A note from Hidden Valley parents · San Anselmo
We need your help finding one person.
The YMCA after-school program at our school is short-staffed. We’re not asking for donations, signatures, or a meeting. We’re asking each of you to think of one adult in your life who’d be great with elementary-school kids in the afternoon — and introduce them. The right hire is almost always someone a parent already knows.
Roughly 5 minutes of your time. One name. One forwarded link. That’s it.
our little corner of Marin
The ask
Three steps. Maybe five minutes.
01
Think of one person.
Don’t strain for the perfect fit. Just one name. A college student, a recently-retired teacher, a neighbor between jobs, a friend’s cousin, anyone who’s ever said they’d love work with kids.
02
Send them this page.
The message is written for you. Copy it, send it, add a personal line if you want. Text is better than email; a one-liner from you is better than a forwarded page with no context.
03
Tell us you sent it.
Optional, but it helps us keep count and thank you. Reply to any parent email thread, mention it at pickup, or tap below. We just want to know how many introductions are in motion.
Stuck on step 1?
Does this sound like anyone in your life?
These are the kinds of people who end up being exactly right for this job. Most of them wouldn’t apply on their own — they need someone to say “you’d be great at this.”
The college kid home for the summer
Has some babysitting or camp counselor on their résumé. Wants something part-time that isn’t retail. Afternoon hours fit around class.
The teacher who retired a bit too early
Misses the kids. Doesn’t miss the grading. Would light up at 3 hours a day with elementary students and then go home.
The neighbor between jobs
Good with kids — you’ve seen it. Looking for something steady while they figure out the next thing. Could use the income and the purpose.
The parent whose youngest just graduated
Knows elementary-school rhythm better than anyone. Wants back into a school environment without the full-time lift.
The aide, the student teacher, the sub
Already works in schools adjacent to this. Knows the paperwork. A short hop to an afternoon program at one specific school.
Someone who mentioned wanting work with kids
You had one conversation about it. They never quite started. This is the nudge.
If a name came to mind reading any of those — that’s the one.
The role, in 30 seconds
What you’re pitching, briefly.
If someone asks you “what’s the job?” — this is all you need.
- Pay
- $20.25–$22/hr
- Hours
- 25/wk
- Schedule
- M–F, ~1–6 pm
- Where
- Hidden Valley Elementary, San Anselmo
- Employer
- YMCA of SF
- Mornings
- Yours
What they’d actually do
Lead a small group of elementary students through the afternoon: homework support, outdoor time, sports, art, cooking, the small steady work of making kids feel seen. The YMCA trains the curriculum side — the human side is what they’re hiring for.
Minimum qualifications: 18+, plus an Associate’s degree or high-school diploma + 48 college units / CBEST / District Aide Exam. A TB clearance is needed before a school-site start. Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, or a local connection helps.
Both links go to the YMCA of San Francisco, the employer. Application is a short form — finishable in one sitting.
What they’ll ask you
So you have good answers.
- Totally fine. The minimum is 18+ with an Associate’s degree — or a high-school diploma plus 48 college units, a passing CBEST score, or a passing District Instructional Aide Exam. Calm energy, good listening, and being decent at corralling small humans matters more than a teaching credential. The YMCA trains the program side.