Location: Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY; or Chicago, IL

Employment Type: Full-Time, Temporary, Non-Exempt

Compensation: $21/hour

Priority Review Deadline: Applications completed by January 15th will receive priority consideration. Submissions after this date will be reviewed based on program needs and availability.

The Organization:

At Thrive Scholars, we provide high-achieving, diverse, and underrepresented students, including students of color from under-resourced communities, the opportunities they need to thrive at top colleges and in meaningful careers.

Our comprehensive and data-driven program model focuses on the key inflection points that can be the difference between graduating from any college and graduating from a top college with the grades, degree, career skills, and network needed to thrive in any career. Thrive Scholars originated in Los Angeles as South Central Scholars (“SCS”) twenty years ago. Over this time, the organization has refined its program model and, in the last five years, has focused on expanding nationally; reaching more high-achieving underrepresented students, growing the number of Scholars we serve; and deepening our program impact. Thrive Scholars has begun to grow its footprint with new summer program offerings in three additional cities, with more to come. The organization has approximately 75 year-round employees and close to 200 summer employees.

The Program:

Summer Academy has long been the keystone of Thrive Scholars’ Six-Year Program, offering a signature summer experience through intensive college-preparatory courses taught by college instructors. Thrive’s current strategic direction builds on the success of Summer Academy to expand our impact by establishing community-based Thrive Academies in cities across the United States. We launched our first two Thrive Academies as commuter programs in Los Angeles and New York City in 2024 while simultaneously continuing to offer the residential Summer Academies for Scholars who are part of our Six-Year Program. We are gearing up to open a third Thrive Academy in Chicago and expect to continue extending our reach to other cities in the coming years.

The Students:

Our students are high-achieving and identify as underrepresented, including first-generation college-goers, students of color, and those from under-resourced communities, with an average high school GPA of 3.9 on a 4.0 scale. They are eager to learn, inquisitive, and highly motivated to succeed. In general, they see themselves as good students who perform well in school and are determined to live up to that expectation. Students in SA 1/TA 1 are rising high school seniors, while students in SA 2/TA 2 are rising college freshmen.

The Position:

Thrive Scholars is seeking a College Readiness Teaching Assistant who can work with a faculty member to administer a college math or writing  course to our students preparing for the rigor of courses at selective institutions.  The math courses include a range from Statistic and Precalculus to Multivariable Calculus.  The writing courses are Introduction to Creative and Expository Writing and Introduction to Academic Writing. 

The uniqueness of this position lies in its dual focus on supporting students both inside and outside the classroom. Teaching Assistants will foster a sense of community with their assigned students, emphasizing belonging, connectedness, and resilience in a new environment. In practice, this includes creative ways to start the class period, developing shared meanings and motivational mantras to encourage resilience, and conducting personal check-ins with students who miss class. This role provides the opportunity to co-create and nurture a culture of safety that maximizes student engagement and learning.

College readiness teaching assistants serve as both teachers and mentors, combining instructional support with personal guidance.

A strong understanding of and commitment to Thrive Scholars’ ‘North Star’—Economic Mobility—is essential. Please review our position statement on economic mobility here.

TA’s will be supported by their faculty members, the Site Director, Assistant Site Director, and Thrive’s Director of Faculty. The tentative schedule is outlined below:

University of Southern California Location Overview - Commuter 

Tentative Dates: Summer 1: June 15th - August 1st; Summer 2: June 15th- July 19th

Mercy University Manhattan Campus Location Overview- Commuter 

Tentative Dates: Summer 1: June 29th - August 16th

University of Chicago Location Overview- Commuter 

Tentative Dates: Summer 1: June 22nd - August 8th

Once the program begins,  College Readiness Teaching Assistants are expected to work 40 hours per week Monday through Friday with a set class schedule and more flexible hours for work outside of class. There may be occasional weekend or evening work for special events, such as college tours or program celebrations. Full staff training and orientations will begin mid June, schedule TBD in collaboration with the Site Director and Program Director.

Primary Responsibilities:

Teaching Responsibilities:

• Serve as the Teaching Assistant for two sections of a college-level math or writing course in collaboration with a faculty member.
• Administer lessons, lectures, and interactive activities to ensure students grasp key concepts.
• Provide support during class hours, addressing student questions and clarifying complex topics.
• Collaborate with the faculty member to design and implement effective teaching strategies for college readiness.

Guidance Responsibilities:

• Build a supportive community among assigned students, fostering a sense of belonging and connectedness.
• Implement unique and engaging methods to start each class period, creating a positive and inclusive learning environment.
• Develop shared meanings and motivation mantras with students to promote resilience and a growth mindset.
• Communicate concerns for students who may display signs of disengagement to the Site Director
• Co-create and facilitate a culture of safety that encourages deep engagement and participation in the learning process.
• Serve as a mentor to students, providing guidance on academic and personal development in preparation for the challenges of selective institutions.
• Foster a collaborative learning environment that encourages peer support and knowledge sharing among students.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree required 
• Can demonstrate competency in college level calculus (ranging from pre-calculus to multivariable calculus, including a high comfort level with statistics) or college level writing
• Can demonstrate effectiveness in supporting and  teaching assigned course subjects in a university setting 
• Experience in a learning environment such as a summer camp, school, academic summer program, a residential high school strongly preferred
• Experience in and passion for working with a diverse community of high school & college students 
• Superior interpersonal skills & ability to build effective relationships with students, faculty, & staff 
• High level of dependability & strong commitment to ensuring the health & safety of participants at all times 
• Enthusiasm & ability to work in a high-energy environment, foster positivity & energy among high-school & college students 
• Ability to independently manage multiple priorities 
• Uphold and enforce the values, policies, and procedures of Thrive Scholars as outlined in the program manual 
• Ability to exercise sound decision-making and maintain confidentiality
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries
• Professional dress is required 
• CPR & First Aid certification preferred 
• Must pass a background check and complete required safety trainings

Working Environment & Physical Requirements 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a seasonal employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this role:

• Frequent sitting, talking and listening and occasional walking, bending, stooping, and pulling
• Handle and operate computers, tools or controls
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• See clearly in an indoor and outdoor environment
• Work in an indoor classroom environment that may not have air conditioning in the summer
• Travel off campus (transportation will be provided and advance notice will be given if required)

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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Thrive Scholars provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status. Knowing their importance to the success of our work, Thrive Scholars is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we aspire to build a diverse staff team and community. We strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

For more information, please visit thrivescholars.org