Educational Content Specialist (DYCD After-School)

Dreamyard; New York (NY); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Part time

Job summary

DreamYard seeks an Educational Content Specialist to lead instructional coaching and curriculum alignment for the DYCD COMPASS after-school program at PS 32 The Belmont School in the Bronx.

You will review lesson plans, coach frontline staff, ensure inclusive environments, and guide high-quality academic enrichment for approximately 149 elementary students, with a focus on arts-infused social justice education.

Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Education (strongly preferred).
• Minimum 2 years working with elementary-aged youth in OST programs, with curriculum design or instructional coaching experience.
• Commitment to anti-racist education, arts-centered approaches, and Bronx community activism.
• Strong communication, task management, and knowledge of positive youth development frameworks.
• Clearance: NYC Department of Education fingerprinting and background checks prior to starting work.
• Bilingual Spanish-speaking and Bronx-based applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Conduct Learning Walks and classroom observations to evaluate student engagement and activity quality.
• Provide real-time coaching, modeling effective behavior support strategies and culturally responsive instructional practices.
• Lead professional development sessions, staff orientations, and collaborative planning workshops for elementary youth development.
• Review bi-weekly lesson plans to ensure DYCD-compliant, project-based learning across literacy, STEM, leadership and healthy living.
• Integrate arts-learning, community-building, and social-emotional wellness into daily lesson planning.
• Assist in preparing the site for formal DYCD quality assessments, compliance reviews and site monitoring visits.

Skills

Instructional coaching

Curriculum design

Communication

Positive youth development

Bilingual Spanish

Education

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Education

Job description

Mission Statement

DreamYard collaborates with Bronx youth, families and schools to build pathways to equity and opportunity through the arts.

DreamYard Project

DreamYard is committed to the principles of arts education, educational equity, and social justice. DreamYard fashions its programs to specifically address the needs of urban communities that are typically underrepresented because of race, sex, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic status. Accordingly, we welcome and encourage applications from a diverse range of individuals. Bronx-based and Spanish-speaking applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. DreamYard Project Inc. employs without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, or any other attribute not related to superior performance.

Vision

At DreamYard, we seek to offer quality programs, services and experiences at the intersection of art and social justice for young people from kindergarten through 12th grade and beyond. We aim to include families, community members, and a variety of stakeholders as we develop pathways towards equity, justice, and sustainability.

Approach

At DreamYard, we believe in quality instruction merged with relevant social justice pedagogy principles to inspire students to develop character, scholarship and artistic voice to create change. Our core values of Nurture, Activate, Create and Connect describe our commitment to teaching for equity, justice and hope. We strive to support students’ academic and artistic needs while working toward becoming an anti-racist society.

The Community

DreamYard is focused entirely in the Bronx, a borough that possesses incredible cultural, human and economic assets. The organization believes that the arts are a necessary part of developing those assets to their greatest potential.

The Position: Educational Content Specialist (DYCD After-School)

Location: PS 32 The Belmont School, 690 E 183rd St, Bronx, NY 10458

Position Summary

The Educational Content Specialist serves as the instructional and curriculum lead for our DYCD-funded COMPASS after-school program at PS 32 The Belmont School, which serves approximately 149 elementary students. Working closely with the site leadership team, this role bridges DreamYard’s arts-integrated, social justice framework with NYS school-age childcare regulations and DYCD compliance standards. The Content Specialist will review lesson plans, coach after-school frontline staff, ensure inclusive environments, and guide high-quality academic enrichment.

Key Responsibilities

Instructional Coaching & Staff Support

• Conduct "Learning Walks" and classroom observations to evaluate student engagement and activity quality.
• Provide real-time coaching, modeling effective behavior support strategies and culturally responsive instructional practices for Group Leaders and Activity Specialists.
• Lead professional development sessions, staff orientations, and collaborative planning workshops geared toward elementary youth development.

Curriculum Planning & Compliance

• Review bi-weekly lesson plans submitted by Group Leaders to guarantee sequential, project-based learning that matches DYCD requirements (e.g., literacy, STEM, leadership, and healthy living).
• Integrate arts-learning, community-building, and social-emotional wellness into daily lesson planning aligned with DreamYard values.
• Serve as Inclusion Coordinator, identifying student needs and adapting curriculum to offer equitable access for high-needs or diverse learner populations.
• Assist in preparing the site for formal DYCD quality assessments, compliance reviews, and site monitoring visits.

School and Family Collaboration

• Align after-school programming with school-day priorities by maintaining open channels with the PS 32 administrative staff, school-day teachers, and parents.
• Co-plan student sharings, community events, and family nights that celebrate student art, growth, and voice.
• Other duties as required by management.

Qualifications

• Education: Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Education, Fine Arts, Youth Development, or a related field (strongly preferred).
• Experience: Minimum 2 years working with elementary-aged youth in out-of-school-time (OST) programs, with demonstrated experience in curriculum design or instructional coaching.
• Mission Alignment: Deep commitment to anti-racist education, arts centering, and community activism in the Bronx.
• Skills: Strong communication, task management, and knowledge of positive youth development frameworks.
• Clearance Requirements: Must successfully clear NYC Department of Education (DOE) fingerprinting and background checks prior to starting work.
• Bilingual Spanish-speaking and Bronx-based applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Compensation:

This is a temporary hourly role with approximately 20 hours per week for 36 weeks and additional summer hours (up to 40 hours per week over 7 weeks) at a rate of $40/hour. This role is scheduled to end on August 13, 2027. DreamYard offers a retirement savings plan, and paid sick-time.

DreamYard is an Equal Opportunity Employer is an equal opportunity employer. DreamYard prohibits unlawful discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, genetic characteristics, disability, status as a special disabled veteran or veteran, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual identity or any other basis prohibited by law.