Graduation Coach

FUNCTIONAL PURPOSE

The purpose of this position is to help all high school students, individually and in groups, progress towards high school graduation and receiving a diploma. This position assists with analyzing data to identify students or subgroups of students with the potential of not graduating on time; planning, implementing, and tracking individual student high school graduation plans; identifying and resolving barriers to graduation; and facilitating career choices and planning.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Works to improve graduation rates for all population subgroups within the school: utilizing the components of a profile of characteristics of potential dropouts with a high probability of not graduating; collaborating with feeder middle school(s) to identify students with a high probability of not graduating; assisting with transition programs for 5th and 8th grades so they successfully adapt to the rigor and demands of middle/high school.
• Monitor’s progress of students scoring significantly below proficiency levels.
• Conducts analyses that focus on data for individual students and subgroups such as: Local Standardized Tests, State Standardized Tests (End of Grade and End of Course Assessments), National Standardized Tests (Pre-ACT, Pre-SAT, SAT, ACT) and Local Records (Attendance Records, Behavior Records, Records of Teacher Conferences, Grade Retention Records and Records of Credits Earned) to Benchmark Assessment data for progress monitoring.
• Develops and implements individual intervention strategies to increase the likelihood that these students will stay in school and graduate.
• Works with students to develop a graduation and achievement plan to include the best program to meet academic and post-secondary goals.
• Tracks the progress of individual and subpopulations of students as they progress toward graduation.
• Identifies and links local social agencies with youth at risk of not graduating and their parents/guardians.
• Conducts quarterly vertical team meetings among elementary, middle, and high school faculty and staff to develop action steps to improve individual student and sub-group transition success rate.
• Provides training to parents of students identified as being at risk of not graduating.
• Develops a “Graduation Team”, or similar team that exists in the school, for each identified student that minimally includes an administrator, two teachers, a counselor and/or school social worker/school psychologist, or a representative from local support or mentoring agency.
• Develops local mentoring support with business partners and connects individual students with mentors.
• Provides and/or submits reports to the principal, principal supervisor, Deputy Superintendent, and/or the Superintendent on the graduation status of seniors.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Working knowledge of appropriate strategies for reducing behaviors that put students at risk of not graduating from high school.
• Ability to analyze, develop, implement, and track intervention plans and strategies.
• Knowledge of and the ability to analyze data, including data available from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, local assessments, persistence rates, and from other sources.
• Must understand the multiplicity of social services available in the community to support students at risk of not graduating.
• Knowledge of alternative education opportunities, e.g., Credit Recovery, NCVPS, FACE, and SOAR.
• Ability to apply critical thinking skills in rendering solutions to various issues.
• Ability to work with collaborative teams.
• Excellent interpersonal skills needed to work effectively with students, parents, administrators, and staff. Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Must possess strong computer skills including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Google Docs) and have extensive knowledge of on-line instructional processes.
• Ability to motivate students.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum: Bachelor’s Degree and three years of successful work experience with students at the secondary level.
• Desirable: Bachelor’s Degree and two years secondary level teaching experience and two years of counseling and/or social work experience.

CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS:

• Must hold or be eligible to hold teaching or service certificate.
• Valid NC Driver’s License

Pay Grade: Certified Teacher Salary Schedule - Full Time Position

In compliance with Federal Law, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools administers all education programs, employment activities and admissions without discrimination against any person on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, or disability.