Academic Specialist (Edward Byrne Center)

Police Athletic League, Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 59,000 - 84,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Flexible spending account options

Employee assistance program

Tuition reimbursement

Pet insurance

Life insurance

Retirement savings options

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Police Athletic League (PAL) in New York City seeks part-time Academic Activity Specialists to provide high-quality tutoring in core subjects and college readiness, including SAT/ACT prep, for high school youth. You report to the Teen Supervisor and work with Youthlink leadership to support student goals.

You will deliver individualized and small-group instruction, monitor progress, and promote a safe, inclusive environment. Bilingual skills and willingness to learn SEL are valued.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Education or related field required.
• New York State teaching certification or eligibility strongly preferred.
• At least two years of classroom teaching or tutoring with high school youth.
• Knowledge of NYS Learning Standards and HS curricula.
• Experience preparing students for SAT/ACT with test-taking strategies.
• Strong communication and collaboration; bilingual in Spanish, French, or Chinese preferred.
• Willingness to learn mental health, SEL, and inclusive practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized and small-group academic tutoring in core subjects.
• Support college readiness activities and SAT/ACT preparation.
• Be aware of students with IEPs and follow support plans.
• Collaborate with staff and caretakers to support youth.
• Attend meetings and build positive relationships with youth.

Skills

Bilingual in Spanish

Bilingual in French

Bilingual in Chinese

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Education

New York State teaching certification or eligibility

Job description

Position: Academic Specialist

Who we are: The Police Athletic League (PAL) of New York City is an independent youth development nonprofit organization and has been a vibrant and vital institution, serving as an effective, critical bridge between police and communities across all five boroughs of the City since 1914. PAL operates diverse programs for children as young as 2 years old to young adults. Programs include Head Start, after-school programs and summer day camps for elementary, middle and high school youth, and summer Playstreets. PAL also runs evening teen centers and college readiness programs, youth employment, and juvenile justice programs. Staying true to PAL’s roots, a cornerstone of our youth development strategy includes offering competitive and recreational sports for children of all ages. At PAL, we’re devoted to empowering communities and building the best places to work, and that goes for our own teams too.

Position Summary

We are looking for part-time Academic Activity Specialists who are responsible for providing high-quality academic support and enrichment opportunities that help high school youth strengthen foundational skills, improve academic confidence, and achieve their educational goals. Specialists provide individualized and small-group tutoring in core math and ELA subjects and support students with college readiness preparation, including SAT and ACT test preparation.

The Youthlink Activity Specialist will report to the Teen Supervisor and be supported by the Youthlink Director.

What You’ll Do

Major Duties & Responsibilities

• Foster social and emotional competencies and mental and physical well-being in a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and nurturing environment.
• Provide individualized and small-group academic tutoring support in core subject areas, including English Language Arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and other areas based on student needs and program priorities.
• Facilitate college readiness activities, including SAT and ACT preparation, study skills development, test‑taking strategies, and academic goal‑setting to support students’ post‑secondary aspirations.
• Be aware of students with IEPs and medical conditions in your groups and follow support plans to help the student with special needs to thrive.
• Respond appropriately when time‑sensitive mental health services are needed such as suicide prevention, grief, and loss due to death or incarceration of a family member. Provide referrals to appropriate mental health services as needed.
• Work cooperatively with Group Leaders, professional staff, teachers, and other Program and school staff.
• Build positive relationships with youth and caretakers and serve as a role model with respect to demeanor, communication, and behavior.
• Attend meetings with staff, caretakers, volunteers, and community residents as needed.
• Interact with caretakers and keep open lines of communication.

The Commitment

Able to work (varies by site)

Able to attend 15 hours of orientation prior to the beginning of programming and complete 30 hours of Building Resiliency in Youth training.

Able to attend scheduled staff meetings and professional development throughout the year.

Qualifications

What you bring

• Bachelor's degree in Education or a related academic field required; New York State teacher certification or eligibility for certification strongly preferred.
• Minimum of two years of classroom teaching or academic tutoring experience with high school-aged youth in a school or educational setting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of New York State Learning Standards and high school curriculum, with the ability to provide instruction in one or more core academic subjects, including English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies.
• Experience preparing students for standardized assessments, including the SAT and ACT, with the ability to teach test‑taking strategies, critical thinking, and study skills.
• Good communication skills and ability to work collaboratively. Bi‑lingual in Spanish, French, or Chinese preferred.
• Open to learning and growing. All staff will be learning mental health, SEL, and special needs inclusion skills and expected to integrate them into programming.

Compensation

The range for this role is $52.00 an hour where the finalist falls in this range will be commensurate with skills and experience.

Benefits

• health insurance
• flexible spending account options
• an employee assistance program
• tuition reimbursement
• pet insurance
• life insurance
• retirement savings options
• a generous paid time off policy
• training

Location: Edward Byrne Center - Queens, NY

Start Date: September 7th, 2026

At the Police Athletic League, we seek people who are talented, creative and passionate to help create a more inclusive city and better futures for our youth. We’re devoted to empowering communities and building the best places to work, and that goes for our own teams too.

The Police Athletic League is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected characteristic including, but not limited to, an individual’s sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy

Employment with PAL is contingent upon successful completion of all the Agency’s lawful pre‑employment checks, which may include a background check.