Summer Academy High School Program Assistant

Student U is a community organization that uses the power of education to build a just and equitable Durham.

We empower and equip first-generation college students in Durham Public Schools, their families, and educators to become the leaders that will transform our city. Together, we're creating a Durham where all students succeed.

As a result of structural racism, poverty and other systemic injustices, we acknowledge that first generation college-bound students face significant personal and institutional obstacles to educational success. We want to change the odds for children in our community.

The Work : Our Summer Academy staff are excited to facilitate learning and create an environment for students to succeed.

We are hiring staff to work in our 5 week Summer Academy program, providing academic enrichment and structured new experiences. At Summer Academy, we are committed to helping our students feel success and growth by providing thoughtful, intentional academic experiences, and sharing our own excitement around academic content.

Thank you for your interest in becoming the Summer Academy High School Program Assistant!

The Summer Academy High School Program Assistant will work closely with the Student U Summer Academy Leadership Team to plan, prepare and implement the High School Summer Academy Program. The High School Program Assistant will meet with the High School Program Team to plan for upcoming events, plan program-wide summer events, and assist with providing support with the day-to-day logistics of the summer academy programming. The ideal candidate for this role will have experience working with youth, planning and coordinating youth programs, and a belief in Student U's mission and values.

REQUIREMENTS

Time : Part-Time (March-May), Full-Time (June 15th - August 5th, 2026)

Ideal Start Date : March 18, 2026

Pre-Summer Responsibilities (~50 hours total)

In collaboration with the Summer Academy Leadership team, more specifically the High School Team the High School Program Assistant will :

• Attend all pre-summer trainings
• Attend Teacher Orientation (two weeks)
• Create / Adjust / Edit lesson plans for non-instructional time, Homeroom Handbook, that builds positive culture, builds college readiness and promotes Student U core values.
• Participate in the implementation of pre-Summer Academy Student U-wide events (ex. May U Prep Day, Family Day, etc)
• Participate in the planning and implementation of Summer Academy Student U-wide events (ex. College Day, Spirit Week, Brill Bash, etc)
• Oversee teacher clubs by managing logistics, including collecting club preferences from teachers, organizing supply purchases, and building a balanced club schedule that meets student interests.
• Facilitate book club sign-ups and assignments for students / HS teachers
• Assist in creating student schedules using student selections and teacher recommendations
• Provide additional supervision throughout the day - morning, lunch, and afternoon duties
• Work with the HS Team to structure the Summer Academy Culture & Events
• Provide upperclassman interns with meaningful assignments that support their professional development and experiences
• Produce weekly attendance sheets and input data daily
• Support high school teachers and students independently (at times) and in collaboration with the high school team
• Perform high school teacher observations on a weekly basis
• Participate in Summer Academy planning meetings & regular check-ins with the Summer Academy Leadership Team (SALT) and the High School Team.

Commitment : Part-Time (March-May) Full-Time (June-First week in August)

Compensation : $18 hourly rate

Anti-Discrimination Policy & Commitment to Diversity & Child Safeguarding Policy

Deadline to submit HSPA Application : February 2, 2026

Interviews : Wednesday, February 18, 2026 - Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Ideal Start Date : March 18, 2026

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