Graduation Coach

Exempt; 7.33 Hours/Day; 220 Days/Year; 11 Months/Year

FUNCTION OF THE POSITION

Under the general direction of the executive director of secondary schools, the graduation coach is responsible for supporting all high school students regarding high school graduation and completion. Support is provided individually and in small groups and includes but not limited to analyzing data to identify students or subgroups with potential high school graduation challenges, planning, implementing and tracking individual high school graduation plans, identifying and resolving barriers to graduation and facilitating career choices and planning. The graduation coach is expected to understand instructional strategies, available community resources, and be knowledgeable of all the available dropout prevention interventions as well as supplemental and remedial services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The mission of the graduation coach is to ensure the successful graduation from high school and transition to post-secondary education or work. This 11 month position is designed to provide a comprehensive prevention/intervention process for students at risk of grade retention and/or dropping out of high school.

The Graduation Coach will:

OVERVIEW OF DUTIES

Work with faculty and administrators to develop a grade recovery program and to assist with differentiating instruction to meet the needs of identified at-risk students; Work with faculty and administrators to adapt curriculum and instruction to meet the needs of identified at risk students; and Provide training and/or support to high school teachers and staff on support measures that work with youth identified as at-risk of not graduating. Utilize the components of a profile of characteristics of potential dropouts developed by the National Dropout Prevention Center and other data sources Identify high school students with a high probability of not graduating; Conduct an analysis that focuses on data for individual students and subgroups using prescribed tools and/or assessments; and Develops and implements individual intervention strategies to increase graduation rates. Work with students to develop graduation and achievement plan. Evaluate progress of individual students and subgroups of students as they progress toward graduation. Working knowledge of appropriate strategies for reducing at-risk student behaviors; Work collaboratively with advisors to develop an education and career plan to include the best program of study to meet academic, graduation, and post-secondary goals.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree (Master's preferred) in education, research, social work, counseling or public administration, or related area; Must possess and maintain a collegiate or post-graduate professional Virginia license; Must possess at least three years successful experience working with secondary staff and at-risk students and a working knowledge of appropriate strategies for reducing behaviors that put students at risk of not graduating from high school; Ability to work independently and cooperatively within a team; Maintains a high level of proficiency with student data information and data warehouse systems or other search/retrieval software available to NPS employees; Excellent written and verbal communication skills; Excellent interpersonal and project management and organizational skills; and Ability to make clear and effective reviews and walk-through presentations with department staff, user groups, and others; Any equivalent combination of education and experience that would provide the knowledge, skills and ability levels cited above.