Winchester ABC Resident Director Position Description

A Better Chance (ABC) is a national non-profit organization that provides academically talented minority scholars with an opportunity to attend outstanding public and private secondary schools throughout the United States.

Our mission is to offer our scholars the opportunity: to learn in an excellent educational program that will affirm and nurture their academic talent; to participate in the arts, community service, athletic and other extra-curricular activities; and to develop confidence and independence as they prepare not only for college, but also for a future as active, effective contributors to society; and to offer the community of Winchester dedicated minority students who, because of their desire to learn and participate in a strong and successful secondary education environment, will bring their talent, energy and diversity to Winchester High School and to the Winchester community as a whole.

The Resident Director(s) report to the President, Winchester ABC or other Board member designated by the Board.

OVERVIEW

The ABC scholars live together with the Resident Director(s) and a Resident Academic Coordinator in the ABC residential house located in Winchester center. The Resident Director(s) are responsible for the well being of the scholars, the day-to-day supervision of the scholars' activities and the operation of the Winchester ABC residential house. The Resident Directors must maintain a healthy home environment, adequate facilities, and decent food service for the house.

Resident Directors must understand and direct Scholars to the goals and objectives of the National and Local program. They must set the tone and serve as examples for the residence by creating a sense of family unity and establishing and maintaining high standards of conduct and achievement. The Resident Directors must show genuine interest and involvement in the Scholars' schoolwork and extra-curricular activities. They are responsible for the well being of all of the scholars.

The Resident Directors must develop a strong working relationship with the Winchester ABC Board by establishing strong dialogue and communication with the Board President and committee members who support the welfare and growth of the scholars, such as the Executive Committee, Academic Committee, and Enrichment Committee to name a few.

The Resident Directors must maintain good relationships with the Scholar's parents and host parents through frequent and regular oral and written communication. Occasions for written correspondence include specifying travel arrangements, clothing needs, etc. The Resident Directors must also ensure that the Resident Academic Coordinator (RAC) communicates the Scholar's academic performance, accomplishments or needs after marking periods to parents, host parents, and the Academic Committee of the board. Copies of these letters should be filed as part of the Scholar's permanent record.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE RESIDENT DIRECTOR

