MTRS Community bulletin board

The Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System provides links to the web sites of these agencies and organizations as a public service. The MTRS does not exercise control over the content of these web sites. The presence of a link here should not be considered as an endorsement of the site’s contents by the MTRS.

As a retired educator, you are highly sought after for volunteer and employment opportunities! Many local organizations contact us seeking retired educators to volunteer their talents and expertise, and, as appropriate, we post them here as a service to our members.

Employment opportunities for retirees

Please note: If you are currently receiving a retirement benefit from the MTRS, and are interested in any of these employment opportunities, please be sure to learn about the restrictions on working after retirement.

Carver Public Schools:
Speech and language pathologist needed for 2008-2009 school year

Pre-K to Grade 2, MA Teacher Certification required
Salary: Per teachers’ contract

Send cover letter, résumé and credentials to: Elizabeth A. Sorrell, Superintendent, Carver Public Schools, 3 Carver Square Boulevard, Carver, MA 02330.

Equal opportunity employer/affirmative action; minority candidates encouraged to apply

Bright Horizons Early Education and Care Centers Seek Infant, Toddler & Preschool Teachers and Assistants: Wellesley and Wayland

Bright Horizons is Looking for People with Heart! Join the Bright Horizons team of early childhood teachers and make a difference in the lives of children and families! Bright Horizons is interested in meeting with retired teachers who are seeking to work a full-time or part-time schedule. We are seeking people who bring experience, passion and commitment to working with young children.

Please apply directly online at www.brighthorizons.com/careers. If you require more information call: Lynne Goyuk at 781-681-9300.

The Steppingstone Foundation of Boston seeks teachers for six-week summer session 2008

The Steppingstone Foundation is a nonprofit organization that develops and implements programs that prepare urban schoolchildren for educational opportunities that lead to college. Steppingstone’s rigorous academic programs demonstrate the clear and meaningful connection between education and opportunity for urban schoolchildren. The Steppingstone Academy teaches highly motivated 5th- through 9th-grade students from public, charter and parochial schools in Boston and prepares them to attend independent and public exam schools where they have been traditionally under-represented. Once accepted to The Steppingstone Academy, Scholars participate in an intensive 14-month academic component. Through the Support Services Department, our organization subsequently supports Scholars in their academic and social development throughout middle and high school with the goal of attending college.

Responsibilities:

• Participate in faculty orientation (tentatively scheduled during the week of June 23).
• Commit to entire summer session, scheduled for July 7 through August 16, 2008.
• Teach 3-4 sections of approximately 12-15 students, each meeting 4-5 times per week.
• Plan lessons based on general curricular guidelines and facilitate classes.
• Attend weekly faculty meeting and complete written evaluations of students.
• Share certain roles necessary for administering the summer session: monitoring lunch, recess, and dismissal; maintaining facilities; and supervising homeroom and attendance.
• Teachers may have other responsibilities, such as teaching an elective or sport/physical education.

Qualifications: Candidates must have teaching experience, a strong background in his/her subject area, and an interest in working with diverse populations. Independent or public exam school teaching experience is preferred, and graduate students will be strongly considered. Undergraduate degree is required. Certification is not required.

Salary: Salary for the six-week summer session will be $4,250. This position does not include housing.

To apply: Interested candidates are asked to submit a cover letter, résumé and a list of three professional references, as soon as possible, to: The Steppingstone Foundation, Attn: Megan Johnson, 155 Federal Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA  02110. For more information, please contact Ms. Johnson at: jobs@tsf.org; phone 617-423-6300; or fax 617-423-6300.

Wanted: Tutors for after-school programs, especially in Fall River, Lowell, Malden, New Bedford and Webster

The Boston Learning Center is looking for trained and experienced tutors to work with elementary and middle school students in a federally funded after-school program in Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Malden and Webster. We pay you $30/hour for one-on-one tutoring, and more for small groups (2–5). Tutoring will commence beginning in February and continue for up to 30 hours per student. We are particularly looking to hire tutors in the Fall River, Lowell, Malden, New Bedford and Webster school districts. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please e-mail your résumé to pterry@bostonlearningcenter.org and we will call you to arrange an interview.

Math Editor

Chrysalis Publishing is looking for individuals with a passion for education and excellence who are interested in textbook publishing.

As a math editor, you will be part of a team working on elementary and middle school math materials, both teacher and student editions. With minimal supervision, the editor reviews the work of writers; may write or rewrite portions of manuscript; edits and prepares manuscript; ensures that high standards of quality and accuracy are maintained throughout the manuscript; reviews all stages of proof, including art; participates in project meetings. The company presents a friendly and informal work environment and emphasizes a team-based approach to problem solving.

