Career Coach (High School Counselor)

Acceleration Academies is passionate about improving student outcomes. We provide two capabilities that drive student success. Our dropout recovery and student re-engagement program (Acceleration Academies), is an innovative education partner helping young adults overcome real-life challenges to earn their high school diploma tuition-free through partnerships with state or local school districts across the country. Our technology platform (Incite®) enables data-driven teaching and learning. These offerings are both rooted in our belief that every student deserves access to the best instruction, tools and resources possible.
Position Title: Career Coach
Reports To: Academy Director
Location: DeKalb County Acceleration Academies
Compensation: $60,000 - $75,000
Employment Type: Full-time, at-will
Benefits: 401(k) with up to 4% company match; Flexible Paid Time Off; Medical, Dental, Vision, FSA, Life, Disability, Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, & Accident insurance coverages available; Employer-paid financial wellness program; Employee referral incentives; Certification reimbursement program; Bonus opportunities
Job Description
Career Coaches serve as one of the learning resources for our Graduation Candidates (GC), collaborating within a team environment to (1) support the competency-based blended curriculum in which GCS demonstrate proficiency through formative and summative assessments, (2) lead in the development of Personalized Learning Plans for GCs, (3) support and coach GCs to obtain a passing score on required state assessments, End-of-Course exams (OEC), college entry exams and any required standardized assessments, and (4) ensure that every GC masters the content on the path to high school graduation and post-secondary success.
Job Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree or higher
• Years of Experience: 3+ years

• License/Certification: School Counseling credential in the state of Georgia highly preferred

• Background Check: Demonstration of a clear state and federal criminal history

Core Competencies
The following core competencies define what the organization requires of its employees to succeed and how we expect overall goals to be accomplished each and every day.

• Communication & Interpersonal Skills
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Caring & Inclusiveness
• Flexibility & Adaptability
• Honesty, Integrity & Reliability
• Results-Orientation

Role-Specific Competencies
These competencies are specific to the Career Coach position.

• Relationship Management
• Information Management & Data Analysis
• Subject Knowledge (Area of Expertise)
• Strategic Analysis & Problem Solving
• Resiliency & Stress Management

Job Responsibilities
Enrollment

• Support new GC enrollment through recruitment and engagement efforts
• Assist with the implementation of GC Orientation
• Lead in the development of Personalized Learning Plans(PLP) for GCs
• Guide the GC in the development of his/her schedule to meet attendance requirements
• Assign courses in accordance with the PLP for GCs

Retention

• Collaborate with other staff to ensure that GCs are in attendance as scheduled
• Actively participate in the Retention Cycle Protocol
• Assist with addressing barriers that impede the GC from attending the academy
• Advocate and support site-level incentive programs

Academics

• Schedule and coordinate all aspects of local, state and national exams
• Develop and monitor post-secondary plans for each GC to support their success in life beyond Acceleration Academy
• Implement career pathway partnerships that provide opportunities for job fair participation, job-shadowing and internships for GCs
• Implement weekly workshops that focus on career planning topics
• Provide guidance and feedback on of resumes, cover letters, and strategies for job interviews for GCs
• Assist the GC with career and college planning

Advocacy

• Keep up-to-date with current trends in employment and employment resources in the local region by facilitating workshops and networking events
• Participate in academy meetings and other community events
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Additional Qualifications

• Bilingual preferred (Spanish)
• Proficient understanding of ESE (Exceptional Student Education), ELL (English Language Learner), and behavior intervention practices
• Experience working in a non-traditional school setting and/or with youth who may be considered at-risk

• Demonstrates a commitment and passion for supporting high school aged youth, who have disengaged from a traditional school setting, by creating opportunities for academic and personal breakthroughs
• Experience reviewing transcripts and general understanding of graduation requirements
• Experience providing supports, interventions, and counseling services with high school aged youth

• Demonstrates a strong understanding of and comfort with the use of technology in an educational setting.
• Experience with any of the following: project-based learning, instructional coaching, portfolio assessment, a competency-based education model, cooperative learning, integration of technology and cross-disciplinary learning, alternative assessments and integrating school to career experiences into the curriculum

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to touch, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
Work Environment and Work Demands
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is consistent with that of a collaborative school environment.
Acceleration Academies is an Equal Opportunity Employer
The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. It is understood that other related duties may be assigned. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform all aspects of the position, described above satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.