1. As house parents, provide a nurturing and supportive home environment for the scholars who reside at the ABC House, to help them achieve the highest level possible of academic, intellectual, and personal growth during their four years in Winchester and beyond. Specifically, the Resident Directors will:
• Together with the Resident Academic Coordinator, assist scholars to establish academic and personal goals and expectations consistent with the goals and purpose as described in the ABC Handbook, and develop a climate at the ABC house that allows the scholars to achieve these goals to the full extent of their abilities;
• Foster a warm and effective relationship with scholars and earn their respect by modeling excellent behavior and leadership within and outside the ABC house, and offering sound advice based on insight into their specific needs and who they are as individuals;
• Be emotionally available to students at all times while also providing parental influence including imposing disciplinary actions as necessary per ABC guidelines to maintain academic standards, house values, and harmony within the home environment; the RDs must, in a balanced way, address issues and concerns with those students that do not follow the ABC Handbook guidelines/rules;
• Ensure the social, emotional, and physical well-being of the scholars, while delegating the daily supervision of the academic activities of the scholars, to the Resident Academic Coordinator
• Supervise Resident Academic Coordinator to ensure that academic plans are executed and modified as appropriate during the academic year
• Together with the Resident Academic Coordinator, ensure that scholars are receiving the proper academic guidance and support, are attending school and are on time unless excused, and are seeking extra-help when needed.
• Participate in parent-teacher conferences and counselor-parent meetings as deemed necessary or appropriate by the Resident Academic Coordinator; host parents may be included in plans and meetings for scholars under special circumstances such as meetings that address a scholar's academic disabilities
• Provide a welcoming adult presence at the home for scholars before and after school, during weekends and evenings, and any other time the scholars are at Dix Street; adult coverage at the ABC House will be shared with the Resident Academic Coordinator; Resident Director(s) are expected to eat dinner with the scholars;
• Within the context of the scholar's privacy, create a convivial open environment at the ABC House for the scholars' friends and the greater ABC community;
• Encourage a well-balanced experience by the scholars while at Winchester High School that includes extra-curricular activities, sports, leadership opportunities, and community service;
• Develop a strong relationship with scholars' parents by regular contact and updates as needed regarding scholar performance or issues;
• Provide for the comfort of the scholars by maintaining a clean attractive house (between cleaning service dates), the yard free of clutter, and report need for repairs to the appropriate board member;
• Together with the Resident Academic Coordinator, supervise the students in maintaining a satisfactory level of cleanliness in the house, particularly in the common areas downstairs, including the yard.
2. As the primary source of information for the ABC Board concerning the scholars' health, welfare, growth and development, and the primary contact at the ABC House for board members, the Resident Directors will:
• Respond promptly to all emails and phone calls that require RD action or RD opinion;
• Meet weekly with the President of the Board about the status of students and activities at the ABC house; meetings may include Personnel Chair as needed and may also lessen in frequency as the academic year progresses;
• Attend Board meetings monthly to update members about the status of students, their academic or extra-curricular achievements, and any planned house activities or priorities;
• Share and raise concerns regarding scholar issues or matters that effect the smooth running of the ABC house with the President and/or relevant board committee, for example the Host Family Committee, Personnel Committee, or House Committee, as soon as they arise so they may be addressed quickly and effectively;
• Work with various committees and Board members, including Enrichment, Student Affairs, Scholar Selection, Summer Program, to plan events and programs and provide for scholar needs;
• Ensure that the house calendar is updated with board or committee activities and commitments and that events are made known to and attended by relevant parties including scholars when appropriate;
• Coordinate requests for transportation from the students with the Board member in charge of Transportation. The Resident Director needs to ensure and enforce the sign-out policy and know the whereabouts of the students at all times.
• Participate in scholar selection process providing feedback and opinion to Selection Committee
• Participate in staff selection process at the invitation of the Personnel Committee and provide feedback and opinion to that committee regarding suitability of a candidate or to express issues or concerns
• Manage household funds entrusted to the Resident Director in accordance with Board policy, provide advance request to the President and Treasurer of needed funds for special events, and maintain and provide receipts as required. The Resident Director may be required to meet with the Treasurer on a regular basis as outlined by the Board of Directors to review expenditures.
3. As representatives of the ABC program in the Winchester community, the Resident Directors will:
• Attend fundraising and other events that promote the ABC program
• Be a visible presence at scholar extra-curricular events such as games and performances
• Promote respect by community members by being welcoming and warm, and exhibiting excellent behavior at all times both at the ABC house and outside of the house
• Develop strong positive relationships with host parents by being in contact with them regarding any scholar issues that may arise as needed, meeting with them no less than quarterly for report card and academic plan reviews, and engaging with them socially or otherwise as the opportunity arises including as guest at monthly Host Parent meetings
4. As managers of staff at the ABC House:
• Supervise staff consisting of Resident Academic Coordinator, cooks, cleaners and other contractors which support the needs of the house (excluding tutors who report directly to Resident Academic Coordinator)
• Provide guidance and support to Resident Academic Coordinator if requested in all matters related to scholar academics
• Provide direction to cooks to ensure that students receive healthful and tasty meals; coordinate food purchases with cooks
• Provide input to Personnel Chair regarding staff performance when requested or needed
• Meet with staff for periodic meetings arranged by the Personnel Chairperson to assure smooth operation of the home

OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE RESIDENT DIRECTOR POSITION

• The length of the contract for this position is for the academic school year, unless the performance of the Resident Director does not meet the standards required under his or her Performance Objectives; the Resident Director(s) must live at the ABC House from two weeks prior to the start of school to one week after the last day of school.
• The compensation for this position will be a monthly stipend as outlined in the employment contract, plus room and board at the ABC house for the Resident Director and his or her immediate family.
• Future increases in compensation will be linked with the evaluation of the Resident Director's Annual Performance.
• The Resident Director(s) may be employed full-time elsewhere during school hours while working for the ABC program, provided that such employment does not preclude carrying out the responsibilities listed above and has been pre-approved and agreed to in the ABC employment letter of understanding

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Mature individual with strong interpersonal skills, BA/BS, minimum 5 years of experience working with children or adolescents, multicultural experience a plus. The ideal candidate will have outstanding organization skills and have background that substantiates his/her ability to deal with multiple constituencies effectively, since the RD is required to interact with school, ABC Board, Host Parents, volunteers, and a multitude of others that support the ABC Scholars during their Winchester ABC experience.

References will be requested and checked.

Please email resumes to: personnel@winchesterabc.org