Department: Lee High School 

Reports To: Building Principal

FTE: 1.0 FTE

SUMMARY: 

The College Readiness teacher collaborates directly with Michigan Hispanic Collaborative (MiHC) Program staff & leadership, students, families, faculty, guest speakers/panelists, community partners, and college admissions representatives. This dynamic education will spearhead our College & Career Readiness curriculum for 11th and 12th-grade students at Godfrey-Lee High School. This position requires someone who can infuse energy into the classroom, connect effortlessly with students, and turn learning into an exciting adventure.

The MIHC and Godfrey-Lee joint in-school initiative, La Proxima Generacion, is a partnership that will help high-school students navigate the complicated process of preparation for, acceptance to, and success in college. The teacher in this position requires an extraordinary commitment to serving diverse students of limited economic means - most of whom will be the first in their family to pursue a degree- through the implementation of three (3) 1-semester elective courses and other outside services to support students with college access and college persistence.

As coordinator of our WBL program, coordination of work-based learning (WBL) experiences through collaboration with CTE programs and Business and Industry partners. This may include the facilitation of scheduling career speakers, business and industry site tours, business and industry tours of KCTC, internships, apprenticeships, job shadows, paid work, and volunteer opportunities for students at Kent Career Tech Center. 

This position requires extensive experience with the college admissions process, a strong sense of low-income students’ and family needs in preparing for college, and the ability to manage key relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders. Candidates should be prepared to implement MiHC curriculum, leverage MiHC’s LaPuerta online tool, and collaborate closely with MiHC program staff and leadership. In addition, candidates should work closely with the guidance counselor to place students in appropriate CTE or CTE-like programs.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: 

• Bilingual in Spanish preferred
• This position requires a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited teacher education program
• Must hold a valid State of Michigan teaching certificate
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission of MiHC and Godfrey Lee Public Schools and a belief that all students can succeed in college and career
• At least 3 years' experience in college counseling
• Proven track record of engaging and inspiring high school students in a dynamic learning environment.
• Infectious enthusiasm and a natural ability to connect with students from diverse backgrounds
• Innovative spirit and a knack for turning even the driest topics into captivating learning experiences.
• Passion for helping students explore their potential and pursue their dreams with confidence
• Mastery of college access, college persistence, and Co-Pilot data entry training materials after MiHC-provided training
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to manage professional relationships with a variety of stakeholders
• Cultural responsiveness and demonstrated experience working with low to moderate-income families preferred
• Student-focused: able to center individual student needs and successes
• Experience dealing with a diverse set of individuals and organizations

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Implement 2-year pilot of La Próxima Generación, in partnership with the Michigan Hispanic Collaborative, for three (3) courses according to the approved curriculum
• Provide students with a holistic approach to college and career readiness, preparing them to make postsecondary plans through in-class lessons, individualized coaching, expert guidance, professional panels, and an exclusive online e-learning platform
• Cultivate a classroom atmosphere brimming with enthusiasm, where students are eager to participate and learn
• Foster a supportive and inclusive classroom environment that encourages participation and empowers students to pursue their educational and career goals
• Liaise with MiHC program staff & leadership as needed in relation to student outcomes, curriculum, and in-class activities
• Utilize innovative teaching strategies, technology, and interactive activities to make learning enjoyable and relevant to students' lives
• Monitor student progress, assess learning outcomes, and provide constructive feedback to promote academic growth and success
• Stay informed about trends and developments in college admissions, financial aid policies, and career opportunities to effectively advise students and adapt curriculum as needed
• Provide a culturally relevant education with an equity spotlight
• Pursue, track, and report program, course, and school goals for college admissions & enrollment
• Collect and synthesize success stories to build and support a community-wide college-going culture
• Utilize local and national data to drive application list development, college partnerships, enrollment, family engagement, career exploration, and curriculum development
• Help students identify multiple affordable and ambitious college options and take progressive steps to advance their post-secondary planning. They carefully monitor students’ progress from college exploration to application, financial aid review, and matriculation, proactively assessing student needs
• Tailor curriculum to students’ success, qualifications, and pathways, centering on improving students’ outcomes and career success
• Leverage and enhance existing resources, research, and learning opportunities by intentionally fostering partnerships
• Provide instruction and course/program management to prepare students to be Postsecondary and Workforce Ready at the high school level in areas of career awareness and exploration; career preparation; and career training
• Develop and integrate WBL instruction, activities, and experiences
• Collaborate with staff and post-secondary institutions to develop and maintain career pathways that prepare students for apprenticeships, community college, or university degree programs
• Keep WBL logs and attendance records
• Monitor students in work, internship, apprenticeship, and volunteer experiences to assess/evaluate their skill development, provide support, and track the appropriateness of workplace conditions
• Facilitate work-based learning experiences for students (field trips, job shadows, internships, job placement)
• Develop and maintain new industry partnerships by establishing relationships with businesses, local workforce agencies, and higher education partners
• Promote and market KCTC programs within the business and post-secondary community
• Commits to honoring the KCTC mission, vision, core values, commitment, and indicators of student success
• Perform other duties as assigned

OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills - Bilingual candidates encouraged to apply
• Excellent collaboration and interpersonal skills for building an environment of trust 
• Knowledge of quality classroom management
• Outstanding organizational technological skills 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, peers, and families 
• Availability to serve on the district and building leadership teams as the Instructional Coach

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES RELATED TO CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND EQUITY:

• Knowledge/awareness of own cultural identity and how this influences behavior, and desire to learn about the cultural identity of others.
• Ability to establish and nurture an environment that promotes cultural competence and equitable treatment of staff, students, and partners of the District.
• Has demonstrated experience as a leader for equity and/or has evidence of success in closing opportunity gaps for students of color. 
• Ability to nurture a school environment that celebrates, respects, and values diversity, where teaching and learning are made relevant and meaningful to students

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, and handle, as to operate office equipment; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

Godfrey-Lee Public Schools is an equal opportunity educational institution. It is our expressed policy that no person shall be unlawfully excluded from participation, be denied benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, sex, age or handicap/disability in its activities or programs as required by Title VI, Title IX and Section 504. Any person believing that the Godfrey-Lee Public Schools or any part of the school organization has inadequately applied the principles and/or regulations of (1) Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972, (2) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, (3) the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and (4) Title II of the Americans with Disability Act of 1990 may bring forward a complaint, which shall be referred to as a grievance, to Mark Provost, the local Coordinator at the following address: 1324 Burton St. SW Wyoming, MI 49509.