Alaska Fellows Program position description
Mt. Edgecumbe High School (MEHS) Internship and Work Experience Guide
Sitka
This position is part of the Alaska Fellows Program. All fellows live together, “in community,” in their respective host site. Each host site is unique and remarkable.
Fellows receive housing, a monthly living stipend and a modest relocation stipend. The fellowship includes facilitated and funded opening and closing retreats.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. If you are applying to a position in Juneau, please note that the program will last seven months (October-April) while other programs will run nine months (September-May).
For other questions about the application process, email applications@alaskafellows.org.
Work Term: Start of September through end of May
Employer: Alaska College & Career Advising Corps / Mt. Edgecumbe High School
Contact: Janelle Vanasse
Title: Internship and Work Experience Guide
Organization Description: (from the website) Mt. Edgecumbe High School is a public boarding school operated by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. Initially established in 1947 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Mt. Edgecumbe provided Alaska Native students in grades 1-12 the opportunity to acquire a traditional education unavailable in rural Alaska. Serving as many as 600 students at its largest, the school closed temporarily in 1983 as the Bureau of Indian Affairs reduced its role in Alaskan Education. Two years later, the school reopened under the governance of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. The central role of Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Alaskan education is to provide a broad range of academic and extra-curricular opportunities that are unavailable to students in isolated home schools and communities. Academic expectations are high and students who attend are expected to enroll in higher education. The official governing body charged with oversight is the Alaska State Board of Education.
Position Description: This is a unique service learning opportunity for recent college graduates who are committed to improving the hands-on education experience for students from around Alaska that attend MEHS. The 2020-2021 school year will be the first year of MEHS hosting this position. During this inaugural year, the guide will not only support students, but will also work to develop the program and create systems that will be used in subsequent years.
MEHS has currently set up students with limited internships; however, expansion has been halted with current staffing capacity. The guide will help with the coordination of currently available internships, and will seek additional partnerships for expanded opportunities. The guide may also help students access Native language classes through universities, since expanding students’ ability to speak in their own Native language is a valuable skill.
The guide will:
Support and enhance existing internships:
Science Internships – students supporting field work at University of Alaska Southeast, Sitka Sound Science Center, and Sitka Tribe of Alaska.
Educator Rising Internships – students interested in Education spending time at local elementary schools
Various Field trips
Establish new internships, work experiences, and meaningful volunteer opportunities.
Support access to Native Language classes
Develop written procedures for students accessing, being monitored, and providing feedback for internships
A successful guide is self-directed, strategic, professional yet accessible, able to work with multiple stakeholders, and knowledgeable of higher education in Alaska and the challenges facing underserved youth. The unique setting of Mt. Edgecumbe High School as a boarding school allows for the guide to reach students during non-school hours as well as during the school day. The MEHS guide will be encouraged to work with both academic and residential staff to maximize student impact utilizing evening meeting times to meet with students up to twice a week.
Primary duties:
1.
Collaborate with High School staff and Sitka community organizations to directly advise and assist students with accessing experiences and building workplace and post-secondary soft skills to be successful in those environments. (60% of time)
Provide students with some direction and frequent feedback on soft skills needed to be successful in a work and/or post secondary environment.
Work directly with organizations hosting students in providing meaningful feedback for student growth.
Solicit opportunities from organizations in town and set up matches between students and organizations.
Coordinate with teachers on scheduled special events and field trips with students accessing community resources.
Draft program and progress reports as needed.
2.
Prepare systems and develop processes for sustainable and rotating internship and work experiences for the future. Developing an application process and a mentor feedback form and documenting hours (15% of time)
Create an application for students to apply for internships. Create forms that will allow for consistent feedback to students on their skills, including a rating form for the employer/ mentor. Create a system for students to document hours.
Work with counseling staff and administration to develop the internship and work experience program to be a sustainable program for continued use beyond the current year.
3.
Provide transportation or assist students in learning the public transportation system as needed for students to access internships. (10% of time)
Drive students to internships and be a co-driver on field trips (vans) including providing additional supervision as needed.
Help students learn to navigate the public bus system when available.
4.
Provide oversight and guide students in accessing Native Language classes. (10%)
5.
P Participate as a member of committees and workgroups with focus on postsecondary education planning and access topics. (5% of time)
Hours:
Position will work the school year.
Position will be required to work a “swing shift” 1:00-9:00pm up to 2 days a week. Which days may be flexible.
Position may be asked to work occasional additional evenings or weekends to meet student needs. These times will be flexed with other time off.
Position may require occasional travel inside/outside of Alaska.
Qualifications:
Knowledge of:
Career and workforce soft skills
Alaska’s higher education/career resources
Alaska’s K-16 educational system
Program development and general management principles
Internet, media and technology-based strategies for social marketing
Skills in:
Effective oral and written communication for outreach and building partnerships with local organizations.
Organization skills and schedule management
∙Microsoft computer programs including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and Publisher or related programs
Developing and administering surveys/questionnaires
Communicating with diverse populations
Problem solving and ability to recognize when to redirect a specific situation to needed expertise
Creative and critical thinking
Developing and maintaining positive relationships with internal and external partners
Online communication tools such as Facebook, Remind, IM, blogs, etc.
Ability to:
Perform responsibly, take initiative and develop new ideas with co-workers
Make independent decisions while working in a team environment
Build rapport and establish positive relationships with youth
Manage multiple projects
Interact with peers, supervisors, students, parents, and other third parties in a professional, appropriate, and effective manner
Work nontraditional hours when necessary
Other requirements:
Baccalaureate degree from an accredited university.
Recent graduates (degree obtained in last three years or less)
Work Authorization: This host organization is not able to sponsor HB1 visas at this time.
Application Materials: Cover letter and resume.
Submit materials to: Janelle Vanasse (janellev@mehs.us)
When submitting your applications, please also copy applications@alaskafellows.org.
Contact Information:
Janelle Vanasse, Superintendent, Mt. Edgecumbe High School
(907)-966-3201
janellev@mehs.us
Mt. Edgecumbe High School
1330 Seward Ave
Sitka, AK 99835