Overview

Do you love kids? Are you excited by the idea of helping children learn to write short stories, graphic novels, songs, films and plays with beginnings, middles, and (drum roll) endings? Writopia Lab, an award-winning 501(c)3 non-profit that runs the country's best creative writing workshops for kids ages 6 to 18, is looking for debate instructors who will lead in-person, on-site workshops at two different Bronx Charter Schools for Excellence.

Since its formation in New York City in 2007, Writopia Lab has grown into a nationwide community of young writers. Our mission is to foster joy, literacy, and critical thinking in children and teens from all backgrounds through creative writing. We create a safe and engaging space for writers at all stages of the writing process, and we aim to provide the creative inspiration, individual attention, and intellectual environment that may not be available to them in school. Our partner organization, the Bronx Charter School for Excellence, prepares young people in New York City to compete for admission to and succeed in top public, private and parochial high schools by cultivating their intellectual, artistic, social, emotional, and ethical development.

What Debate Instructors Do

The Debate Instructor for this partnership program will lead debate workshops on site at the schools. The instructor acts as a mentor for the workshop participants, students at the school, helping them engage with topics that matter to them most. We are looking for experienced instructors to lead the debate workshops with warmth, humor, curiosity, and insight. Debate workshops are a balance between fun and engaging skill-building games, focused research time, and constant feedback from the instructor. We train instructors extensively in our method and are looking for people with experience in debate skills, methods, and tournaments.

Location, Schedule and Pay

Locations: Bronx Charter Schools for Excellence: 1734 Williamsbridge Road and 1960 Benedict Avenue, Bronx, New York

Schedule: The general schedule is two to five days per week for three to 4.5 hours per day between Mondays and Fridays

Hourly Pay: $35.00-$45.00 per hour for teaching; $16.50-$20.00 per hour for administrative tasks; most hours will be paid at the teaching rate

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree; Master’s preferred
• Ability to reliably and consistently commute to the partnership location(s)
• Experience in public school environments and/or underserved communities/community based organizations as teaching artists, teachers, or art-based roles preferred
• Working knowledge of social-emotional learning concepts and practices preferred
• Minimum of two years experience as a competitive debater or coach for debate programs
• Knowledge of skills and strategies used in preparing for and participating in debate meets, tournaments, and programs
• Enthusiasm for working with youth
• Flexibility teaching in various environments
• Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including at least one booster

How to Apply

If you are excited by the idea of joining a community of creatives and working on collaborative storytelling with children and teens, please fill out our application form, and be sure to attach your resumé and cover letter. Please do not submit a cover letter or other application materials that have been generated by AI.

For more information regarding who we are and what we do here at Writopia Lab, please visit our website at www.writopialab.org.

Writopia Lab uses E-Verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.

Writopia Lab, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Writopia Lab does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or on any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

No phone calls, emails, or drop-ins, please.