Servant Leader Apprentice (SLA), Seasonal

Freedom Schools Literacy Academy (FSLA)

Location: Philadelphia, PA (In-person)

Employment Type: Seasonal, Non-Exempt

Compensation: $20.00 per hour

Reports To: Servant Leader Apprentice (SLA) Coach

About the Center for Black Educator Development (CBED)

The Center for Black Educator Development exists to rebuild the national Black Teacher Pipeline in service of a clear vision: a world where all Black students have access to high-quality Black educators throughout their PreK–12 education, and where educator preparation, pedagogy, and policies that advance equity and effectiveness are fully institutionalized. We are unapologetically committed to educational justice and racial equity by increasing the presence, effectiveness, and retention of Black educators. Our work centers Black students, families, and educators by designing liberatory pathways into teaching, investing in sustainable program models, and advocating for systems-level change that endures beyond individual programs or classrooms.

Position Summary

The Servant Leader Apprentice (SLA) is a seasonal, in-person instructional leadership role within CBED’s Freedom Schools Literacy Academy (FSLA), a five-week summer apprenticeship program designed to prepare high school and college-aged aspiring educators. SLAs lead classrooms of approximately ten elementary school scholars, providing culturally responsive literacy instruction, academic enrichment, and social–emotional support.

Reporting to the SLA Coach, Servant Leader Apprentices serve as the primary instructional leaders in their classrooms, working alongside Junior Servant Leaders (high school apprentices). Through professional development, coaching, and structured feedback cycles, SLAs develop Black pedagogical understanding, instructional skill, and leadership capacity, with the goal of preparing participants to pursue careers in education.

Core Accountabilities

• Classroom Instruction & Scholar Outcomes – Deliver high-quality, curriculum-aligned literacy instruction that supports scholars’ academic growth, intellectual curiosity, and social–emotional development.
• Instructional Planning & Data-Informed Practice – Internalize lesson plans, analyze student work and learning outcomes, and adjust instruction to meet scholars’ needs.
• Leadership & Youth Development – Model professionalism and instructional excellence while supporting the development of Junior Servant Leaders through coaching and guided practice.
• Scholar Safety, Supervision, & Family Engagement – Ensure a safe, structured, and welcoming learning environment while maintaining consistent communication with families.
• Professional Growth & Reflective Practice – Engage actively in coaching, professional development, and reflection to continuously improve instructional practice and leadership skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the instructional leader for a classroom of approximately ten scholars.
• Deliver engaging, culturally responsive literacy instruction aligned to FSLA curriculum.
• Implement best practices for classroom management and student engagement.
• Lead project-based learning and social action activities with scholars.
• Analyze daily student work and assessment data to inform instruction.
• Participate fully in all required training, professional development sessions, and coaching cycles.
• Engage in continuous reflection on instructional practice and leadership development.
• Supervise scholars during instructional time, transitions, snack, field trips, and throughout the building.
• Create and maintain an organized, welcoming, and visually engaging classroom environment.
• Take daily attendance and complete required documentation.
• Model professionalism and provide guidance to Junior Servant Leaders.

Leadership & Cultural Expectations

CBED leaders are expected to model the organization’s core beliefs, leadership competencies, and values by centering justice, demonstrating operational discipline, and leading with clarity, accountability, and care. Leaders are responsible for fostering inclusive, high-performing teams; engaging in continuous learning and reflection; and building systems that are sustainable, transparent, and aligned with CBED’s mission. Leaders are also expected to demonstrate strong collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills, and to partner effectively across teams and stakeholders in ways that produce measurable outcomes and sustain the people doing the work.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required; current college enrollment strongly preferred.
• Interest in pursuing a career in education or working with children and youth.
• Interest in mentoring and supporting high school students.
• Openness to receiving and implementing feedback.
• Strong reflective practice and professionalism.
• Ability to adapt in a fast-paced, team-based environment.

• Alignment with CBED’s mission and values.

Working at CBED

CBED offers meaningful, justice-driven professional experiences that support leadership development, skill-building, and career exploration in education. We affirm racial identity, value lived experience and believe that justice-driven work must be both excellent and sustainable.