Planning Stamford’s Future
Job Posting: Educational Advocate Location: Chester Addison Community Center, Stamford, CT
Position Rationale:
Domus is a nonprofit social services organization that operates educational, residential, and community programs, including a number of after-school programs in Stamford. Domus’ Vision is– no child shall be denied hope, love or a fair chance in life. Our ability to build relationships helps kids and families who may be struggling in school or in life focus on their strengths and make good choices. The result? Happier, healthier people who can fully contribute their talents to the communities in which they live and work. For more information, please visit us online at www.domuskids.org.
About the program:
Chester Addison (CACC) is a community center serving students in grades K through 8. CACC serves a high number of ELL families, a high free and reduced lunch population and students with special education needs. The CACC After-school Program operates 5 days a week Monday through Friday from dismissal until 6:00 pm. The program is also open on nights, weekends, vacations and the summer.
About the position:
The Educational Advocate is a FT 40 hour a week position. The Educational Advocates work with young people and their families and helps them develop and reach academic, social and emotional goals through a variety of interventions. They will maintain a direct line of communication with each student’s teachers and work towards any academic needs the students might have. They will also link the school, community center and family by continual contact with each member’s family. The Educational Advocate will also provide daily oversight of the program including but not limited to— creating a safe, structured environment for all students, scheduling, communication with schools and parents, supervising PT staff, interviewing and coordinating vendors, assuring data management systems are accurate and up to date, administering internal assessments, complying with any and all State Regulations. The ideal candidate must have excellent organizational skills, written and oral communication skills, and exceptional relationship building skills with families, students and school personnel. Must be eligible to attain Head Teacher Certification as defined by the State DPH. Must be able to work in a fast paced environment within a school and community setting, manage and prioritize multiple responsibilities and display comfort working with teachers and School Leaders.
Educational Background, Work Experience and Core Competencies Required:
·BA in social service field required, experience in social service/after-school setting preferred
– Spanish speaking strongly preferred
– Must have valid drivers license
· Must possess excellent organizational and communication skills
· Must be computer literate in relevant educational/social service/after-school software programs
· Must be able to instruct, direct, discipline, and motivate staff, students and families
– Absolute commitment to the mission and core principle of Domus, including the Sanctuary model of trauma-informed care
Applicant is a full-time employee of Domus and works all school vacations and holidays. Some night and weekend hours required
*Interested Applicants should apply no later than Tuesday October 4th*
Compensation: As a full-time position this is eligible for benefits. Staff members are provided with a competitive salary, a comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, vision, 403(b) plan, life insurance, disability, etc.), and a working environment that includes all the necessary technology and resources to succeed. Most of all join a team of like-minded educators who work to achieve the same mission ensuring that the community’s most struggling students get the world-class education and social support they need to thrive at the next level.
To Apply: Send a letter of interest and resume to Michael Hyman, Director of Chester Addison Community Center. Deadline for submission is October 4th.
Domus is committed to equal employment opportunity, and we encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply for open positions. Domus does not discriminate against applicants based on race, age, color, religion, creed, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental handicap, or disability or veteran status.
Need an extra pair of hands this fall? Check out our Worker Center!
Free Health and Wellness Fair on 11/23 at Domus
Thank you Postcard
Posted September 18, 2013
Paraeducator – Speech – Part-Time – 2 Days/Week to support students as they receive speech services via teletherapy. The individual will be responsible for coordinating services, setting up computers, monitoring students, and providing reports regarding progress.
Domus is a nonprofit social services organization that operates educational, residential, and community programs, including a group of public charter/turnaround schools in Stamfordand New Haven, CT, designed to work with each city’s most academically and socially struggling students. Our educational mission is to successfully transition our students to the next stage of their education. Domus runs two middle schools and one high school.
For more information, please visit us online at www.domuskids.org.
About The Program:
TrailblazersAcademy is a public charter middle school serving students in grades 6 through 8. The school actively seeks to serve the most academically and behaviorally struggling students in our community and prepare them to transition successfully to high school.
About The Position:
The Paraeducator – Speech – Part Time will support students as they receive their speech services via teletherapy.
Description About The Position:
The Paraeducator – Speech – Part Time will assist in determining a schedule for services, coordinate programming with the service provider and school, pick students up from classrooms to get serviced, set up the computers with the proper technology, monitor students in the room, send reports of progress, as well as other activities as determined by the administrator.
Paraeducator – Speech – Part Time:
Domus is committed to equal employment opportunity, and we encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply for open positions. Domus does not discriminate against applicants based on race, age, color, religion, creed, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental handicap, or disability or veteran status.
