Summerbridge Hong Kong, established in 1992, is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the educational trajectories of underprivileged students through tuition-free, high-quality English language education and life skills development. The organization provides a supportive learning environment that helps students build confidence, communication skills, and broader opportunities for their future. Summerbridge Hong Kong also engages student teachers, offering them meaningful teaching experience that promotes cross-cultural exchange and community engagement. By combining student learning with educator development, the organization advances both educational equity and civic responsibility in Hong Kong SAR.
Summerbridge Hong Kong Program Manager
Program Managers share full operational and administrative responsibility for the organization’s programs. Their responsibilities include supervising students and staff as well as maintaining contact with and supporting the organization’s growing alumni body. Program Managers are also active in student and staff recruitment, staff training, fiscal management, fund raising and curriculum development. During the summer, each Program Manager is directly responsible for running one of the organization’s Summer Programs.
Priority Mission:
1. Design, Implement and Promote an exceptional, high quality Summerbridge Program with idealistic vision, high spirit, and cohesive team environment.
2. Define, question, redefine and enhance what it means to be “Exceptional.”
Responsibilities of the Program Managers include but are not limited to:
(**Priority Responsibilities )
School Year Programs & School Year Responsibilities
**Study, research and analyze fundamental issues facing Summerbridge and construct an idealistic and visionary plan for the summer program.
**Assist in Fund Raising Process
Attend prospect meetings set up by Board members. Explain and promote the Summerbridge Program to them
Follow up with any information the prospects may need
**Be responsible for all preparation work leading up to the Summer Program including staff recruitment and student recruitment
**Conduct presentations at schools to recruit staff and students.
**Recruit leadership team and ensure they embody the spirit and leadership skills required to carry out vision for summer program.
**Recruit new and returning staff and ensure they embody the spirit and values of Summerbridge or have high potential to comprehend and execute it. Look for staff that are mature and will be supportive of each other. Look for staff that are sincerely interested in helping students and advancing the Summerbridge mission. Form a view on what other important criteria and characteristics are required for assembling the highest quality team.
**Co-coordinate school year programs: Summerbridge-After-School, and Sponsor Field
Trips
**Promote positive and enjoyable working culture in the Summerbridge office
**Promote active communication. Promote culture of attacking problems early and solving them.
Evaluate all aspects of the School Year Programs for effectiveness, and implement improvements where needed
Co-organize training sessions for the school year program staff
Co-organize classroom observation, evaluation, and feedback sessions for all programs
**Manage the programs’ finances to ensure all expenditures are in line with the budget
Summer Program
Refer to ‘Priority Mission’
Effectively utilize all resources including Summerbridge Board, , FTs, Staff, etc. to achieve mission.
**Research and determine essential elements and curriculum for Staff orientation.
**Design program to teach students “Essential Skills” for success including but not limited to: Critical Thinking skills, Study skills, English Language Development, Values/Ethics, Goal setting, Social Skills, Confidence. Further evaluate and determine what “Essential” skills should include.
**Inspire and lead staff to reach full potential. Encourage teamwork. Inspire staff to focus on ‘bigger picture.’ Instill confidence as well as sense of purpose and passion in staff.
**Have Fun and make sure the program is Fun.
**Delegate responsibilities effectively. Try to deliver delegations in the context of personal growth and leadership opportunities
**Promote active communication. Promote culture of attacking problems early and solving them.
**Promote cultural sensitivity. Promote safe environment where students and staff can take risks and grow personally
Integrate auxiliary programs into the Summer Program including the Future Teacher Program and the Returning Student Program
Evaluate programs’ effectiveness and consistently implement improvements
**Manage Any Student Issues that may arise
Summerbridge Website
Initiate the Improvement and Development of the Summerbridge website.
Curriculum Development
**Evaluate the definition of and effectiveness of the organization’s “Essential Skills” curriculum and make improvements
Evaluate the essential elements of a successfully taught class. Set goals, and help teachers procure resources to achieve them
Staff Recruitment, Support & Training
**Co-coordinate the local and overseas staff recruitment process.
Coordinate with Breakthrough Collaborative/Summerbridge National in the recruiting process
Evaluate and improve the Staff Handbook and other training material sent to staff before the summer and school year programs
Design and implement staff workshops, both academic and non-academic, that are to be run by sites and programs
Recruit Deans of Faculty and Mentor Teachers for Summer Program
Plan and implement Dean of Faculty and Mentor Teacher Orientation and training
Coordinate with other organizations to provide staff with professional expertise in the areas inadequately covered by program staff and administrators
**Design teacher training workshops covering program-related issues (e.g., student and staff diversity, cultural sensitivity, issues facing local students, etc.)
Student Recruitment
Co-manage student recruitment process including application design, distribution, review, and follow-up
Research and make recommendation on the optimal student body. (I.e. What mix of students body, demographically and socio-economically, enable Summerbridge to have the highest impact in terms of the following: Helping the community, targeting underprivileged students, creating diverse student body, spotting and cultivating future leaders of Summerbridge.) Suggest on any other goals.
Design and organize recruitment presentations at local schools
Work closely with school contacts and social workers to identify students appropriate for the program
Student Support
**Serve as, and encourage other staff to serve as, an educational and personal resource to students and families
Develop and maintain a system of documenting students’ progress
Coordinate meetings with professional social workers where necessary
Establish and maintain contact with relevant community organizations to develop social, emotional, and academic support and resources outside of Summerbridge
Communicate regularly with Contact Schools to follow-up with school year issues
Prepare recommendations for students and staff applying for other educational or vocational opportunities
Arrange parent conferences where necessary
Alumni Services
Establish and maintain lines of communication with alumni (e.g., alumni database)
Initiate and help coordinate alumni events
Research and compile information on opportunities, organizations and services that may be of interest to alumni (e.g., scholarships, alternatives to Forms 6-7, overseas universities, community service and youth leadership opportunities, etc.)
Contact School Relations
Organize annual visits to Contact Schools to meet with school principals, teachers, and social workers
Coordinate all communication with school contacts regarding Summerbridge programs and activities
Identify and recruit potential new contact schools for student recruitment purposes
Parent Relations
Promote communication between Summerbridge and parents through newsletters, phone calls, parent conferences, etc.
Organize opportunities for parents to become involved in the summer and school year programs
Host School Development Relations
Coordinate with Board to identify and solicit potential host schools for both the summer and school year programs
Coordinate communication to and from potential and existing host schools leading up to the summer and school year programs
Communicate regularly with the host schools’ administrative and maintenance staff to coordinate the use of facilities and develop a positive working relationship
Communicate and enforce the expectations laid out in the Summerbridge Host School Contract
Evaluation: Assessment
Design and implement assessment procedures to track students’ progress
**Note: It is not expected for the PM to handle all these responsibilities alone. In good Summerbridge spirit, a number of these responsibilities should be tackled as a team. It is incumbent upon the PM to cultivate a strong and effective team environment during the school year and during the summer.
Also, the PM should maintain an open dialogue with the Executive Director to discuss and question Mission and Responsibilities. The Team welcomes and encourages suggestions of improvements regarding priorities, definitions and implementation methodologies. All responsibilities should be implemented with the core Mission in mind.
