TITLE: Graduation Coach

WHO WE ARE:

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) is a student-focused, innovative educational organization committed to academic excellence. Our mission is to empower and educate all students to think critically, creatively, and responsibly, to embrace diversity, and to pursue their dreams with a purpose. We are a family of excellent public schools in which every student has the opportunity to succeed and the power to create their own future.

Led by forward-thinking leadership and our commitment to prioritizing students, racial equity, and authentic engagement with our families, team members, and communities, our staff have diverse opportunities to develop their careers in a challenging but rewarding environment. We are an organization for people who are passionate about education and who are committed to the Indianapolis community.

SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITY:

We are looking for a high school graduation coach who will assist students and families in eliminating barriers to students’ on-time graduation. Our graduation coaches coordinate and implement school-based dropout prevention strategies and programs at the secondary level. As a valued member of the Postsecondary Readiness Team, you will receive the training and support you need to be successful in serving our students.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

The following outlines what your core duties and responsibilities will be for this position and provides a sample overview of what your day-to-day may look like.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Establish and lead school-based dropout prevention teams.
• Provide school and individual dropout prevention services.
• Assist in the development of long-term and short-term intervention plans consistent with curriculum; students' needs, strengths, diversity, and life experiences; and social and emotional factors.
• Assists the school and community in planning programs that alleviate situations that may interfere with the learning process of students.
• Plan and facilitate parent involvement activities.
• Coordinate efforts with the graduation coaches assigned to each academy high school.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with school departments, community and civic groups that interface and support the goals of the district's dropout prevention/graduation efforts.
• Establish and maintain communication links with community agencies that serve homeless, delinquent, and disengaged students for the purpose of re-engaging affected students.
• Facilitate the collection and use of data as directed by the supervising staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

“Day In the Life” Overview

On a regular day, as the Graduation Coach, you might:

• Meet with students who have significant barriers towards on-time graduation.
• Prepare presentations and deliver graduation specific content to a large group
• Use systems to create reports that track students’ progress towards on-time graduation.
• Collaborate with student services staff and administration on best practice interventions to improve student graduation outcomes.
• Collaborate with district personnel on strategies to improve students’ success.
• Present to students, parents, staff, and stakeholders remedies to overcome obstacles that hinder desired outcomes.
• Partner with alternative education programs to find pathways that support students earning a diploma.
• Participate in accompanied home visits to locate and re-engage students in school
• Provide meaningful fair share duties/responsibilities.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING: SKILLS AND MINDSETS

As an ideal candidate for this role, you will be able to achieve the following:

• Strong organizational, communication, and management skills.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Proven ability to make oral presentations in front of large and small groups.
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively with other professional staff members.
• Ability to build positive relationships with diverse communities, both internal support services personnel and outside agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively express ideas orally and in writing.
• Experience with collecting, analyzing, and developing meaningful reports of statistical data. General knowledge of spreadsheets and formulas.

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS

• Must hold or be eligible for an Indiana educator's license.
• Bachelor's Degree in Education, Social Work or Counseling with a minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience within the high school setting preferred.

FLSA CLASSIFICATION:

Exempt

ELIGIBILITY FOR REMOTE WORK:

This position is not eligible for remote work.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements 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 for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The individual in this role will be expected to move around the school building, communicate regularly with students, families, and other staff, complete accompanied home visits, and may occasionally be expected to transport materials up to approximately 30 pounds without assistance.

EEOC STATEMENT:

Indianapolis Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, will not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, homelessness or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations, or ordinances. Indianapolis Public Schools does not tolerate any form of retaliation or bias-based intimidation, threat, or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.

DISCLAIMER:

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the above representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This job description is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive list of all essential functions and duties performed by the occupant of this position. Factors such as regular and punctual attendance are not routinely listed in job descriptions but are an essential function.