Location: Nashville, TN 

Reports to: Director, Day Programs

Job Description: 

Saturday Academy at Vanderbilt for the Young (SAVY) and Career Connections at SAVY offer a Saturday day program for academically advanced students in grades K-8th grade. Students take one course for three consecutive Saturdays taught by master teachers and/or content experts. The SAVY classroom assistant is responsible for supporting students and instructors each week. Students take one course for three consecutive Saturdays, from approximately 9:00AM to 3:00PM. Classroom assistants typically arrive at 7:45 AM on the first day of each session and at 8:15 for the other days, and typically end around 4:00 PM. Classroom assistants are assigned to one class each session (fall and/or spring). 

Perks: 

Your experience includes: 

• Making a difference through investing in the lives of gifted and high achieving young scholars. 
• Working on the campus of a nationally-known institution. 
• Adding a unique experience to your resume. 
• Joining a team of dedicated staff who are passionate about developing talent in gifted and high ability students. 
• Competitive compensation with lunch included. 

SAVY Team Expectations:   

• Serve as a role model for all student participants and colleagues.  
• Thrive in a fast-paced, demanding work environment that requires continuing flexibility, a positive and caring attitude, and collaboration.   
• Adhere to PTY’s policies related to confidentiality. 
• Engage willingly as a team player with humor, enthusiasm, and a compassionate understanding of K-8 students.    
• Demonstrate exceptional maturity and character.    
• Possess cultural sensitivity awareness and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
• Embody a strong team player ethic and sense of humor.   
• Uphold and exemplify community values, regulations, and expectations.  
• Successfully pass the Vanderbilt University criminal background check and online training for working with minors.  
• Agree to adhere to all duties before, during, and after the program as outlined in the staff materials. 

Classroom Assistant Expectations: 

Within their wide array of duties and responsibilities, SAVY Classroom Assistants manage four domains of responsibility: 

1. Program Support — Supervise students, support accountability of students and instructors for program schedules and policies, assist SAVY arrival and dismissal, adhere to and support compliance of program and university policies including the protection of minors, guidelines and regulations, and provide additional support as determined by administrative staff. 
2. Logistical Support — Set up for classroom activities and other duties necessary to the smooth operations of the classroom. Assist with time management and class schedule, support and lead student transitions around campus, and assist with classroom materials as needed. 
3. Classroom Support — Assist with classroom management and engagement and support small group monitoring. Classroom Assistants may also coordinate meetings with instructors prior to the program to help prepare for the class. 
4. Student Support — Liaise with appropriate staff about students’ socio-emotional and academic concerns as well as classroom needs.  

Qualifications: 

• Qualified applicants must have experience and interest in working with children.  
• Applicants both internal and external to Vanderbilt are welcome to express interest.  
• Teaching experience and/or experience working with academically gifted students is preferred. 

Compensation: 

$16.00/hr 

Program Dates and Times:*   

• SAVY Sessions operating October – November and January – February 
• Fall SAVY: Oct 25, Nov 1, Nov 8
• Spring SAVY: Jan 24, Jan 31, Feb 7
• The standard shift on SAVY days is approximately 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM each Saturday listed.  

*dates/times subject to change

* Classroom assistants may work one or multiple sessions (fall and/or spring). Preference will be given to applicants who are available for both sessions. Candidates should be available for all three dates of given session.  

To share interest in fall or spring SAVY, please email a copy of your resume/CV to the SAVY Director, Stacia Mills, stacia.b.mills@vanderbilt.edu –  please book a time here to set up an interview.

PTY Academic Program Assistant 

Location: Nashville, TN
Reports to: PTY Director of Academics

2025 Job Description:    

The Academic Program Assistant position is a key member of the Academic Team through the academic year. The Academic Program Assistant is responsible for overseeing the materials needed for instruction across all SAVY and Career Connections courses. The Academic Program Assistant oversees materials acquisition and distribution to ensure that PTY instructors have the materials they need to offer students a positive classroom experience. This position is responsible for a variety of pre-program and in-program objectives including but not limited to academic material ordering and organization, course materials communication with instructors and other academic staff, and scheduling and distribution of PTY technology and lab equipment to classrooms.

Perks:   

Your summer includes:   

• Making a difference through investing in the lives of gifted and high-achieving young scholars.   
• Working on the campus of a nationally known institution.    
• Adding a unique experience to your resume.   
• Joining a team of dedicated staff who are passionate about developing talent in gifted and advanced students.    
• Enjoying competitive compensation with lunch provided.  

PTY Team Expectations:   

• Serve as a role model for all student participants and colleagues.   
• Thrive in a fast-paced, demanding work environment that requires continuing flexibility, a positive and caring attitude, and collaboration.   
• Adhere to PTY’s policies related to confidentiality.  
• Demonstrate exceptional maturity and character.   
• Possess cultural sensitivity awareness and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.  
• Embody a strong team player ethic and sense of humor.   
• Uphold and exemplify community values, regulations, and expectations.   
• Successfully pass the Vanderbilt University criminal background check and online training for working with minors.  
• Agree to adhere to all duties before, during, and after the program as outlined in the staff materials. 

PTY Academic Program Assistant Expectations:   

Within their wide array of duties and responsibilities, the Academic Materials Manager is expected to:   

• Implement efficient operations and workflow strategies in a rapidly changing and fast-paced academic program.    
• Order, organize, and coordinate distribution of academic materials for K-8 day courses.  
• Support the Director of Academics in managing academic systems, communication, course materials and other academic supports.   
• Monitor the academic budget guidelines when purchasing items.   
• Oversee the delivery of course materials to classrooms prior to and during K-8 day sessions.  
• Communicate effectively with PTY Director of Academics to ensure that instructors’ materials, technology, and lab equipment requests are met.  
• Enthusiastically adapt and pivot as needed to ensure optimal, engaging, and safe student experiences.   
• Assist with various administrative duties and processes to ensure smooth operations.   
• Assist with compliance related protocol and issues.   
• Must be able to traverse distances of at least one mile, including stairs, with or without accommodation.
• Must be able to lift and/or maneuver at least 40 lbs. with or without accommodation.
• Support the efficient operations and workflow strategies in a rapidly changing and fast-paced program.    
• Collaborate effectively with other members of the PTY team, supporting programs and leadership when specific needs arise.   
• Perform other related duties as assigned. 

Qualifications:    

The ideal candidate will:    

• Possess a bachelor’s degree, be a graduate student or a professional.   
• An education background is preferred but not required
• (Candidates both internal and external to Vanderbilt are welcome to express interest.)  
• Have experience communicating with key stakeholders of an organization.    
• Have experience with data management and record keeping, with strong attention to detail.
• Have experience with organization, record keeping, and managing complex inventories preferred.
• Experience being successful working independently, within a team, and leading a team preferred.
• Be able to successfully and positively communicate with individuals of all ages, experiences, and roles.  
• Availability, interest and commitment to carry out this role Fall through Spring strongly preferred. Potential opportunities to extend the role through Summer.

Compensation:  

$18.00/hr  – potential change in pay rate for summer

Fall/Spring Program Dates and Times:*  

• On-site Training: TBD
• Academic Year  
  • September – April (approximately 10-25 hours/wk)
    • days and times flexible
    • required program dates: (typically 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM)
      • Fall SAVY: Oct 25, Nov 1, Nov 8
      • Spring SAVY: Jan 24, Jan 31, Feb 7
  • May (approximately 20-30 hrs/wk)   
  • Approximately 40 hrs/week June 1 – August 1
• SAVY Sessions operating June-July   
  • Session 1: June 8-12, 2026
  • Session 2: June 15-18, 2026
  • Session 3: June 22-26, 2026
  • Session 4: July 6-10, 2026
  • Session 5: July 13-17, 2026
  • Session 6: July 20-24, 2026
  • The standard summer shift is typically 8:00AM to 4:30PM Monday-Friday.  

*dates subject to change 

 

 Please visit our teaching opportunities page for more information about serving as a SAVY instructor.