JAG (Jobs for Alabama Graduates) - Multi Year Program Specialist

(222 DAYS - 8 HOURS PER DAY)

SCHOOL SITE: WILLIAMSON HIGH SCHOOL

The JAG Multi-Year Specialist takes personal responsibility for ensuring that 35-45 high school students who are at risk of dropping out of school and/or failing to successfully transition into the workplace achieve expected outcomes, including graduation and placement into postsecondary education, the workforce and/or the military. To achieve the expected outcomes, the JAG Specialist will provide targeted youth with employability and life survival skills through classroom instruction based on JAG's high school competencies (37 to 81 depending on the number of years of enrollment in the Multi-Year Program), guidance/counseling, academic remediation, work-based learning experiences, summer activities, postsecondary, and career advisement and provides a twelve-month follow up period following graduation. This position is a full-time, year-round position dedicated 100 percent to the implementation of the JAG Model and responsible for delivering the JAG High School Curriculum. The Specialist is responsible for reinforcing the competency-based lessons during other periods of time in which students and graduates are engaged in the JAG Multi-Year Program.

Students in the Multi-Year Program, targeted for classroom participation, will be those deemed to have a high degree of difficulty in being promoted to the next grade, achieving a successful transition in high school, unclear about high school graduation, postsecondary planning, careers and/or making a successful transition from school to future opportunities.

The goals are:

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in social service, counseling, business, education, or a related discipline is preferred. Equivalent combination of training, education, and experience may be considered.
• Experience working with students and a knowledge of child development issues.
• Experience in secondary and/or postsecondary education settings.
• Skills in human relations, leadership, supervision, and motivational techniques.
• Ability and interest to work 12 months per year.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities.
• Ability to establish appropriate boundaries while developing and nurturing supportive relationships with students.
• Ability to educate a variety of constituencies and interested parties about the program by developing ongoing relationships and making formal presentations.
• Ability to support curriculum instruction, projects and/or other educational opportunities consistent with the goals of the program.
• Working knowledge of basic computer applications such as word processing, Excel, and electronic data tracking, using the Internet-based Electronic National Data Management System (e-NDMS).

DUTIES: The duties include but are not limited to:

• Establishes a positive and on-going supportive relationship with students, families, principals, administrators and school faculty to support students in the JAG Multi-Year Program.
• Collaborates with school counselors, advisors, community resources, and teachers to support and reinforce the curriculum and to consistently build support for academic success, career exploration, goal setting, leadership development, college planning, personal counseling, either directly or through linkages in the community to assist in overcoming barriers to graduation and/or success in the workplace.
• Analyzes student data and barriers and confers with the JAG advisory committee (or School Success Team) to identify and develop a pool of qualified students in need of intensive academic support such as tutoring, extended learning, mentoring, and counseling. Students with multiple barriers to success will be candidates for the program.
• Deliver the curriculum for the targeted 35-45 students in grades 11 and 12; ensure they receive competency in the 37 core competencies through classroom instruction and Project Based Learning, and as many of the 87 total high school competencies during their high school participation in the JAG program.
• Administer testing including JAG pre-/post-tests to students in the classroom and document results in the data management system (e-NDMS).
• Monitor basic skills improvement (TABE or CASAS); provides academic support and remediation including; access to tutoring, study skills, credit recovery to show gains as students' progress toward graduation.
• Develop, implement and update monthly individualized development plan (IDP) with all students on the program roster.
• Monitors the attendance, credits needed for graduation, college prep course selection, enrollment in AP and dual credit courses.
• Serves as a student advocate when collaborating with school staff in developing intervention plans for struggling students and assists in implementing/referring interventions as appropriate.
• Advocates for the program and creates an employer marketing plan to develop a pool of effective community support resources by working with employers, parents, civic groups, and community leaders to build awareness of and support for this unique program; develop service learning projects, creates a pool of classroom speakers, participates in public relations activities, attends meetings and speaks to community groups.
• Conducts parent/family outreach and education activities to the students to strengthen family/school partnerships and facilitate career exploration, college selection and financial planning.
• Builds appreciation for teamwork among students, sense of belonging and commitment to service learning among students by organizing and serving as advisor to the Career Association; create opportunities through hands-on activities, guest speakers and workshops; and organize civic and social development opportunities.
• Collaborates in supporting a smooth transition between grades; partners closely with other JAG Specialists to support students through continued participation in high school classrooms as appropriate.
• Provides supportive services to program participants for the 12-month follow-up period post-high school graduation to ensure successful transition to postsecondary education, employment and/or military. If students are non-graduates, JAG Specialists will provide support services to these students to ensure attainment of diploma or GED during the follow-up period. Employers and/or postsecondary advisors are to be contacted 6 times during the 12-month follow-up period to ensure accuracy of data and continued student support.
• Complies with all documentation requirements from JAG Manager in a timely fashion including student contacts and activities, employer and community organization contacts, and other groups; develops and maintains a well-organized filing and retrieval system for the class. Utilizes e-NDMS for developing student rosters for the classroom.
• Provides opportunities for student and graduate activity and engagement throughout the summer, documenting activities using e-NDMS.
• Participates in staff, district, and statewide meetings, and staff development activities within the building, district and statewide as appropriate.
• Perform various school-related functions such as lunch duty; work closely with the school administrator to limit non-J... more