Adult Options in Education
Partner Agency: Adult Options in Education
Location(s): 1001 Highway 7, Hopkins 55305
Site Supervisor: Chelsea Ritland, Coordinator
CTEP Overview
The AmeriCorps Community Technology Empowerment Project (CTEP) bridges the "digital divide" for new immigrants and low-income communities in the Twin Cities. CTEP is a program of the Saint Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN).
Site History and Mission
The Adult Options In Education (AOIE) school for adults is a vibrant international community of dedicated educators, community members, and adult learners who would like to improve basic reading, writing, math, and English language skills. Every day we welcome mainly immigrants and refugees into our classrooms who are building new lives in Minnesota from all over the country and the world. Students represent nearly 100 countries and 70 different native languages. We couldn’t think of a more enriching or rewarding place to call work!
We are located in the western suburbs of Minneapolis and have been providing educational opportunities for adults for over four decades. Our students have a wide range of educational background and literacy skills. We offer free classes for learners over age 17 in: GED preparation, English as a Second Language (ESL), Career Pathways, Computer Skills, Distance Learning, Citizenship and more.
Although AOIE learners come to our school for a variety of reasons (to learn English, to enter post-secondary, to become employed or learn new career skills), one of the most commonly shared goals is to improve digital literacy and basic computer skills. Lack of income and/or resources limit student's technology which hinders their ability to obtain employment and training to increase potential income.
CTEP Position Description
The CTEP Member teaches digital literacy skills to adults as they relate to education, obtaining employment and improving civic and social opportunities. The CTEP Member will teach specific technology skills, such as how to use Google Meet, internet, word processing, and email and hold regular tech help sessions with learners to aid them with connecting to their classes digitally. The CTEP Member onboards new learners to their learning device and Adult Options in Education digital learning tools at New Learner Orientation. They are a key member of the digital literacy team and manage device lending and tech help that is vital for adult learners to access online education. The CTEP Member will need working knowledge of hardware, software, and Google Suites. Experience teaching and/or working with adults and diverse populations preferred. With the support of the supervisor, the CTEP Member is also encouraged to take on additional projects of interest and to be creative in developing goals and objectives for the service year.
Site Environment
The CTEP Member has the unique opportunity of working in all three of our campuses, each site with its own colorful learning environment and distinct sense of community. The CTEP Member’s office will be at the Eisenhower Community Center with the Adult Options administrative team. S/he will have an open desk space, phone, laptop computer, and access to all of the site and district support services. The Community Center is an active and welcoming place housing school district and community education programming, and home to various non-profits and resource centers that serve the Minneapolis West Metro community. The CTEP Member will also spend time in the sites computer labs which are equipped with desktops, laptops and Chrome Books.
We value a culture of learning at AOIE and the staff work collaboratively, supporting one another and the learners through monthly professional development workshops and on-going teamwork. The CTEP Member is an integral part of our team and will work closely with program leadership, teachers, and learners. The CTEP Member gains skills and experience in cross cultural communication, flexibility, problem solving, volunteer management, community development and a myriad of instructional skills (differentiating instruction, creating activities that connect with various learning styles, accommodating students with varying degrees of formal education and literacy in their home language, etc.).
As a part of AOIE, the CTEP Member will have access to free Community Education programming offered on site such as: swimming, foreign language classes, yoga, fitness and more.
Join us in making a difference through the transformative power of education!
Preferred Site Schedule for Member
Thirty-five hours per week, Monday through Friday with two evenings per week. 35-hours per week with a flex-schedule: 8:30am-4:00pm. Evening classes 1-2 times per week 5:00-6:00pm.
Members attend professional development days with their fellow CTEP members to enhance service-readiness skills, personal attributes at the service site, and citizenship skills. These Corps Days take place twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Fridays from 9 AM to 4 PM. Members also attend statewide AmeriCorps events, such as the Martin Luther King Day celebration, and/or serve on the statewide InterCorps Council.
How to Apply
Apply online at http://my.americorps.gov/ and click on “Apply to Serve”. Be sure to search for the “Community Technology Empowerment Project” or “CTEP” when asked to indicate what program you would like to send your application to. Contact: ctepmn@spnn.org, 651.298.8919 for more information about CTEP Member requirements.
CTEP AmeriCorps values an equitable work environment and strongly encourages Black, Indigenous and People of Color, speakers of many languages, disabled individuals, LGBTQIA+ identified, and people from other underrepresented communities to apply.
Reasonable accommodations will be made upon request.