SmartStart Teacher

Heart Of Los Angeles Youth; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 28,654,080 - 31,519,488; Part time

Job summary

Heart of Los Angeles provides underserved youth with exceptional programs in academics, arts and athletics within a nurturing environment, empowering them to develop their potential. The SmartStart Teacher will guide and assist students with homework and monitor progress in language arts, math, and science.

The role includes lesson planning, hands-on activities, and collaboration with the director and coordinator to support after-school programming.

Qualifications

• B.A. in Education or Child Development or currently enrolled in college and in progress towards teaching credential.
• Experience working with youth in a classroom setting.
• Experience teaching and working with children (ages 6-11) from inner-city communities.
• Experience lesson planning and implementing academic programming.
• Knowledge of IEPs and experience working with students with a wide range of learning needs.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
• Ability to prioritize and multitask in a busy work environment.
• Strong MS Word & Excel, Google Docs, and Zoom skills.
• Desire to interface with and serve as a role model for youth.

Responsibilities

• Plan and teach 2-3 learning centers to two groups of up to 17 students weekly, aligned with CA State Standards.
• Plan and hold individualized tutoring sessions based on student progress.
• Provide homework support in classroom or virtual settings.
• Assess student needs including strengths and weaknesses.
• Communicate with parents and teachers about student progress and needs.
• Assist in intake, selection, and assessment of prospective students.
• Monitor safe arrival and departure from Heart of LA facilities.
• Attend parent-teacher conferences and IEP meetings when assigned.
• Engage in at least one professional development activity per quarter.
• Maintain organized classroom and track supplies; take daily attendance.
• Work hours: 2026-27 school year 2:00pm-6:00pm (Mon-Fri); summer 8:00am-12:30pm.
• Occasionally work weekends; perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Classroom management

Lesson planning

Student engagement

MS Word & Excel

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

B.A. in Education or Child Development or enrolled in credential program

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: LOS ANGELES, CA 90057

Position Type: Part Time

Salary Range: $20.00 - $22.00 Hourly

Title: SmartStart Teacher

Department: SmartStart Program

Reports To: SmartStart Director

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Hours: 20 hours per week

Salary: $20-$22 per hour (based on experience)

Start Date: ASAP

Heart of Los Angeles provides underserved youth with exceptional programs in academics, arts and athletics within a nurturing environment, empowering them to develop their potential, pursue their education and strengthen their communities.

Our core values are: Respect, Responsibility, Positive Communication, Support, and Inclusion

POSITION SUMMARY

The SmartStart Teacher will provide academic and social emotional learning to students (1st- 5th grade). You will be responsible for guiding and assisting students with homework completion and monitoring academic progress in the core subjects of language arts, math, and science. Daily functions include lesson planning and implementing engaging hands‑on activities, assisting the director and coordinator in after-school programming implementation and structure, supervising students, and communicating with parents and schools.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan and teach 2-3 learning centers to two different groups of up to 17 students on a weekly basis. Learning Centers should incorporate key concepts and understandings that mirror the California State Standards of grade-level curriculum and do so in a way that incorporates multiple intelligences, more opportunities to work with manipulatives, and utilizes real-world examples.
• Plan and hold individualized tutoring sessions for students when they are performing below grade level. Tutoring sessions should be planned in consideration of students’ progress academically and assessment.
• Providing homework support to students in a classroom or virtually.
• Help assess the needs of students: including strengths & weaknesses.
• Communicate with parents and students' teachers about student progress, student needs, and the SmartStart program.
• Work with SmartStart staff in the intake, selection, and assessment of prospective students.
• Monitor the safe arrival and departure of students from Heart of LA's facilities.
• Attend parent-teacher conferences and IEP meetings as assigned.
• Participate in at least one professional development/learning opportunity per quarter off or on campus as recommended by the director or coordinator.
• Communicates with students' school teachers as needed.
• Responsible for maintaining an organized classroom and keeping track of classroom supplies.
• Responsible for taking attendance daily.
• 2026-27 Academic School Year hours: Monday - Friday (2:00pm - 6:00pm). Summer hours: Monday-Friday (8:00am-12:30pm)
• Ability and willingness to work on occasional weekends.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

QualificationsQUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS)

• B.A. in Education or Child Development or currently enrolled in college and in progress towards teaching credential.
• Experience working with youth in a classroom setting.
• Experience teaching and working with children (ages 6 -11) from inner‑city communities.
• Experience lesson planning and implementing academic programming.
• Knowledge of IEPs and experience working with students with a wide range of learning needs.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
• Ability to prioritize and multitask in a busy work environment.
• Skilled in MS Word & Excel, Google Docs, and Zoom.
• A strong desire to interface with and serve as a role model for youth.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• English/Spanish bilingual speaker highly preferred.
• Work to support the Heart of LA Mission within the organization.
• Must pass CA DOJ background check.
• Holds a CA C Driver's License for 3+ yrs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The building environment may not provide air conditioning and heat in all areas. Outdoor work is expected in some cases.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills or abilities.

As an equal opportunity employer, Heart of LA values having a diverse workforce and continuously strives to maintain an inclusive and equitable workplace. We encourage people with a diverse range of backgrounds to apply. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, gender, handicap, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics.