Temporary Summer Academy Counselor

About FIU

Florida International University is a Top 50, preeminent public research university with 55,000 students from all 50 states and more than 140 countries, as well as an alumni network of more than 340,000. Located in the global city of Miami, the university offers more than 200 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels, including medicine and law. FIU faculty are leaders in their fields and include National Academy members, Fulbright Scholars and Mac Arthur Genius Fellows.

A Carnegie R1 institution, FIU drives impactful research in environmental resilience, health and technology and innovation. Home to the Wall of Wind and Institute of Environment, FIU stands at the forefront of discovery and innovation. With a focus on student success, economic mobility and community engagement, FIU is redefining what it means to be a public research university.

The Center for Children and Families at Florida International University announces FIU Summer Academy Counselor positions for 2026. Eligible children for FIU Summer Academy are recruited from preschool programs in or around the Liberty City community and are receiving, or eligible to receive, services through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for moderate‑to‑severe learning and/or behavioral needs. Services are provided at an early childhood center in Liberty City.

The program provides treatment tailored to children's individual behavioral and learning difficulties.

The dates of employment for the Counselor position are Monday, June 1, 2026, through Friday, July 31, 2026. Counselor hours of employment are 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with three 30‑minute breaks, Monday through Friday.

Counselors will be paid $15.00/hour. Total compensation will be approximately $5,160. Current students may also be able to arrange for academic course credit through their university departments.

Children and counselors are assigned to groups of four or five counselors and 10 to 15 children of similar age. Children participate in a variety of classroom‑based and recreational activities. Staff members implement an extensive behavior modification treatment program including feedback and associated consequences for positive and negative behaviors, daily and weekly rewards for appropriate behavior, social praise and attention, appropriate commands, and time‑out from positive reinforcement.

Counselors also record, track, and enter daily records of children's behavior and response to the treatment. Counselors will work under the supervision of experienced faculty and staff members.

Counselors in FIU Summer Academy deliver the treatment components within both classroom and recreational contexts. Counselors will assist in the following each day: (1) leading an academic center (i.e., English/Language Arts, Math, Science, Writing); (2) leading a sport (i.e., soccer, kickball, tee ball); (3) delivery of treatment components during large group instruction periods; (4) assisting in the delivery of an evidence‑based reading intervention;

and (5) tracking the daily behavioral progress for assigned cases. Sports experience or teaching experience is not a requirement for the FIU Summer Academy program.

Prior to the start of employment, Counselors will be required to read the program manual and to be familiar with the behavior modification program and rules and procedures for daily activities, including the rules and fundamentals for the sports played in the program. Counselors will be required to memorize information such the operational definitions for the behavior modification system categories, activity rules, rules for classifying behaviors, and other related information.

Counselors will need to spend a significant amount of time preparing prior to the start of employment.

During the first two weeks of employment, Counselors will participate in a variety of training activities. Training will consist of lectures, slide and video presentations, testing, and daily active role‑plays during which staff members will act as counselors and children during activities such as games, drills, discussions, and time out.

The Center for…