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Freedom School Site Coordinator | Summer 2026

St. Mark's United Methodist Church
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Freedom School Site Coordinator Position Description Nature and Scope 

CDF's mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. The CDF Freedom Schools® program is a direct service initiative coordinated nationally by the Children's Defense Fund in partnership with local community organizations. It is an educational and cultural enrichment program that provides summer options for children and strengthens family and community involvement. 

The mission of CDF Freedom Schools programs is to boost student motivation to read, generate more positive attitudes toward learning, increase self-esteem, and connect the needs of children and families to the resources of their communities. The program serves children in grades kindergarten through five for six to eight weeks. The activity based Integrated Reading Curriculum (IRC), which is aligned to the Common Core State Standards, integrates reading, conflict resolution, and social action, and is designed to promote social, cultural, and historical awareness. A multi-year assessment of CDF Freedom Schools program sites continuously demonstrates the effectiveness of the IRC, which has proven to avert children's summer learning loss in reading achievement. 

St. Mark’s United Methodist Church (The Mark), a beacon of hope and community engagement in Montclair, NJ, is proud to sponsor the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools® program. As an institution deeply rooted in the values of social justice and educational empowerment, The Mark is committed to making a tangible difference in the lives of children and families. Our sponsorship of the CDF Freedom Schools program reflects our dedication to providing enriching educational experiences and fostering a culture of learning and growth. This initiative underscores our mission to support the holistic development of young minds, nurturing them to become future leaders and positive change-makers in their communities. 

The Site Coordinator manages the day-to-day operations and serves as the supervisor for one CDF Freedom Schools program site. It is recommended that the Site Coordinator has served as a CDF Freedom Schools Servant Leader Intern and be capable of leading an intergenerational staff. The Site Coordinator should be committed to the program's goals, able to work collaboratively with all program constituents, and familiar with the community's culture and dynamics. 

Responsibilities 

  • Serve in a supervisory capacity for the Servant Leader Interns, reporting to the Project Director. 
  • Work with site leadership to recruit, hire, train, and manage staff. 
  • Work with site leadership to recruit children and families that are our most vulnerable populations.
  • Attend all required training and ensure all program staff attend required training. 
  • Work with site leadership to plan and facilitate local pre and post-training before and after the Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute National Training. 
  • Attend all required Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute training sessions. 
  • Maintain the safety of all staff and scholars, which includes but is not limited to the following: 
    • Secure staff background checks and clearances. 
  • Guarantee onsite safety procedures and protocols comply with The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. 
  • Communicate and confirm that all staff, scholars, and parents understand site guidelines.
  • Work with site staff to plan and implement all program components with fidelity. 
  • Work with site leadership to check book inventory upon receipt and notify the CDF designee of any discrepancies. 
  • Ensure Servant Leader Interns have the necessary books, materials, and supplies for daily activities through the scheduled collection and review of lesson plans. 
  • Conduct daily debrief sessions to provide technical support and feedback for site staff and maintain site cohesion. 
  • Input child, parent, and staff enrollment data in CDF's reporting system. 
  • Maintain regular communication and timely correspondence with emails and requests with the CDF Freedom Schools national staff. 
  • Submit all required documents, data reports, and evaluations to CDF by the deadline.
  • Serve as a spokesperson for the program. 
  • Plan a calendar and coordinate weekly parent workshops, special events, and field trips. 
  • Manage daily site activities, observe Servant Leader Interns, and schedule guest readers for Harambee! 


Important Dates 

  • February 1st, 2026- Leadership team will beginning weekly planning meetings  
  • March 19-22, 2026 Mandatory Virtual Training. It must be completed live.
  • May 30, 2026 Statewide Site Coordinator/ Servant Leader Intern/ Jr. SLI Training
  • June 3rd-6th 2026: Mandatory In-Person Training in Tennessee. The cost of all travel, lodging, and all meals will be covered. Accompany and supervise Servant Leader Interns at National Training.
  • June 17, 2026  Family Orientation
  • June 22-26, 2026 - “Week 0”- SLI Training 
  • June 29, 2026 - First Day Freedom School 
  • Commit to the entire six-week duration of the program (June 29 - Aug 7, 2026) 

Additional Responsibilities 

  • In addition to summer program leadership, the Site Coordinator will also have the opportunity to serve during the academic year by supporting scholars through an after-school tutoring program. This role includes planning and facilitating small-group or one-on-one academic support sessions, communicating progress with families, and collaborating with church and community partners to ensure scholars receive consistent, high-quality academic reinforcement. Participation in this tutoring program will be compensated with an additional stipend.


 

Qualifications 

  • Must have completed undergraduate degree or equivalent work experience or training. 
  •  Servant Leader Intern experience at a CDF Freedom Schools site is preferred. 
  • Possess strong leadership and management skills to lead and motivate an intergenerational staff. 
  • Ability to translate a strategic plan into direct implementation. 
  •  Ability to motivate others, pay attention to detail and lead long-term planning. 
  • Solid commitment to the success and well-being of children. 
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
  • Exhibit positive behavior and attitude, modeling a mature and professional demeanor. 
  • Ability to attend all mandatory training and meetings as required by the CDF Freedom Schools national staff. 

Ability to implement the CDF Freedom Schools program with full fidelity.