Youth Engagement Specialist - REMOTE

The Youth Engagement Specialist (YES) serves as a primary mentor and advocate for scholars, fostering a supportive environment that promotes academic success and personal growth. By building trusting relationships, the YES proactively identifies scholar needs and collaborates closely with school advisors and specialized teams to implement effective interventions. This role is essential in monitoring scholar progress, facilitating goal development, and modeling the professional behaviors necessary for scholars to thrive both in and out of the classroom.

• Teammate and collaborator: Serving as a liaison between the scholars and the adults within designated learning teams or career pathway coursework.
• Mentorship & Modeling: Serve as a dedicated role model and mentor, fostering healthy, trusting relationships through active listening, empathy, and professional boundaries.
• Attendance & Engagement: Manage daily attendance and conduct proactive outreach to students and parents to address absences and maintain scholar engagement.
• Academic & Behavioral Monitoring: Use digital monitoring tools (e.g., Securly, Headrush, JMC) and personal observation to keep scholars focused on tasks and monitor progress toward individual goals.
• Intervention Support: Contribute to the MTSS process for scholars requiring extra support and participate in specialized meetings (IEP, 504, ELL, etc.) to implement necessary accommodations.
• Goal Development: Guide scholars in setting and achieving academic and personal goals, providing tailored advice and skill-building in decision-making and study habits.
• Empowerment & Conflict Resolution: Help scholars develop coping strategies for current issues and mediate conflicts in a caring, professional manner, involving third parties when necessary.
• Communication & Compliance: Maintain frequent contact with all stakeholders in accordance with school guidelines, and ensure all interactions are accurately documented in ParentSquare.
• Operational Support: Attend all required staff meetings and professional development sessions and perform other duties as assigned to support the school’s mission.
• Implement and carry out district policies.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the CEO or designee, necessary and appropriate to achieve the program and/or School goals and Objectives.

• Educational Foundation: Possess an Associate degree or higher, or equivalent professional experience that aligns with the essential duties of youth mentorship.
• Youth Engagement Experience: Demonstrated experience working effectively with secondary school scholars or young adults in an educational or community setting.
• Academic Support Proficiency: Ability to teach and apply practical success strategies, including goal setting, time management, and study habits.
• Cultural & Learning Competency: Awareness of and sensitivity to diverse learning styles, individual needs, and backgrounds to effectively support a broad scholar population.
• Interpersonal & Communication Excellence: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to maintain professional relationships with scholars, parents, and staff.
• Conflict Resolution: Proficiency in mediating differences and guiding scholars through conflict in a calm, caring, and professional manner.
• Ethical Standards: Firm commitment to maintaining scholar confidentiality and adhering to all organizational policies and legal regulations.
• Technical Aptitude: Ability to learn and consistently use school-specific software (e.g., SIS, monitoring tools) for documentation and scholar tracking.
• Collaborative Support: Ability to work effectively within a team alongside school advisors to proactively identify and meet the evolving needs of the scholars served.

Associate degree or above, or equivalent experience, meeting the essential duties and responsibilities.

• Peer Mentorship Experience: Prior experience specifically in mentoring students or scholars within an educational framework.
• Diverse Population Proficiency: Proven ability to work effectively with student populations similar to those served by Choice Charter School.
• Digital Communication Mastery: Highly proficient in virtual communication tools and relevant online educational technologies.
• Advanced Communication: Exceptional oral and written communication skills tailored for professional educational environments.
• Community Resource Awareness: Familiarity with local community resources and services available to support various scholar needs.
• Educational Framework Knowledge: A solid understanding of academic standards, project-based learning, and standards-based grading systems.

BENEFITS: Benefits are outlined in the CCS Staff Handbook. Please review and/or contact the HR Specialist for additional information.

EVALUATION: The performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with federal and state law, board policy, and the preceding job description.

Reference: Iowa Association of School Boards

Salary : $25