Become a Prepare Instructor

Prepare Inc. seeks candidates for part-time, daytime employment as a certified Violence Prevention and Self-Defense Instructor for kids and teens classes in New York City and the surrounding tri-state area. This role is ideal for candidates who have a passion for teaching young people and share our vision for a more just and equitable world. We are committed to training candidates in our methodology and providing values-led work in a collaborative and energizing environment. Self-defense training is not a requirement for candidacy. Please note that many of our educational units are verbal-only and do not require physical skills.

 

ABOUT PREPARE INC.

Prepare Inc. is an educational services company that offers comprehensive violence prevention and evidence-based programs for personal safety, communication skills, and self-defense. Our school-based and private classes for young people focus on teaching the critical emotional and physical skills necessary to stay safer from physical, sexual, and emotional violence from strangers, acquaintances, and relationship partners.Prepare’s trainings are an important part of a larger movement to create social change, prevent violence, andsupport healing.  Becoming an IMPACT Violence Prevention and Self-Defense instructor is demanding emotionally and physically, and is a rewarding endeavor for those with a passion to make a positive change in our society. Since 1992, Prepare Inc. has served over 50,000 young people and adults. Learn more at www.prepareinc.com

 

BECOME A PREPARE INSTRUCTOR

Instructor training consists of approximately 30 hours of training outside of the classroom, together with a minimum of 60 hours of supervised co-teaching for Suited Instructors and 180 hours for Lead Instructors. All candidates are required to first take the 16-20 hour IMPACT Basics class (at no cost to you, yet candidates will not be paid for this time. This is a $495 value). **The next Basics course begins on March 4, 2023, link here for registration** Instructor certification may take up to a year to complete, depending upon your availability to participate in the co-teaching classes. Our multi-disciplinary training is similar to the rigor and depth required of a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT). Training is offered to qualified candidates at no cost, with a stipend for required observation time and $16/hour for co-teaching time. Instructor candidates must live in the New York City metro area. Candidates are interviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year. We are launching our next training cohort in April post IMPACT Basics class completion. Certification is for part-time contract work with Prepare Inc. only.  We do not have a train-the-trainer model and candidates must sign a no-compete clause stating that Prepare-specific curriculum will not be shared or taught outside of Prepare Inc classrooms.

 

WHY I BECAME A PREPARE INSTRUCTOR

“After taking the Basics course, I had a strong desire to pursue instructor certification so that I could share what I had learned with children.  Prepare Inc. provided the type of education that I wish I had received when I was younger.  Prepare isn’t just focused on teaching self-defense skills.  Rather, their comprehensive approachincludes building critical listening, communication, and problem-solving skills, which are directly applicable to a variety of everyday situations.  Seeing young people become advocates for themselves and others encouragesme to continue teaching.  I hope that one day Prepare’s work will be just as important to the development of young people as learning how to read.”  – Tanya Perez

 

“I believe that everyone deserves a fighting chance.  Prepare offers all communities the opportunity to combat the narrative that was given to them about violence – a narrative perpetuated by rigid gender stereotypes and unhelpful scripts learned at young ages. I am a product of that opportunity.  After ten years, it is icing on the cake that I continue to pay it forward as an instructor.” – Daniel Williams

“I teach at Prepare because I know how much the Basics class changed my life. It gave me the skills to communicate and set boundaries successfully. I wanted to share this opportunity with others so that they could build this same agency into their own lives.”  – Ernest Wawiorko

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree
• Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following areas: teaching or experiential learning with adults and/or young people, counseling, youth service work, public health, work with trauma survivors, martial arts, criminal justice, personal safety, or other relevant social justice–focused work.
• Demonstrated experience or knowledge in one or more of the following areas: 1) diversity, equity, and inclusion, 2) comfort in dealing with survivors of physical, sexual, and/or emotional trauma, 3) exploration of own issues involving boundaries, 4) the intersection of how gender, race, class, sexuality, age, national origin, and (dis)ability affect how an individual may be targeted and respond to violence.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize information and use feedback.
• Excellent verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated self-awareness and self-confidence.
• Demonstrated understanding of values-in-action in a school or work setting and personal responsibility.
• Schedule flexibility with availability for at least 2-3 mid–week and/or weekend daytime engagements, with occasional evenings as desired.

Please note that martial arts experience may be helpful but it is not required, as you will be trained to teach our system. Competitive candidates should detail in the cover letter 1) why they would be an excellent educator;and 2) why they are interested and passionate about violence prevention. Ideal candidates are willing to commit to teaching on a part-time basis with Prepare Inc. for a minimum of two years upon certification.  

 

Compensation:  $30-50/hour depending on class length and location. Required training observation time in the classroom is compensated by stipend.  Co-teaching time during active certification is paid at $16/hour.Based on availability offered to Prepare, certified instructors average $500-1000/month.  Our busiest season is typically during the school academic year, but classes are also scheduled during the summer months.    

 

APPLY TODAY

Interested candidates should submit the following materials:

• A statement outlining both your qualifications and interest in pursuing instructor certification.
• A resume or summary of your job and education experience.

Please submit application materials with the subject line “Prepare Instructor Application” to Stacey Jackson at [email protected]. Submissions without cover letters will not be considered. Phone interviews with qualified candidates will be scheduled quickly in February and early March.