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Title: GA Pre-Professional - First Star ISU Academy - Social Work - Fall 2025/ Spring 2026
Division Name: Academic Affairs
Department: School of Social Work
Campus Location: Normal, IL

Job Summary

The First Star ISU Academy is a college-preparatory program for high school foster youth with the aim of preparing for successful matriculation into 2- or 4-year colleges and universities. The Academy strives to keep youth on track for high school graduation, prepare them for higher education, and equip them with the skills to successfully transition to adulthood. The youth, referred to as Scholars, spend two-weeks living on the university campus (Summer Immersion Program), and they return one Saturday per month during the school year (Saturday Academies). While on campus, the Scholars attend academic classes, participate in life skills workshops, and explore college life.

First Star Graduate Assistants (GSs) receive hands-on experiences that enhance their understanding of youth receiving foster care services as well as social, community and political issues affecting this population. GAs play a critical role in the success of the Academy and are expected to build on their foundational knowledge (i.e., practice and theories) while interacting with scholars, caregivers, and caseworkers.

GAs are exposed to legal concepts and procedures, social work values and principles, case management, community engagement, and overall programming. Regular documentation (i.e., contact logs and scholar files), reflection, and supervision is an internship requirement to further develop personal growth and awareness of values, attitudes, and beliefs. Ultimately, First Star Academy GAs serves as a supportive and caring staff member, models appropriate and collegiate behavior, co-facilitates college prep or life skills workshops, tutors the Scholars and encourages successful learning practices.

GAs are expected to work approximately 10 hours per week, some evening and weekend hours required for monthly Saturday Academies.

Job Responsibilities:
- Design and co-facilitate life skills, college prep workshops, and team-building activities
- Assist with planning and facilitating Saturday Academies
- Supervise scholars during all Saturday Academy activities
- Provide academic support and tutoring to scholars
- Lead small group reflections and enrichment
- Assist with service learning activities
- Scholar mentorship
- Case management and check-ins
Provide one-on-one social emotional supports
Connect with Scholars
Connect with caregivers, caseworkers, and school personnel
- Case Staffings
- Complete administrative tasks as needed
Research assistance, writing, and Literature reviews
Scholar Resource Packets
Donations request
Program presentations
- Work collaboratively with other staff
- Ensure compliance with the Academy and university’s code of conduct
- Prepare for and actively participate in staff training, meetings, and supervisory conferences
- Model appropriate behavior for Scholars and others including, productive study habits, cleanliness, punctuality, language choice, and personal representation
- Maintain positive relationships with Academy staff, university staff, and the scholars’ caregivers and social workers

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$755 monthly stipend

Required Qualifications

1. Eligible for appointment as per the requirements in the Graduate Assistant Handbook which can be found at http://hr.illinoisstate.edu/downloads/GA_Handbook.pdf
2. Must be a degree seeking graduate student at Illinois State University in Social Work, Human Behavior, Education, Psychology, or Counseling.
3. Previous experience in recreation, a camp setting, or other work experience with youth in a group setting, preferred
4. Ability to work as a team member with Academy staff, interns, and campus staff.
5. Must be a creative thinker, responsible, reliable, friendly, enthusiastic, patient and willing to learn
6. Demonstrate strong organization, time management, written, oral, and interpersonal skills
7. Ability to work independently with strong computer knowledge and competence
8. Ability to demonstrate leadership, take initiative, and meet deadlines
9. Preference given to students who have experienced foster care

Work Hours

TBD

Proposed Starting Date

August 2025

Required Applicant Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. Reference List

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Special Instructions for Applicants

Benefits for Graduate Assistants can be found in the Graduate Assistant Handbook.

Note: If you have not yet been assigned a University ID, but are interested in applying for this graduate assistantship, please proceed with the graduate assistant application process. For the first question regarding your University ID, simply enter in nine (9) zeros (e.g., 000000000).

You must be eligible for employment in the United States and at Illinois State University and/or for the number of hours required for the position.

Illinois State University student employees are restricted to no more than 28 hours per week of on-campus employment for all positions held. International students are restricted by their visa status to no more than 20 hours per week of on-campus employment when the university is in session but may work up to 28 hours per week when the university is not in session. Please contact the Office of International Student and Scholar Services for guidance on visa restrictions on work hours. The University cannot grant exceptions to visa status rules/laws.

Contact Information for Applicants

Ms. Tameka Thompson, Academy Director
tfthom1@ilstu.edu
309-438-5841

Dr. Deneca Avant, Executive Director
dwinfre@ilstu.edu
309-438-4498

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.