Adjunct Teacher at Exalt in New York, NY

About exalt

exalt is seeking a dynamic, passionate educator to join our team. exalt’s mission is to transform the lives of court-involved youth by equipping them with the skills and experience they need to be self-sufficient members of society. We fulfill this mission by providing a cohesive, cohort-based educational internship program with four components: 1) a proprietary curriculum based classroom component 2) paid internships in youths’ fields of interest; 3) post-internship education and career development services; and 4) an alumni network that provides ongoing access to resources. exalt partners with criminal justice agencies and schools to serve 400 court-involved youth, ages 15-19, annually. 

Job Summary

The Adjunct Teacher is an exciting part-time opportunity within exalt. The Adjunct Teacher facilitates a pre-internship preparation course using a curriculum that connects employability skills, educational engagement, and justice system avoidance to four core competencies: critical thinking, communication, creative problem-solving, and resource management.

Central to exalt’s curriculum is a Freire-inspired critical pedagogical approach that validates and builds upon participants’ lived experiences, cultures, skills, and interests while reinforcing discipline and accountability. This approach inspires youth to internalize the four core skills and apply them to decision-making across school environments, interactions with peers or law enforcement, and professional settings that present opportunity.

The Adjunct Teacher will teach and lead 1–2 class cycles per year, as requested by exalt. Each cycle includes the following phases:

• Orientation – Sets expectations and introduces exalt’s youth development and pedagogical approach
• 6-Week Pre-Internship Training Phase – Classes meet 2 hours per day, Monday–Thursday
• 8-Week Internship Phase – Classes meet 2 hours on Fridays
• 1-Week Post-Internship Phase – Classes meet 2 hours per day, Monday–Thursday
• Graduation Event

Classes consist of 17–25 youth, ages 15–19. Adjunct Teachers lead classes in person from 4:30–6:30 pm. Teachers must arrive at exalt headquarters no later than 3:00 pm and remain after class from 6:30–7:00 pm for debriefs and one-on-one student follow-up as needed.

Responsibilities

• Teach and manage assigned class cycles
• Humanize, motivate, validate, and inspire court-involved youth who may be resistant to traditional educational settings
• Assess individual learning styles, challenges, and strengths and adapt instruction to maximize engagement and comprehension
• Connect all instruction to exalt’s long-term student goals: school persistence, employability, and sustained justice system avoidance
• Conduct regular outreach to participants via phone, email, and in person to monitor progress and needs
• Develop strategies to support students at risk of program incompletion
• Enter student attendance data at least once per week in Salesforce
• Administer all four core-skill pre- and post-assessments and ensure accurate Salesforce entry
• Complete weekly progress notes documenting student development and setbacks in Salesforce
• Communicate at least once per week with Program Coordinators and exalt staff regarding student needs, strengths, and opportunities
• Support students with educational goals including enrollment, transfers, academic progression, and individualized plans
• Support employability goals including completion of the Pre-Internship Training Phase and internship success
• Prepare court letters and provide updates for court appearances as needed
• Attend weekly teacher meetings and biweekly program team meetings (in person)
• Support justice system avoidance goals, including court preparation, probation compliance, and arrest prevention
• Communicate accurate attendance and engagement information to courts via the Director of Court Partnerships and Strategy and/or Court Liaisons

Competencies

• Classroom Management: Ability to manage classrooms of high school–aged youth resistant to traditional education while balancing structure, accountability, and engagement
• Adaptability: Ability to respond positively to change and tailor curriculum to cohort-specific needs and dynamics
• Applied Learning: Ability to quickly learn and apply knowledge related to juvenile and adult justice systems
• Cultural Competence: Strong understanding of students’ cultural, historical, and socio-economic contexts; ability to deliver culturally relevant instruction
• Communication: Strong written, oral, and listening skills across multiple communication formats
• Creativity: Ability to use arts and technology to foster engagement and creative expression
• Planning and Organizing: Ability to prioritize tasks, manage resources, and sequence activities effectively
• Stress Tolerance: Ability to make difficult decisions while supporting youth facing high-stakes legal and personal challenges

Performance Measures

• Student engagement and participation as measured by attendance, Likert scales, and progress notes
• Student growth in comprehension and application of the four core skills
• Enrollment of 15–20 students per cohort
• Retention of at least 75% of students through the pre-internship phase and 70% full program completion
• Timely and accurate entry of education, employment, and justice-related data in Salesforce
• ≥98% completion rate for weekly and biweekly progress notes
• Court attendance when possible for participants with open cases
• Submission of court letters at least three days prior to be reviewed and approved

Qualifications

• Availability during all in-person program phases, plus select mornings and weekends for court and internship support
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; Master’s or advanced degree preferred
• Minimum of three years of teaching experience with system-involved youth in high school, nonprofit, or alternative education settings
• Bilingual Spanish-speaking candidates strongly encouraged to apply

Time Commitment and Compensation

Adjunct Teachers facilitate 1–2 program cycles per year and receive $30 per hour. The average workload is approximately 20 hours per week over 18 weeks per cycle.

Adjunct Teachers must check in weekly with the Director of Education and Curriculum Development and attend biweekly program team meetings. Weekly in-person teacher meetings are held Wednesdays from 2:00–3:00 pm.

exalt is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status, or any other protected class under Federal, State and Local law.