Summary: The Graduation Coach will work with the Learning Community team Principals to increase the graduation rate at each respective high school and prepare students to be globally competitive for jobs. The coach will provide assistance and support to identified high school students, individually and in groups, which includes, but is not limited to, analyzing data to identify students or subgroups with potential high school graduation deficiencies, implementing, and tracking individual high school graduation plans, identifying and resolving barriers to graduation, and facilitating smooth transitions from middle school to high school. The coach will assist schools in developing their GSI, GDVR and other related processes; provide training in data analysis to collect, examine and analyze data for continuous improvement.

Essential Duties: (These duties represent a sample and may vary by position.)

• Working knowledge of appropriate strategies for positively impacting cohort graduation rates
• Ability to analyze, develop, implement, and track intervention plans and strategies
• Knowledge of and the ability to analyze data
• Must have an understanding of the multiplicity of social services available in the community to support students at risk of not graduating
• Knowledge of alternative education opportunities, e.g., Communities in Schools, Credit Recovery options, etc.
• Works with school teams to develop and implement individual intervention strategies to increase the likelihood that students at risk of dropping out will stay in school and graduate
• Works with school staff to develop graduation and achievement plans to meet academic and career-college readiness goals
• Collaborate with school leaders, counselors, and teachers to develop systemic strategies to identify and support students.
• Support schools with tracking the progress of individual and subpopulations of students as they progress toward graduation

Education and Experience:

Minimum

• Master’s Degree in School Counseling or other related field
• Three years of successful school counselor experience

Desirable

• Advanced certifications or licensure in counseling or support services

Licensing / Certification Requirements: Possession of a NC school counseling license 

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities:

• Ability to apply critical thinking skills in rendering solutions to various issues
• Ability to work with and lead collaborative teams
• Excellent interpersonal skills needed to work effectively with students, parents, administrators, staff and district personnel
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge of support services delivery systems.
• Knowledge of literacy standards and practical application to instruction.
• Knowledge of Title I laws, policies, processes and procedures.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with people to focus resources (both human and financial) toward achievement of expected results.
• Ability to facilitate group processes in consensus building, conflict resolution, planning and decision-making.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and departments.
• Ability to develop, prepare and conduct professional development opportunities for school staff.
• Ability to value diversity and meet the needs of a diverse population.
• Ability to manage time, meet deadlines, and bring closure by following projects to completion.
• Ability to interpret educational policies and procedures.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills