Advisory Teacher - Utah Connections Academy

Company Summary

Utah Connections Academy (UCA) is a tuition-free, online public school that serves students in grades K–12 throughout Utah. UCA is authorized under state law by the Utah State Charter School Board and governed by an independent Board of Directors. The school is operated by Utah Connections Academy, a nonprofit corporation, through a contract with Connections Academy of Utah, LLC, to provide its educational program and other services. UCA is accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission, an accrediting division of AdvancED.

Utah Connections Academy strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

Position Summary and Responsibilities:

Working full time from your home office within Utah, the Advisory Teacher will virtually assist students and parents/learning coaches with course selection and scheduling and will be the initial point of contact for student concerns that span multiple subject areas as well as non-academic issues.

The Advisory Teacher will become an expert on course and credit requirements and will work with School Counselors to establish counseling processes for high school students. 

The Advisory Teacher will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:

• Advise students and families related to academics, career planning, and graduation;
• Assist students and parents with the secondary school course selection process according to specific state credit and graduation requirements and student needs and interests. An integral part of this process is assisting students and parents to develop a Four Year Plan for meeting graduation requirements;
• Advise students with issues related to dropping courses and changing schedules, seeking support as needed, while ensuring that the school’s course selection and drop policies are adhered to;
• Review student transcripts and the entry of credits into the online transcript system;
• Follow procedures to ensure that Connections Academy transcripts are accurate and up-to-date;
• Implement programs for students and families related to interpersonal adjustment issues;
• Work with school teams to identify and help families access school and community resources;
• Participate in the development of crisis prevention and management plans for the school and serve as a key member of the Student Support Team (SST);
• Coordinate a team of middle and high school teachers to help identify students who are “at risk” or “in crisis”; Act as the main point of contact for these students and families, communicating regularly with them;
• Oversee and maintain the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) for each student;
• Implement efforts to secure complete and accurate records for Connections Academy students;
• Support families through the school withdrawal process, assisting with data collection regarding withdrawal;
• Report and refer critical incidents that jeopardize student well-being as obligated by law, administrative regulations, or ethical standards. Stay abreast of all state regulations relating to incident reporting and documentation;
• Assist teachers when students enroll mid-semester, making sure that teachers receive guidance on integrating the students into their coursework, and ensuring that previous grades, credits, and evaluations are handled appropriately;
• Communicate with the Curriculum Team to ensure that curriculum offerings meet state requirements;
• Implement special programs such as Advanced Placement support, SAT and ACT Preparation, and college entrance preparation;
• Understand the requirements for and assist the principal in facilitating the administration of all school testing, including exit exams, ACT, Utah Aspire Plus, and AP exams;
• Help students to research and understand their post-secondary career and educational options;
• Assist with student preparation of applications for college and jobs;
• Educate students and parents about college admissions requirements and financial aid;
• Support professional development activities for teachers and school staff members;
• Assume teaching and grading duties as necessary including teaching elective courses;
• Coordinate high school graduation ceremonies; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Utah residency is preferred: Priority will be given to the candidates who live in Utah.
  • Candidates in the surrounding states are encouraged to apply (Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming).
• Utah teacher certification in a secondary content area or grade level
• Strong technology skills (especially with Microsoft Office products and Google Suite)
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Customer focused approach
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• High degree of flexibility
• Team player with demonstrated leadership skills
• Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to travel on occasion for marketing and state testing events (may require occasional overnight travel)
• Must be able to use a personal electronic device and email address for 2-step authentication