Season: Winter
Unity Preparatory Charter School of Brooklyn is a tuition-free, independent public charter school serving grades 6-12. Our mission is to provide all students with exceptional preparation for college and their careers that empowers them to lead fulfilling lives.
Athletics are an important part of that preparation, providing opportunities to develop discipline, confidence, teamwork, resilience, leadership, and school pride. As Panthers, our student-athletes are expected to compete with purpose, support one another, and represent Unity with pride.
Unity's Middle School is located at 432 Monroe Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant, and our High School is located at 584 Driggs Avenue in Williamsburg.
Unity coaches are educators, mentors, and leaders who use athletics to help students grow on and off the sidelines and competition floor. The Head Cheerleading Coach builds a spirited, competitive, inclusive, high-character program in which student-athletes develop their skills, meet high academic and behavioral expectations, experience belonging, and represent the Panthers with pride. Great teams and athletes are built through excellent practice, preparation, feedback, and attention to safety.
Build an Excellent Athletic Program
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Develop and lead a spirited, competitive, well-organized cheer program reflecting Unity's expectations for excellence, sportsmanship, school pride, safety, and student development.
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Plan and lead high-quality practices that maximize active participation, meaningful repetitions, feedback, conditioning, technique, synchronization, performance quality, and preparation for games, events, and competitions.
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Assess athletes' technical, physical, and developmental needs; provide clear instruction and feedback; and safely teach and develop skills including motions, jumps, dance, tumbling, stunts, pyramids, and routines appropriate to athletes' readiness and applicable safety standards.
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With the active support of the Athletic Director and other coaches, recruit, encourage, motivate, and engage students, building a program they are excited to join, work hard for, contribute to, and remain part of.
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Sustain motivation and commitment through strong relationships, meaningful roles, recognition, high expectations, and a culture in which every athlete understands how they contribute to the Panthers.
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Establish and consistently reinforce clear team expectations, routines, roles, and standards.
Develop Student-Athletes
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Build strong relationships with student-athletes and know them as individuals, students, and competitors.
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Teach discipline, resilience, teamwork, leadership, accountability, and sportsmanship while providing the support students need to meet high expectations.
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Know the academic standing, attendance, and eligibility status of each student-athlete and partner with students, families, teachers, and school leaders to help athletes meet Unity's academic expectations.
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Reinforce the responsibilities of being a Unity student-athlete and help students develop leadership and respond productively to adversity, feedback, success, and disappointment.
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Create opportunities for student-athletes to maximize their potential and excel, including supporting athletes who aspire to cheer in college or pursue competitive cheer beyond high school.
Build Team & School Culture
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Create a team environment characterized by belonging, enthusiasm, hard work, mutual respect, and a strong Panthers identity, ensuring cheerleaders build school spirit and represent Unity with pride and sportsmanship.
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Model composure, integrity, respect, preparation, and accountability in interactions with students, families, officials, opponents, spectators, and colleagues.
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Contribute positively to Unity's school culture and celebrate student-athletes' growth and accomplishments.
Partner with Families & the School Community
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Build strong, respectful relationships with families through clear, timely, and proactive communication about schedules, expectations, student progress, and concerns.
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Partner with the Athletic Director, school leaders, teachers, and other staff to support the overall educational development of student-athletes.
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Address concerns professionally and participate in relevant athletics and school events.
Operate with Excellence
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Maintain a consistent practice, performance, game, and competition schedule and arrive prepared and on time for team activities.
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Follow all school, league, city, and state requirements governing interscholastic athletics, including established health and safety procedures.
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Maintain required records and ensure proper care, inventory, and return of equipment, uniforms, and supplies.
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Work closely with the Athletic Director on scheduling, transportation, facilities, eligibility, equipment, awards, and other program needs, including all required end-of-season responsibilities.
A successful season at Unity is about more than wins and losses. We expect our Panthers to compete with purpose and pursue excellence while ensuring student-athletes:
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Grow meaningfully through consistently well-planned, productive practices, perform and compete at a high level, and have opportunities to realize their athletic potential.
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Meet high academic, attendance, behavioral, and eligibility expectations.
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Demonstrate discipline, teamwork, leadership, sportsmanship, and pride in representing Unity and the Panthers.
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Demonstrate strong participation, attendance, engagement, retention, and commitment to their teammates and program.
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Athletes aspiring to cheer in college or beyond receive the encouragement, guidance, development, and exposure needed to pursue those opportunities.
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Finish the season stronger-as athletes, students, teammates, and young people-than when they began.
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Student-Centered: You see coaching as an opportunity to teach, mentor, challenge, and develop young people.
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Competitive & Developmental: You want to compete at a high level while developing athletes and building a strong program.
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High Expectations, High Support: You build trusting relationships, hold students accountable, and help them rise to ambitious expectations.
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Prepared & Dependable: You plan ahead, communicate clearly, and consistently follow through.
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A Culture Builder: You create belonging, teamwork, enthusiasm, and Panthers pride.
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Reflective & Coachable: You seek feedback, collaborate well, and continually improve your craft.
Required
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Strong knowledge of cheerleading fundamentals, skill progression, choreography, conditioning, performance preparation, and safety standards, including safe instruction of stunts, pyramids, tumbling, and other technical skills.
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Demonstrated ability to teach and develop young athletes across a range of skill levels.
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Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
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Ability to build positive relationships and communicate effectively with students, families, colleagues, officials, and other programs.
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Demonstrated reliability, professionalism, sound judgment, integrity, and accountability.
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Current CPR/AED certification, or willingness to obtain certification with support from Unity prior to the start of the season.
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Ability and willingness to meet all applicable certification, safety, league, and regulatory requirements.
Preferred
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Prior cheerleading coaching experience; high school cheerleading coaching experience strongly preferred.
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Experience working with adolescents in a school, youth development, club, or community-based setting.
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Experience building a positive team culture and developing student-athletes individually and collectively.
The physical demands described are representative of those required to perform the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made. The role may require extended standing; walking, bending, stooping, sitting on the floor, climbing stairs, and reaching overhead; physical agility to participate appropriately in practices; and lifting up to 25 pounds to shoulder height and 50 pounds to waist height.
