanding and practice of student-centered pedagogy.
  • Knowledge and experience with Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
  • Certifications, PD course completions, and/or tertiary education in Instructional Technologies.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The compensation listed in this posting reflects what SEO believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and SEO reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time.

This position is benefits ineligible in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations. 

EEOC Policy   

At SEO we are committed to cultivating a team that embodies the backgrounds and experiences of the constituencies we serve and the communities we live in, and a workplace that reflects the impact we make in the world. Candidates from all communities – including people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ Community, veterans, and people with disabilities – are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Equal Employment Opportunity is not just the law, it is our commitment. 

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer – M/F/D/V. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other legally protected status. 

If you need accommodation while applying for a role with SEO, due to a disability, please email SEO Talent. 

THE ORGANIZATION 

Established in 1963 by Michael Osheowitz, SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity) is an educational non-profit founded on the belief that talent is everywhere; but opportunity is not. Our programs are designed to educate, train, mentor, and amplify the voices of our participants to give them a seat at the table – every table. We propel human potential. 

SEO is an innovator in education, mentorship, and creating educational career opportunities that maximize the full potential of our participants. Each year SEO serves 7,000+ participants nationally, and the organization is widely recognized for developing best-in-class programs with exceptional results. 

Not every SEO participant is on the same journey, but all are hungry for opportunity and SEO creates an ecosystem of excellence. Learn more about SEO's programs here: https://www.seo-usa.org/our-programs/. 

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