Operation Spark: Instructor, High School Programs

About Operation Spark

Operation Spark is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, hell-bent on helping people train for and obtain high wage employment in software engineering. Our immersive training prepares students 8 times faster than universities, cutting down significantly on the cost and time associated with traditional degree programs. We are mission-driven to help our grads into fantastic, lifelong career opportunities in tech, with our program boasting a 100% job placement rate.

Our High School to High Wage program, approved by the Louisiana Department of Education to offer credit-bearing courses and Industry Based Credentials, is designed for students in grades 10-12 to prepare for careers and post-secondary training in software development. We serve students from across the state through both virtual and in-person instruction during the school day, after school, and over the summer. 

Position

Our instructors teach introductory, advanced, and professional level courses in website, application, and game development to students in grades 10 through 12, using our proprietary curriculum. Students from more than 15 districts across the state of Louisiana engage with our programming through school-day, after-school, and summer courses, working to earn course credit and Industry Based Credentials. We offer both in-person and virtual classes, and each instructor’s schedule typically includes a combination of both formats. 

Operation Spark prides itself on teaching content that’s challenging, hands-on, and fun while meeting the needs of employers in the software industry. Our instructors work 12 months a year, but enjoy competitive salaries, significant paid time off, generous benefits, opportunities for career growth, and the joy of preparing young people for high-wage careers in tech. Instructional staff also have the opportunity to build and sharpen their engineering skills through ongoing internal development projects.  This is a game-changing opportunity for an educator with the desire to work hard, collaborate, innovate, and impact hundreds of young lives a year.

This position reports to the Director of High School Programs.

Responsibilities

• Deliver instruction both in person and virtually to high school students.
• Design and implement activities and assessments that measure progress towards academic goals.
• Use formative and summative assessment data to enhance curriculum and plan interventions.
• Report on student progress at regular intervals.
• Participate in internal and external professional development. 
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with students, families, and coworkers.
• Collaborate with team members to retrospect on course progress and outcomes, and make ongoing improvements to curriculum and delivery.
• Work closely with the Student Success Coordinator to monitor student progress toward both academic goals and soft skill development.
• Coach teachers delivering our curriculum in-house at high schools across New Orleans.
• Work as part of Operation Spark’s internal dev team, either as a developer or in a project management capacity, to make ongoing improvements to our website and learning platform.

We’re looking for someone who:

• has 2 or more years experience teaching Computer Science or a closely-related subject at the middle school, high school or college level, OR
• • 2 or more years teaching experience in any subject + significant college level coursework in Computer Science/completion of an applicable certification through a coding bootcamp OR
  • 2 or more years working as a software developer combined with significant experience working with young people.
• is preferably proficient in HTML, CSS, and Javascript.
• has keen organization and problem-solving skills that support sound decision making and workflow prioritization.
• has the ability to communicate effectively and empathetically with a variety of audiences, such as students, parents, instructors, and staff at partner schools.
• is a proven problem solver with the ability to confidently navigate a complex, dynamic, and evolving set of responsibilities and work environment.
• exhibits personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of Operation Spark.
• is open to building new skills and competencies needed to best support our students.

Salary and Compensation

$55,000 to $65,000 depending on experience

The Instructor, High School Programs is a full-time, exempt position. Benefits include generous paid time off, contribution to health insurance premiums, and an amazing team of people who believe in the potential of others.