Apply by January 14th
February 16 to May 1, 2026. Mon–Fri, 4–6 pm (10 hrs./week)
Term Length: 11 Weeks
Service Term Type: Abbreviated Time
Required Hours of Service: 100 minimum
Daily Schedule: 2-hour days, 5 days per week
Purpose:
STEM Coaches engage K-5 students in fun, hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning, and guide students as they develop their creativity, explore technologies, and engage in scientific inquiry. STEM Coaches commit to a minimum of 10 weeks of service as AmeriCorps members at an existing afterschool program providing academic enrichment, social emotional learning, and wellness opportunities for school-age youth. For their service, STEM Coaches receive both a living stipend and an education award, as well as professional development, skills, and experience to advance their careers.
Member Impact:
The Alaska Afterschool Network works to increase afterschool and summer learning opportunities for school-age children, youth, and families in Alaska. Research shows that afterschool and summer programs increase student attendance, grades, and graduation rates; decrease expulsions; increase self-esteem, causing a reduction in suicide; and build the protective factors to overcome trauma. Afterschool and summer programs have the strongest impact on decreasing the odds of a youth engaging in risky behaviors like alcohol consumption or crime, and directly support the Youth Thrive Protective Factors. The mission of the Alaska Afterschool Network is to support, strengthen, and advocate for quality programs and activities for children, youth, and families throughout Alaska. The Alaska Afterschool Network AmeriCorps program contributes to this mission by:
1. Providing academic STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and SEL (social emotional learning) learning enrichment opportunities to students in out-of-school time hours.
2. Building capacity by increasing the workforce of trained, skilled youth workers resulting in high quality programming.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Complete minimum number of service hours within agreed upon term (See Term of Service chart above).
Develop a Plan of Service with Site Supervisor and AmeriCorps Project Director, in which the STEM Coach will map out their service hours for their coming service term. The Service Plan will function as an extension of the member service agreement. STEM Coaches will email the Service Plan to the AmeriCorps Project Director within 30 days of start of service.
Perform duties in cooperation with afterschool program staff and Site Supervisors to support student learning through educational enrichment activities, including
o Facilitating high-quality educational enrichment activities in OST programs a minimum of four days per week.
o Facilitating at least two 30-minute STEM activities per week.
o Engaging in duties to support program activities such as planning, preparation, and clean-up.
o Ensuring safety & health of youth in programs.
Participate in at least one AmeriCorps Day of Service, for five to eight hours, that coincides with the STEM Coach’s time of service.
Professional Development and Training:
STEM Coaches will attend an Alaska Afterschool Network AmeriCorps Orientation during their first week of service on AmeriCorps guidelines, afterschool resources, and Alaska Afterschool Network AmeriCorps activities and reporting requirements.
STEM Coaches will participate in ongoing professional development activities and in-service training hours to strengthen their skills and ensure student success. These will include, but are not limited to:
Program Orientation at the Alaska Afterschool Network office or via zoom
Online Zoom trainings with Alaska Afterschool Network staff
Afterschool program quality improvement observations and coaching from Alaska Afterschool Network staff.
On-Site training in afterschool facilitation strategies from the Host Site supervisors and Host Site Staff.
Alaska Out-of-School Time Conference workshops.
AmeriCorps Member Gathering Hosted by Serve Alaska.
Online trainings on the Alaska Afterschool Network eLearning Platform, Cypher Worx.
Online AmeriCorps specific trainings via On3Learn
Required virtual and in-person trainings by the Alaska Afterschool Network and Host Site.
AmeriCorps members may spend up to 20% of their total service hours on training and professional development activities related to their service goals.
Online training may be completed away from the member’s service site, provided the AmeriCorps member has a training certificate submitted to the AmeriCorps Project Director to verify the hours.
Member Benefits:
Taxable bi-weekly stipend of $240 ($1,200/10 week term).
Education Award of $416.17/term
Opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to students’ academic enrichment and wellbeing.
Professional development and training in afterschool education and group facilitation strategies
Opportunity to gain National Afterschool Association STEM Facilitation Micro-Credentials.
Qualifications:
Pass a National Sex Offender Check, State of Alaska and current state of residence Criminal Background Check, and an FBI fingerprint Criminal Background Check.
Must be 17 years of age or older (If 17, parental consent required).
Ability to serve during afterschool program hours (4:00 – 6:00 PM).
Commitment to community service.
Willingness to work as a part of a team.
Ability to learn and apply new skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication.
Prefer experience working with school-age youth.
Commitment to providing equitable services to populations or varying backgrounds.
Self-motivated and able to perform duties without direct supervision.
Ability to lift up to 25 pounds and prepare program space.
Physical, Emotional, and Intellectual Demands:
Ability to maintain a safe and constructive afterschool program environment.
Ability to organize and supervise school-age youth in a safe manner.
Ability to motivate, encourage, and challenge youth in STEM learning.
Ability to manage behavior problems.
Willingness to learn the fundamentals of social emotional learning and positive youth development.
Ability to handle multiple tasks successfully.
Ability to maintain good relationships with afterschool provider peers, community partners, and beneficiaries.
Service Conditions:
STEM Coaches will facilitate afterschool program activities for K-5 students at an existing afterschool program from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
STEM Coaches will also spend Direct Service hours preparing afterschool programming materials, activities, and curricula, before implementing at their program.
Principle Working Relationships:
STEM Coaches will be assigned to an afterschool program called a “Host Site” where they will spend all or most of their service hours. STEM Coaches will have an assigned Host Site Supervisor, who will be the lead Host Site staff member in charge of the STEM Coach’s supervision, orientation, and training, and will help the STEM Coach develop their plan of service.
STEM Coaches will also work alongside and coordinate with other afterschool program staff in offering programming to K-5 students.
Communications and Meetings:
Maintain open communication with Host Site Supervisors, the AmeriCorps Project Director, and community partners.
Attend weekly one-on-one meetings with the AmeriCorps Project Director.
Attend weekly Alaska Afterschool Network AmeriCorps teleconferences.
Meet once per week with the Site Supervisor and more often as necessary.
Attend other regularly scheduled meetings with Host Site team as required.
Reporting Requirements:
Bi-weekly timesheets in the OnCorps Reports system, with Site Supervisor approval, before Monday after the last day of the pay period.
Performance Measure Tracking sheet updated each day the STEM Coach performs service hours. This will include descriptions of activities offered and participation.
Use student participant sign-in sheets for each program activity, and report non-duplicated number of students served to the Alaska Afterschool Network.
Alaska Afterschool Network training evaluations.
Surveys as required by the Alaska Afterschool Network, and the Host Site.
Distribute student surveys to activity participants, and forward results to the Alaska Afterschool Network.
Provide the Alaska Afterschool Network with at least one media piece, such as a blog post or video, that describes your experience as an Alaska Afterschool Network AmeriCorps member.
Complete end of service evaluations and exit forms.
General Guidelines:
Follow all AmeriCorps policy guidelines, including not engaging in prohibited activities.
Follow the Alaska Afterschool Network AmeriCorps Member Manual.
Follow all policies and procedures of Host Site.
Model the AmeriCorps ethic of community and responsibility by showing a commitment to improving the lives of others and an interest in learning new skills.
Visibly wear AmeriCorps logo and/or uniform during all service hours. Uniform and AmeriCorps badges will be provided to the STEM Coach at the beginning of the service term.