Responsibilities:
- Work with individual students or small groups of students to reinforce learning of materials or skills
- Coordinate services with outside providers and school with support of special education teachers
- Prepare computers with proper technology for services to be rendered effectively
- Monitor student attendance, behavior, and participation before, during, and after services
- Coordinate reports of progress and share with various school teams
- Assist students who are struggling with classroom activities as time allows
- Perform other related duties, as assigned
Required Core Competencies include:
· Excellent organizational, time management, and follow-up skills
· Basic understanding of computers including logging on, using a web browser, hooking up a web cam, and basic troubleshooting
· Must be able and willing to work with a behaviorally difficult youth population in a positive and calm manner
· Absolute commitment to the mission and core principle of Domus, including the Sanctuary model of trauma-informed care
· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to speak and write clearly and persuasively
· Exceptional problem-solving, critical-thinking, and strategic planning skills
· Ability to successfully handle multiple projects concurrently
· Demonstrated ability to be self-directed and take initiative
· Ability to learn quickly and to be effective in a fast-paced, dynamic, entrepreneurial environment
Educational Background and Work Experience:
· Associates degree or higher, preferred.
· Experience with working with children in a school environment, preferred
· Must be committed to finding ways to keep students in the school building to serve consequences
· Must be computer literate in relevant educational software programs
· Must be able successfully monitor student behavior and help them stay focused and on task
Compensation:
Staff members are provided with a competitive salary, a comprehensive benefits package (health, dental, vision, 403(b) plan, life insurance, disability, etc.), and a working environment that includes all the necessary technology and resources to succeed. This is a 10-month position and follows the school calendar. This position is for two days a week.
Join a team of like-minded educators who work to achieve the mission ensuring that the community’s most struggling students get the world-class education and social support they need to thrive at the next level.
To Apply:
Send a letter of interest and resume to Chris Emmerson-Pace, Co-Director of Trailblazers Academy at cemmerson-pace@trailblazersacademy.org
Casa Villa brings taste of Puebla to Stamford
STAMFORD — A few years ago, customers waiting in line at Casa Villa’s tiny take-out business on West Main Street started asking for a place to sit.
It was then that owner Alvino Villa decided to give them one. In early 2011, he opened a larger restaurant, with a more pleasing atmosphere, on East Main Street.
“The owner wanted to have a place for customers to come and sit down,” assistant manager Gabriela Betancourt said. “People kept asking.”
Now, the East Main Street location is a bustling restaurant, where people can come and get authentic Mexican food from the “House of Villa.” The move across town has only grown their loyal following, apparently.
On a recent afternoon, the 60-seat restaurant was packed, and the outside seating area was full, too.
The new location is several times larger than the original, which opened 10 years ago with just a few tables and a counter. It still does a brisk self-service dining, delivery and take-away business.
Villa was born and raised in Puebla, Mexico, Betancourt said, which greatly influences the dishes served in his restaurants. Many of them are recipes that have been passed in his family.
“Most of the menu is based on central Mexican cuisine,” she manager said.
Betancourt said tacos are the most popular item on the menu and everyone comes back for another serving of them.
The other biggest sellers are enchiladas and quesadillas. Additional popular items include chiles rellenos (two roasted peppers stuffed with chicken and Oaxaca cheese in tomato sauce), fajitas and vegetarian quesadillas and burritos.
Customers also go loco for desserts like flan and tres leches cake, she said.
They make all of their own sauces, including the popular mole sauce, as well as making their own tortilla chips and salsa.
The owner recently opened a third restaurant in Bridgeport, called Hacienda Villa. Betancourt says he’s a hard worker and puts his personal touch on each restaurant.
“Every time he opens a restaurant — like this third place — he’s there day and night and teaches the cooks his recipes,” she said.
The flavor of the food is augmented by the ambiance.
The interior has orange walls filled with paintings of the homeland, shelves of Mexican dishes and pottery, brick archways and an open kitchen.
Then there’s the Spanish music in the background and plenty of specialty mixed drinks, including an extensive menu of margaritas. Pointing to the drink menu, Betancourt said they offer lemon, peach, strawberry, mango, tamarind, maracuya and cranberry flavors.
The tamarind drinks are made from scratch by boiling the exotic fruit and extracting the flavor, she said.
Most of the employees are from Mexico, including Betancourt herself. She said she’s from the northern part of the country, where the food and salsa recipes are different from the central region.
In general, she said Latin American food is becoming more popular in this country, as evidenced by the growing number of restaurants. She said people are busy and they need fast, healthy food.
“It’s fast, healthy, tasty, easy,” Betancourt said. “You just come here and it’s three tacos on your table in a minute.”
Betancourt sometimes serves the customers, but mostly works in the back office, keeping the books, along with doing the grocery shopping and delivering ingredients to the three locations.
She said many of the products are straight from Mexico, including the tortillas and some Coke beverages, still served in old-fashioned glass bottles.
Recently, her family gave their stamp of approval to the place.
“My family visited me from Mexico and said, `That’s why you don’t miss Mexico,'” she said.
Casa Villa’s East Side location with full restaurant and bar is open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends, and is located at 866 E. Main St. The West Side take-away location is open Sunday through Wednesday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to midnight. It is at 182 W. Main St.