Candidates must have at least a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics (or appropriate degree with a minor in math), and a minimum of 3 years of education experience at the elementary/middle grade levels. Prior experience in editing math textbooks is preferred; teaching experience is a plus. Experience in pupil assessment and problem solving are highly desirable. Familiarity with editing guidelines and the general procedures of publishing is important. Attention to detail and quality, strong organizational skills, and a proven ability to make correct editorial decisions under tight deadlines are required.

Salary is competitive and negotiable. This is a full-time temporary staff opportunity with the possibility of moving on to a permanent staff position.

Part-time teachers/tutors needed!

The Huntington Learning Center in Waltham is now hiring part-time teachers. Huntington offers you flexible, part-time hours, a vast collection of curricula at your fingertips, no lesson planning, no homework, no parent conferences—just the satisfaction of seeing your students make real progress.

Job Responsibilities: Instruct your students following an individualized prescribed program designed to address each student’s unique needs as identified by comprehensive test results. Encourage and motivate students. Record, evaluate and comment on each student’s work in their Instructional Binder. Recommend changes in a student’s program when needed. Instructors needed to provide tutoring in reading, phonics, math, writing, study skills and SAT/ACT prep for all levels. Participate in regular teacher meetings. Student-to-teacher ratio ranges from 1-to1 to 4-to-1. Hours are flexible within Monday through Thursday afternoons/evenings and Saturday mornings.

Requirements: Strong teaching skills and a positive, nurturing approach. Must have teacher certification (any state and some exceptions for test-prep-only tutors). New teachers, experienced teachers’ and retired teachers are welcome. Teachers with SAT/ACT test prep experience are encouraged to apply. Paid training in Huntington procedures is provided. Please send resume to karenhlc@conversent.net or mail to Karen Krajcer, Assistant Director, Huntington Learning Center, 411 Waverley Oaks Rd., Suite 129, Waltham, MA 02452. 781-899-3838, ext. 23.

Help teach language, literacy and social skills to preschoolers in South Boston, Roxbury and Dorchester

Jumpstart Community Corps is looking for retired educators to work one-to-one with preschool children in South Boston, Roxbury or Dorchester. Our mission is to work toward the day that every child enters school prepared to succeed, and we are asking you to give the greatest gift of all—your time! Volunteers serve two afternoons per week for three hours at a time during the school year, working one-on-one with preschool children in Head Start preschools and local community preschools on language, literacy and social skills. Comprehensive training and monthly stipend are provided. For more information, please call Liana Mitman at 617-542-5867, ext. 531.

Share your experience to make a difference in your community

• Respond to an urgent need for mentors and tutors who work with inmates enrolled in Boston University through the Partakers “College Behind Bars” program at MCI Framingham.
• Help elementary children with reading or math skills, mentor a young child who has a parent in prison or teach children how to protect themselves from assault.
• Work with new immigrants improving their language skills by tutoring in an ESL program or help a student prepare for their GED (high school equivalency exam).
• Mentor a woman as she finds a path to stability and self-sufficiency or provide companionship to an isolated elder.
• Join the SOAR Consulting Group and use your professional skills to help small non-profit agencies.

This is an opportunity to share your experience, connect with others, and learn new skills. Orientation, training and support are provided. Hours are flexible.  Please call Jan Latorre-Stiller at 617-969-5906 x120 or email at jlatorre-stiller@ncscweb.org. Please visit our website at www.soar-ma.org for a complete listing of volunteer opportunities.

Newton Community Service Center celebrates a century of service to the families and children in the area!

• Work with children providing childcare, supervision or menu planning in our Early Education and Child Care Programs which are open year round.
• Become a Prevention Specialist in our Child Assault Prevention Program which presents programs in the Newton elementary schools during the academic year.
• Train as a Home Visitor for the Parent-Child Home Program, an early literacy program which runs during the academic year.
• Help plan the curriculum and activities, or be a Camp Assistant for the Camp & Recreation Program which operates during school and summer vacations.
• Utilize your organizational skills on special projects for other programs and offices at NCSC including the Parents Program, Development Office and SOAR, Service Opportunities After 55.  

Other opportunities are often available. We are conveniently located just off West Newton Center, near the cinema. Training and support are provided and the hours are flexible. Please contact Catherine Riley at 617.969.5906 x210 or via e-mail at criley@ncscweb.org.

