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The Kofago Institute is hiring five positions for the Kofago School of Dance and Culture (KSDC) afterschool programming in St. Albans, Queens. The program launches in February 2027.
The Kofago Institute is a Queens-based 501(c)(3) that keeps African Diaspora culture alive through dance, live music, and education. With support from Council Member Nantasha Williams and NYC's COMPASS afterschool system, KSDC will bring two tracks of African Diaspora dance and culture to students in grades 6–12:
- Ndaw ("the young ones" in Wolof), for grades 6–8
- Jàmbaar ("the brave" in Wolof), for grades 9–12
Every class runs to live drumming and connects movement to history, community, and cultural meaning. If you want to help young people grow as artists, scholars, and leaders, we'd love to hear from you.
Requirements for All Positions
- Must complete NYC Public Schools fingerprinting and background clearance before starting
- Must be available weekday afternoons during the school year, starting February 2027
- Must be 18 or older
- Commitment to a safe, inclusive, and respectful space for all students
Open positions
- Program Director
- Data Specialist / Data Visualization
- Academic Enrichment Coach (Support)
- Dance Education Specialist (Educator)
- Accompanist (Musician)
Location: St. Albans, Queens Program schedule: Weekday afternoons during the school year, starting February 2027
Program Director
Type: Part-time · Reports to: Executive Director
The Program Director leads day-to-day operations of KSDC at Pathways. You'll make sure the program runs safely and smoothly, meets its COMPASS requirements, and gives every student a great experience.
What you'll do
- Oversee daily program operations, schedules, and staff coverage
- Recruit, hire, train, and supervise program staff
- Build strong working relationships with school leadership, staff, and families
- Lead student recruitment, enrollment, and retention
- Ensure compliance with DYCD, NYC Public Schools, and Department of Health requirements
- Oversee attendance tracking and reporting in DYCD Connect
- Maintain program records, incident reports, and safety procedures
- Plan family events, open classes, and student showcases
- Track the program budget and supply needs
What we're looking for
- At least 2 years of experience running youth or afterschool programs, including supervising staff
- A bachelor's degree, or equivalent experience in youth development, education, or the arts
- Strong organization, communication, and problem-solving skills
- Experience with DYCD COMPASS or SONYC programs strongly preferred
- Appreciation for arts education and African Diaspora culture
Data Specialist / Data Visualization
Type: Part-time · Reports to: Program Director
The Data Specialist keeps our program data accurate and turns it into clear stories. Your work helps us meet city reporting requirements and show funders, families, and the school what students are achieving.
What you'll do
- Enter and maintain enrollment and attendance data in DYCD Connect
- Run regular checks so records are complete, accurate, and on time
- Build simple dashboards and charts on attendance, participation, and student growth
- Prepare monthly program snapshots for Kofago leadership and our school partner
- Manage student and family surveys, then summarize the results
- Support grant reports and funder updates with clear data visuals
- Keep all student information confidential and secure
What we're looking for
- Experience with data entry, spreadsheets, and reporting (Excel or Google Sheets)
- Experience with a data visualization tool such as Tableau, Power BI, Looker Studio, or Canva charts
- Strong attention to detail and comfort working with deadlines
- Experience with DYCD Connect or other youth program databases is a plus
- Ability to explain numbers in plain language
Dance Education Specialist (Educator)
Type: Part-time · Reports to: Program Director and Artistic Director
The Dance Education Specialist is the lead teaching artist in the room. You'll teach African Diaspora dance forms with live music and help students grow in skill, confidence, and cultural understanding.
What you'll do
- Plan and teach engaging dance classes for the Ndaw (grades 6–8) or Jàmbaar (grades 9–12) track
- Teach forms that may include Sabar, West African djembe repertoire, Caribbean dance, and contemporary Diaspora styles
- Share the history and community meaning behind each dance
- Work closely with the accompanist so every class runs to live drumming
- Create choreography for showcases and the annual Kwanzaa Celebration
- Mentor high school students as peer leaders and assistants
- Track student progress with simple skill rubrics
What we're looking for
- Strong training in West African and/or Caribbean dance
- At least 2 years of experience teaching dance to youth
- A degree in dance or dance education, or equivalent professional experience
- Strong classroom management with middle and high school students
- Experience dancing with live drummers
- Knowledge of the cultural and historical context of the forms you teach
Academic Enrichment Coach (Support)
Type: Part-time · Reports to: Program Director
The Academic Enrichment Coach helps students succeed in school and in the studio. You'll support homework and study skills, lead the cultural learning that goes with each dance unit, and be a steady, caring adult for students.
What you'll do
- Lead homework help, study skills, and check-ins at the start of each session
- Connect each dance unit to history, geography, and writing through reflections, journals, and short research projects
- Support high school students with research and video projects linked to their schoolwork
- Help supervise students during sessions, transitions, and dismissal
- Assist teaching artists with group management and small-group support
- Build positive relationships with students and share concerns with the Program Director
What we're looking for
- Experience tutoring, teaching, or mentoring middle or high school students
- Strong skills in reading, writing, and organizing information
- Patience, warmth, and good classroom management
- Coursework or interest in education, African Diaspora studies, history, or the arts is a plus
- College students and recent graduates are encouraged to apply
Drum Accompanist (Musician)
Type: Part-time · Reports to: Program Director and Artistic Director
Live music is the heart of every KSDC class. The Accompanist plays for dance classes and teaches students the rhythms that drive each dance.
What you'll do
- Provide live percussion for every dance class, warm-up, and rehearsal
- Lead the rhythm lab, teaching students basic drum parts, songs, and call-and-response
- Work with the Dance Education Specialist to match rhythms to each unit's dance form
- Play for student showcases and performances
- Help care for and transport program instruments
What we're looking for
- Strong skills on djembe, dunun, and/or sabar drums; Caribbean percussion is a plus
- Experience accompanying dance classes
- Knowledge of traditional rhythms and the songs that go with them
- Patience and enthusiasm for teaching young people
- Reliability and punctuality
Join the Kofago Community
We invite you to become a part of the Kofago Institute community and embark on an enriching journey of artistic discovery. Whether you are a student, parent, artist, or supporter, there is a place for you at Kofago Institute. Join us as we unlock the potential within, celebrate culture, and make a positive impact in our local community and beyond.
