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Title: Science, Technology & Math (STM) Instructor

Type: Exempt, Full Time

Supervisor: Academic Program Manager, Youth Programs

Location: 430 Rindge Avenue Suite #202, Cambridge, MA 02140

Salary Range: $60,000 - 65,000 annually

POSITION SUMMARY:

Are you an educator who believes that learning math and science can open doors — and that knowing how to navigate a spreadsheet, write a professional email, or understand how AI works can change a young person’s life? Are you energized by the challenge of building something new, not just delivering something that already exists? If so, you could be Just A Start’s next Science, Technology & Math STM Instructor.

The Science, Technology & Math (STM) Instructor is a cornerstone of our YouthBuild Academic Program, preparing young people ages 16–24 to earn their High School Equivalency (HiSET) credential while building the digital literacy skills today’s workforce demands. This role is for an educator who is equally comfortable teaching HiSET math and creating brand-new Tech/AI curriculum from scratch. The STM Instructor reports to the Academic Program Manager within an evolving Youth Programs leadership structure designed to deepen coordination and expand impact across our team and the broader organization.

If you’ve taught in public schools and found yourself wanting smaller classes and the freedom to design what you teach — this role is worth a serious look. Our trainees have often had complicated relationships with traditional education. We are looking for an educator with creative instincts and a desire to make a lasting difference in the lives of our youth. This role is part of an engaging and committed team excited to collaborate and put your expertise to work.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND:

Just A Start is a community development corporation dedicated to promoting equity through access to stable housing and pathways to economic opportunity. Our YouthBuild program is a full-time, comprehensive workforce development program for opportunity youth ages 16–24 in the Boston Metro North region — one of 11 independently operated YouthBuild programs in the Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition and part of the global YouthBuild movement.

Youth Programs at Just A Start includes YouthBuild — with its Construction and Retail Entrepreneurship vocational training tracks — as well as Solar Start, our PV installer training program for young adults preparing to enter careers in solar installation and the clean energy sector. As part of Just A Start’s five-year strategic plan, we are also exploring a pre-program academic remediation model designed to help prospective participants build foundational skills before entering full program enrollment. The STM Instructor is central to this evolving vision, connecting academic content to vocational training and extending education across the full community that Just A Start serves — from young people in Youth Programs to the residents, learners, and participants across all of our programs.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

1. High School Equivalency Instruction

• Teach Math and Science classes designed to prepare YouthBuild trainees (ages 16–24) to pass the HiSET exam — the primary focus of this role.
• Design engaging, standards-aligned lesson plans that connect academic content to real-world contexts, including construction math (measurement, geometry, estimation) and math in business and retail entrepreneurship (percentages, budgeting) to reinforce HiSET skills across vocational tracks.
• Coordinate with Boston College PULSE Program math tutor volunteers day-to-day, connecting them with trainees who need targeted support and managing scheduling and communication.
• Track trainee progress in Salesforce, register trainees for HiSET exams, and report scores; contributing to quarterly progress reviews and support of Student Success Plans.
• Participate in recruitment interviews for prospective participants, using these conversations to understand each candidate’s academic background, prior experience with Math and Science, and how they learn best — informing support planning if they are accepted.
• Play an active role in YouthBuild pre-program orientation, building early relationships with prospective trainees and contributing informed recommendations to enrollment decisions.
• Provide one-on-one tutoring and substitute instruction as needed.

2. Technology Workforce Readiness Education

• Build Just A Start’s technology education offerings from the ground up — sourcing open curriculum, adapting existing resources, or creating original content — covering keyboarding, Google Workspace tools (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail), professional email etiquette, digital organization, and foundational AI literacy.
• Deliver technology classes within the Life Skills series or a dedicated technology learning block, in coordination with the Academic Program Manager.
• Extend technology training beyond YouthBuild — working with program leadership — to participants across Youth Programs, alumni, and young people not enrolled in YouthBuild, reflecting Just A Start’s strategic commitment to integrated service delivery.
• Collaborate with the Adult Career Training program’s IT Instructor to share resources and best practices, and coordinate shared use of the Computer Lab on the Adult Career Training floor where scheduling allows.
• Partner with the Youth Program Operations Manager, Youth Programs Component Managers, and Just A Start’s IT consulting team to manage, maintain, and inventory laptops and devices used in technology classes; communicate equipment needs proactively to minimize classroom disruption.

3. Team & Cross-Program Collaboration

• Collaborate across Youth Programs teams — including Academics, Construction, Retail Entrepreneurship, Case Management, and Operations — to deliver integrated, student-centered services.
• Maintain student records in hard copy and digital formats; model professional boundaries consistent with Just A Start’s staff-student expectations.
• Participate in staff meetings, trainings, and organizational initiatives; take on other duties as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS / KEYS TO SUCCESS:

• 2–5 years of related teaching, tutoring, or instructional experience, including experience working with opportunity youth ages 16–24.
• Experience teaching Math, Science, or STEM subjects; HiSET knowledge preferred.
• Demonstrated ability — or strong willingness — to develop technology education curriculum from scratch; experience with digital literacy or workforce technology tools is a plus.
• Past experience developing and/or facilitating workshops is desired.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver strengths-based and trauma-informed instruction and support.
• Builds trusting relationships through empathy, humility, and emotional awareness.
• Can effectively prioritize and plan projects and workstreams independently and collaboratively.
• Growth mindset, patience, and understanding of the evergreen nature of youth needs and goals.
• Strong verbal and written communicator who is capable of managing up, down, and across the department and organization to deliver quality and integrated services.
• Familiarity with Google Workspace, Box, Zoom, and Salesforce (or other CRM) preferred. Willingness to learn these tools is required.
• Experience with Special Education, IEPs familiarity.
• Bilingual Spanish/English speaker a plus.
• Acceptable CORI/SORI required.

We know that no individual candidate will possess every qualification listed above. Studies show that women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they meet all requirements. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every criterion. If you’re excited about this role and our mission, we want to hear from you.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Starting annual salary $60,000 – $65,000. In addition to a competitive salary, Just A Start offers excellent benefits including medical, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability insurance, 20 Paid Time Off days in the first year, 13 paid holidays, 1 day of Volunteer Time Off, an Employee Assistance Program, and a 401(k) savings plan with a 3% employer contribution after 3 months of employment. Just A Start has also implemented a “Find Your Joy Fridays” benefit that allows full-time employees to leave at 2:00 PM on Fridays.

Just A Start is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our staff represents a wide range of ages, races, interests, and backgrounds coming together in pursuit of common goals. We value diversity and work to create an inclusive culture where people from all backgrounds can thrive and belong. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other characteristic protected by law.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office and classroom setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.