JCA Madrichim program description
Madrichim are in 8th grade, or are older teens who are developing their teaching and
employment skills. This program is designed to get you ready to become a paid teaching assistant
(TA) at JCA. Participants must complete the attached application as well as online registration and
payment at www.jcaeducation.weebly.com/teens.html.
Madrichim attend six workshops throughout the year to learn the skills they need to become a TA.
These workshops will cover content such as child development, appropriate boundaries, leadership,
public speaking and more. Madrichim will be expected to practice these skills in the classroom on one
other Sunday per month; some Sundays will include classroom time and some will include holiday
programs. The TA coordinator will observe madrichim in the classroom and in special programs, and
check in with them regularly about how their skills work is progressing.
These are the mandatory attendance days for participation in the Madrichim program. In order to
graduate from the Madrichim program, you must attend all of the following dates and miss no more
than 2 days of skills practice or workshops due to illness or family obligation.
9/20 - Orientation
10/4 Skill practice in classrooms
10/25 Workshop I
11/1 Skill practice in classrooms
11/22 Workshop II
12/13 Skill practice at Hannukah Party
1/24 Workshop III
1/31 Skill practice in classrooms
2/21 Workshop IV
2/28 Skill practice in classrooms
3/13 Workshop V
4/17 Workshop VI
4/24 Skill practice during Pesach program
5/1 Final Workshop/Debrief/Evaluation
Madrichim program FAQs:
1) Do madrichim get paid like TAs?
Graduates from the Madrichim program will receive an end-of-year gift. We will also be providing
special snacks at all of our workshops, and may do a special outside-of-school madrichim field trip.
Being a madrich/madricha also means getting access to certain privileges you did not have as a JCA
student. You also get to strengthen your chances of being hired as a paid TA in the following school year
by demonstrating how much you’ve learned and what a classroom rockstar you’ve become!
2) When will I get to become a TA?
All 8th graders must complete the Madrichim program before being hired as TA’s. At the end of the 8th
grade year, madrichim will do perform self-evaluations as well as 1-on-1 verbal feedback sessions with
the TA Coordinator. If their end-of-year evaluations indicate they are ready to be hired as TAs, they will
be invited to apply in the beginning of the 9th grade year. If an 8th grader’s evaluation suggests that
they still need to work on some skills, they will be invited to do the Madrichim program as a 9th grader.
In their 9th grade year, they will be evaluated in December; if their evaluation suggests they’re ready to
step up to full TA-ship, they may be hired as a paid TA for the second half of 9th grade.
Note: We expect it will be far more common for 9th graders to begin the year as madrichim than to go
straight to being a TA. We expect the most common path will be for 9th graders to be madrichim for
the Fall and be hired as TA’s in the Spring.
The TA coordinator is Dane Kuttler, and her email is dane.kuttler@gmail.com; her phone number is
201-835-4602.
JCA teaching assistant (TA)
job description
Teaching Assistants (TA’s) are teens who demonstrate the skills, ability and commitment
to work as assistants in JCA classrooms, special programs and/or the office. TAs are
generally in 10th, 11th and 12th grades. The usual path to becoming a TA is to complete
the Madrichim program in 8th and 9th grades (see above).
TA’s work primarily on Sundays in classrooms and special programs. (If TAs wish to also work on
Wednesdays, they should let the TA coordinator know, as there are a few slots for highly qualified TAs
to work on Wednesdays.) TAs are observed regularly in the classroom, and the TA coordinator checks in
with them about their progress and experience in the program. TAs will have the option to attend some
or all of the Sunday madrichim workshops, which will cover child development, leadership, public
speaking, and other TA skills. They may be required to attend one or more workshops to work on a
particular skill, at the TA coordinator’s request.
TAs are allowed three absences for the year for illness and family obligations. TAs must inform the
TA coordinator and the school principal if they are going to miss a day of work at least
one week in advance. If someone misses more than 3 days of work, they may be asked to leave the
TA program. (Of course, if a person has a serious situation and discusses it with the TA coordinator and
principal, alternative arrangements are possible.)
Starting pay rate for TAs is $8.00/hr in the first year.
TAs are expected to demonstrate high levels of skill and professionalism, which means answering all
JCA emails and phone calls regarding work within 48 hours, arriving to class 5-10 minutes early,
informing the TA coordinator and principal about absences as far in advance as possible, and asking for
help and clarification when needed. All of these will be taken into account during evaluations.
The TA coordinator is Dane Kuttler, and her email is dane.kuttler@gmail.com; her phone number is
201-835-4602.
Application for 2015-2016 / 5776 Madrichim and TA Program
Full Name:__________________________________________________________
What name should we call you? ___________________________________________
Home number:_____________________Cell phone number: ___________________
Home address: _______________________________________________________
Email address:
____________________________________@_____________________._______
What pronouns should we use for you? circle: he/him
Circle your grade:
8th
9th
10th
11th
she/hers
they/them/theirs
12th
Did you attend JCA as a student? ___________ If yes, for how many years? __________
Did you attend Camp Shemesh?____________ If yes, for how many years? ___________
Which age group would you most like to work with? Circle 2:
1st & 2nd grade
3rd grade
4th grade
5th grade
6th grade
office assistant
In order to graduate from the program, madrichim must attend all 6 workshops plus orientation and
closing, and miss no more than 2 days of skills practice due to illness or family obligation. TAs may be
asked to attend one or more workshops to further their learning in specific areas. Please review these
dates with a parent or caregiver and a calendar, and circle any dates you know you would not be able to
attend.
9/20 - Orientation
10/4 Skill practice/observation in classrooms
10/25 Workshop I
11/1 Skill practice/observation in classrooms
11/22 Workshop II
12/13 Skill practice/observation at Hannukah Party
1/24 Workshop III
1/31 Skill practice/observation in classrooms
2/21 Workshop IV
2/28 Skill practice/observation in classrooms
3/13 Workshop V
4/17 Workshop VI
4/24 Skill practice/observation during Pesach program
5/1 Final Workshop/Debrief/Evaluation
Questionnaire:
1) What are two strengths you have that would make you a good TA/madrich/madricha?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2) Why do you want to be part of this program?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
3) Describe any experience you have working with children:
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4) Do you participate in any sports or extracurricular activities that meet on Sunday mornings in any
season?
yes
no If yes, please specify: ____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
5) If you are applying to be hired as a TA…
Do you have any sports or extracurricular activities that meet on Wednesday afternoons in any season?
Yes
No
If yes, please specify: ______________________________________________
Are you interested in working on Sundays, Wednesdays or both? __________________________