Three notices from the Massachusetts Department of Correction:

1) Volunteer in a prison to help someone stay out of prison
The Massachusetts Department of Correction seeks you—retired educators—to participate in providing programs and services that will help offenders become more productive, educated, self-sufficient and law abiding citizens. Committed to enhancing, promoting and creating a supportive environment for the utilization of volunteers within prison facilities, the Department of Corrections offers more than 100 volunteer programs in the areas of life skills, family life programs, GED tutoring, anger management, emotional awareness, public speaking, general education, religion, substance abuse, support groups and more. For information on volunteering, please contact Bill Milhomme, Director of Volunteer Services at 508-620-6437, ext. 104, or, via e-mail, at wtmilhomme@doc.state.ma.us.

2) Share your love of—and appreciation for—teaching, with incarcerated mothers, so that they may pass it on to their children
The majority of female offenders at MCI-Framingham are mothers of school-aged children, kindergarten through high school. MCI-Framingham is interested to commence a program that will bring into the facility teachers of all grade levels to speak to the incarcerated mothers about the importance of sustaining and motivating themselves and their children to be successful in school. Topics include: the importance of nutrition (breakfast/snacks), homework, hygiene, reading comprehension, parent teacher conferences and communication, and more.

If you are interested to explore the opportunity to volunteer your love and gift of teaching and share it with incarcerated mothers please contact Bill Milhomme, Director of Volunteer Services (M.A.T. Bridgewater State College ’82) at 508-620-6437, ext. 104, or, via e-mail, at wtmilhomme@doc.state.ma.us.

3) Volunteer as a classroom monitor this fall
The Department of Correction Division of Inmate Training and Education is seeking 8 volunteer classroom monitors for 1 day a week, for approximately 2.5 hours per day, for the 2008 fall semester. The volunteers will assist in the delivery of a Correctional Education Association, Transforming Lives Network satellite broadcast course. Class participants will be composed of post secondary offender students.

The duties of the volunteer monitor position include: take attendance, record program broadcast and make a copy, proctor of exams, faxing or e-mailing lessons.

Volunteer opportunities are available at the following Correctional Centers:

• North Central Correctional Institution (Gardner MA)
• Souza Baranowski Correctional Center (Gardner MA)
• MCI Norfolk (Norfolk MA)
• Bay State Correctional Center (Norfolk MA)

The projected start date is end of August; days to be determined.

If you are interested or if you know of someone who may be interested in this volunteer opportunity, please contact Bill Milhomme, Director of Volunteer Services, Massachusetts Department of Correction, 508-620-6437 x104, wtmilhomme@doc.state.ma.us .

Junior Achievement volunteers needed immediately in Pittsfield, Springfield, Chicopee, North Adams and Palmer

Junior Achievement is a non-profit organization founded in Springfield, MA in 1919 and dedicated to “teaching kids how business works.” Our purpose is to educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise, business and economics in order to improve the quality of their lives. The time commitment is small. Volunteers in grades K-5  present 5 activities, typically lasting 30-45 minutes, depending on the grade level. In the middle grades and high school, volunteers are asked to present between 6 and 8 activities, averaging 45 minutes each. The scheduling of the activities is up to the teacher and JA volunteer. All of our JA classes are requested by teachers; JA provides all of the materials and training. JA volunteers serve as role models to the students, sharing life experiences with them while presenting financial literacy concepts and stressing the need to stay in school and get the most out of their education.

JA volunteers are needed immediately in Pittsfield, Springfield, Chicopee, North Adams and Palmer. We have a variety of JA programs in 98 schools throughout Western Massachusetts. For more information call 413-747-7670 or e-mail mailto:jawesternma@jawm.org. To learn more about Junior Achievement, please visit our website at http://www.jawm.org.

Volunteer to help children with disabilities through Youth Enhancement Services (YES)

YES is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children with emotional, developmental or behavioral challenges (like ADHD, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress and other disorders). We do this through consultation, training, support and specialized programs. Our goal is to help each child reach his or her full potential in school, make full use of all available community resources, and remain safe within a functioning and supportive family.

For more information and to find out about volunteer opportunities, please visit us online at http://www.yes4kids.com , or call us at 978-863-0099.

National Landmark Museum seeks volunteers

Congratulations on your retirement! If volunteering has crossed your mind, we hope you’ll consider the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum located in New Bedford. The Museum is a Greek Revival mansion built for whaling merchant William Rotch, Jr., in 1834. Designed by Richard Upjohn, this National Landmark is located on a full city block of gardens. Volunteer opportunities include reception, docent led tours and student educational programs and event staffing. To learn more, contact Kari Pina by e-mail at KPina@rjdmuseum.org, or by phone at 508-997-1401. Visit us on our website at www.rjdmuseum.org!

