Strategic Gaming / LEGO STEM – Afterschool Activity Specialist in Brooklyn, New York at Brooklyn Prospect Charter School

Who We Are:

Prospect Schools is a high-performing, intentionally diverse K-12 college preparatory charter network serving nearly 3,000 students across seven schools in Brooklyn. We are a growing organization and expanding our network across Brooklyn in the coming academic year. Prospect Schools models its curriculum on the renowned International Baccalaureate Program, a rigorous program that raises the level of academic responsibility for students while preparing them to be global citizens. Our network is dedicated to the mission of preparing a diverse student body to have a positive impact on society and develop a lifelong passion for learning, guided by our core values:

• Curiosity: Develop sound judgment and intellect by asking questions confidently and thinking critically

• Care: Support others by grounding every action in empathy while championing equity and inclusion

• Persistence: Grow and learn by solving problems with determination, creativity, and tenacity

• Passion: Succeed by approaching challenges with excitement, enthusiasm, and self-assurance

The Opportunity:

We are looking for highly qualified specialists who can provide engaging, hands-on instruction in strategic gaming, LEGO-based STEM, engineering, and problem-solving activities. Ideal candidates will specialize in two or more of the following competencies: strategic gaming, chess or board games, LEGO construction, engineering and design, robotics, coding, problem-solving, project-based learning, and STEM enrichment.

The Strategic Gaming & LEGO STEM Activity Specialist will create a fun, challenging, and inclusive learning environment where students can develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills. The specialist will lead students through age-appropriate games, design challenges, LEGO builds, engineering projects, and STEM activities ranging from beginner to intermediate levels.

Activity Specialists facilitate youth groups, organize trips, conduct outreach and recruitment, interact with parents and partner with the community. Our Activity Specialists are responsible for being rock stars that can create lessons, projects and objectives that meet the individual students’ needs. They foster an atmosphere of fun and learning and serve as role models to youth, always conducting themselves in the utmost professional manner and maintaining appropriate boundaries. They are also responsible for maintaining the target number of participants.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Supervise a group of up to 15 participants, facilitate select activities, and maintain the health and well-being of all children enrolled.

• Plan, implement, and facilitate strategic gaming, LEGO STEM, engineering, and problem-solving activities for students.

• Develop engaging lesson plans and project-based activities that encourage critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and perseverance.

• Lead students through strategic games, including chess, board games, logic games, and other age-appropriate strategy-based activities.

• Design and facilitate LEGO-based STEM challenges that incorporate engineering, construction, design thinking, and problem-solving.

• Introduce students to engineering concepts such as structures, stability, force and motion, iteration, and design.

• Establish clear objectives for sessions and units and communicate those objectives to students.

• Develop individual and team-based challenges that encourage students to think critically, test ideas, learn from mistakes, and revise their designs.

• Facilitate friendly competitions, tournaments, challenges, and showcases that allow students to demonstrate their skills and projects.

• Provide individualized instruction and feedback to help students strengthen their strategic thinking, problem-solving, and STEM skills.

• Adapt activities and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs, interests, and skill levels.

• Encourage students to explain their thinking, communicate their strategies, and collaborate effectively with peers.

• Create an inclusive environment where students feel comfortable taking risks, asking questions, experimenting, and learning from failure.

• Teach students how to appropriately use, organize, and care for LEGO materials, games, STEM equipment, and other program resources.

• Prepare materials and activity spaces before each session and ensure that spaces are properly cleaned and organized afterward.

• Maintain an organized inventory of LEGO kits, games, STEM materials, and other program supplies.

• Greet new arrivals to activities, introduce them to other students, explain rules and expectations, and encourage participation.

• Engage, encourage, and motivate students throughout each activity.

• Encourage positive character development, teamwork, sportsmanship, and respectful communication in all youth.

• Communicate student progress, participation, and program needs with the Program Manager.

• Take attendance.

• Assist with program set-up and clean-up.

• Assist with drills to practice site-evacuation/emergency procedures and be capable of implementing such procedures.

• Maintain appropriate classroom and activity management, ensuring students follow established safety expectations.

• Perform additional duties and projects assigned at the discretion of the After-School Program Director.

Qualifications:

• Must be knowledgeable and skilled in strategic gaming, STEM, LEGO-based learning, engineering, or related enrichment activities and have prior experience successfully working with K-12 youth groups.

• Minimum of two years of work-related skill, knowledge, teaching, or facilitation experience required in one or more of the following areas: strategic gaming, chess, board games, STEM, engineering, robotics, coding, LEGO education, or project-based learning.

• Candidates with experience leading multiple types of strategic gaming or STEM activities are preferred.

• Serve as a mentor to enable, inspire, and motivate students, fostering a positive and supportive environment.

• Demonstrate an understanding of problem-solving, design thinking, STEM concepts, and collaborative learning.

• Understanding of safety protocols and ability to enforce rules to ensure a safe learning environment.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required.

• Must have the ability to lead participants in group activities, particularly enrichment, recreational, and project-based activities.

• Possess imagination, a sense of humor, patience, conviction, sincerity, enthusiasm, initiative, self-control, adaptability, willingness to learn, integrity, and ingenuity.

• Must have passion for BPCS’s mission and demonstrated interest in the field of education and youth development.

• Have a high school diploma.

• Certifications, credentials, or formal training in STEM, LEGO Education, robotics, coding, chess, strategic gaming, engineering, or related skill-based activities are highly preferred.

• Able to work late afternoons and/or evenings. After School hours can span from 3:00 to 6:30 pm. Most days you will be working from 4:00 to 6:00.

• Demonstrate appreciation and understanding of group management and child development.

• Show ability to accept supervision and guidance.

• Demonstrate the ability to facilitate team challenges, strategic games, STEM projects, and student showcases.

• Demonstrate the ability to create an environment where students are encouraged to think critically, collaborate, experiment, troubleshoot, and revise their work.

Salary: $25 - $35 per hour

If you are a current employee, please submit a Talent Ticket confirming you have applied for this role.

Brooklyn Prospect is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates of diverse

backgrounds.