Wanted: Literacy tutors

We need volunteers to work one-to-one with adult immigrants learning
basic English communication, literacy, and intercultural skills.
Student/tutor pairs meet for about one hour, twice a week, at whatever
time and location is convenient for both. Jones Library provides
materials, meeting space, training, and ongoing support to volunteer
tutors.

Retired educators are highly prized by our immigrant students, and we
get frequent requests for such volunteers.

To learn more about the program, please visit our web site:
http://www.joneslibrary.org/esl/volunteer/volunteers.html

Not in the Amherst area? Find other opportunities across the Commonwealth on the web site for Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts:
http://www.lvm.org/volunteers.aspx

Would you like to remain active in the academic world and still have plenty of time for outside activities?

Generations Incorporated is looking for Experience Corps Volunteers to work one-on-one with elementary and middle school age children in mentoring, literacy and community service learning projects. Do you have the desire to help children feel like a success in this world? At Generations Incorporated, our mission is “INCORPORATING THE GENERATIONS TO STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES.” We believe that there is a wealth of knowledge out there, just waiting to be tapped. YOUR KNOWLEDGE COULD CHANGE A CHILD’S LIFE!

Study announcement

Centagenetix, in collaboration with Boston Medical Center, is conducting a genetic research study on aging, the Genetics of Human Longevity Study. The focus of the company is to provide a better understanding of the aging process and the diseases associated with aging. We are looking for genes that enable some people to delay or escape diseases that commonly afflict older people. By identifying these genes, we hope to increase our knowledge of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, certain forms of cancer and heart disease.

• Women aged 94 and older
• Men aged 90 or older

Be an eye opener!

The Museum of Science is looking for volunteers for its intergenerational program, the “Eye Opener.” Come share and explore the museum with 2nd graders as well as mentor high school volunteers! For more information, please contact Museum of Science Volunteer Services by phone at 617-589-0380, by e-mail at volunteer1@mos.org or by visiting www.mos.org.

Special needs students need YOUR help!

The Educational Surrogate Parents Program is looking for volunteers to make special education decisions for students in the custody of the Department of Social Service, whose parents are unavailable. As an Educational Surrogate Parent, you will have all the rights of a parent in educational decision-making, with no financial responsibility. 10-20 hour yearly commitment per student. Training and support provided. Call the Educational Surrogate Parent Program at 508-792-7679 or visit online at www.espprogram.org.

Volunteers wanted to tutor and provide homework assistance to middle and high school students

For information, please contact Katherine Combs, Program Coordinator, Grace Renaissance After-School Program (GRASP), at 617-825-6757, or 451 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA.

DIVE into this volunteer opportunity!

Learn about marine biology and help the New England Aquarium with its mission: Present, promote and protect the world of water. The New England Aquarium needs your help in sharing interesting stories that visitors don’t usually hear, and information about its exhibits. If you’re interested in learning and sharing, please visit the Aquarium’s web site and view its Aquarium Guide volunteer description at www.neaq.org (you can apply right online) or call the volunteer office at 617-973-5235.

Mentors wanted!

The Plymouth County Correctional Facility is looking for men interested in assisting inmates making the transition back to the community. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department, in partnership with the Community Resources for Justice, Inc., is offering men the opportunity to act as a positive role model, a guide, a friend to inmates making the transition back to our community. If you are interested, please contact the Mentor Project Coordinator at 508-830-6200, ext. 437.

Discover the satisfaction of tutoring in Adult Basic Education!

Many adults in Massachusetts are taking classes in basic reading, writing and math or English as a Second language in order to improve their lives. Some students benefit greatly from additional one-on-one tutoring. An hour or two of your time each week can help them break the generational cycle of illiteracy, get better jobs and become more active participants in their community. Retired teachers find this is a particularly satisfying form of volunteering, using skills gained from years of classroom experience to help students achieve their educational goals.

READ INTO THIS!

We need your help and expertise in our Literacy Program. Could you volunteer a few hours each week tutoring an elementary school student? If your answer is “YES!” please contact Community Teamwork for more information: Nancy Berry, Literacy Coordinator, Community Teamwork, Lowell, MA; 978-459-0551, ext. 244.

DRIVERS NEEDED!

We are desperately seeking volunteer drivers in communities of Beverly, Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester, Rockport, Topsfield and Wenham, to provide free transportation for seniors to local and out of town medical appointments. If you wish to help seniors get the medical care they need and own a car, please call SeniorCare at 978-281-1750, or 927-1046, or 468-1193 ext. 334.