Student Success and Engagement Specialist - Iowa Connections Academy

School Summary:

Iowa Connections Academy (IACA) is a tuition-free, full-time virtual public school for students in grades K-12 throughout Iowa. The school operates in partnership with the CAM Community School District in Anita, IA. IACA is accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, an accrediting division of AdvancED.

Position Overview

In cooperation with Administration and other stakeholders, the Student Success & Engagement Specialist will design, implement, and monitor a comprehensive student success system focused on executive functioning development, student engagement, and whole-person assessment within the virtual learning environment.

This role works in partnership with colleagues supporting Math and ELA interventions but does not directly support Math or ELA interventions. Instead, this role focuses on fostering skills deemed key to student achievement and growth that are not tied to Math or ELA competencies (see #2 below).

This position integrates:

• Tiered intervention systems
• Data-driven decision-making
• Fostering connectedness and protective factors in students
• Executive function skill development

The role ensures students receive appropriate levels of support for course completion, helps prevent disengagement, reduces credit deficiency, impacts attendance growth, and improves graduation outcomes.

The position leads a multi-tiered framework combining academic, behavioral, and engagement data to drive early identification and intervention through a structured Tiered Intervention Framework with ongoing progress monitoring.

Core Strategic Purpose

This role addresses a critical challenge in online schools:

Many students struggle not with academic ability, but with executive functioning and connection to the school environment.

Key barriers include deficits related to:

• Time management
• Task initiation
• Self-monitoring
• Digital organization
• Sustained attention
• Critical “student success skills”
• Lack of structured accountability

These challenges often present first as pacing and engagement issues rather than academic inability, requiring proactive systems, structured supports, and early intervention.

Strategic Responsibilities

1. Lead the School Success Framework

Develop and oversee a comprehensive student success system integrating:

• Universal student support structures
• Tiered academic and engagement interventions
• Comprehensive assessment models
• Progress monitoring tools
• Data-informed decision-making

This includes full implementation and continuous refinement of the school’s Tiered Intervention Framework, ensuring alignment between data, intervention, and outcomes.

2. “Student Success Skill” / Executive Function Systems Development

Design and maintain systems that strengthen core executive functioning skills, including:

• Time management
• Planning and prioritization
• Digital organization
• Task initiation
• Self-monitoring
• Sustained attention

These skills are essential for success in asynchronous and virtual learning environments.

The role oversees the use of structured tools (e.g., rubrics, goal-setting frameworks, data views, reports, etc.) to support student SMART goal development and ongoing progress monitoring.

3. Oversight of Tiered Student Support Systems

Tier 1 – Universal Student Supports

Ensure all students receive consistent executive function support through:

• Standardized weekly pacing expectations
• Digital planning and organizational systems
• Executive function skill instruction
• Weekly pacing self-check routines
• Early warning indicators and alerts

These structures reduce cognitive overload and promote independence.

Tier 2 – Targeted Student Intervention

Develop targeted supports for students demonstrating risk in pacing or engagement:

• Small-group Executive Function Student Success Labs
• Academic coaching
• Ongoing family communication

Students typically engage in Tier 2 supports for 4–6 weeks with monitored progress before transitioning back to Tier 1.

Tier 3 – Intensive Individualized Support

Coordinate high-frequency, individualized interventions for students experiencing significant barriers, including:

• Individualized Student Success Plans focused on skill-building
• Micro-deadline pacing models
• Coordinated family and support team communication

The goal is stabilization, re-engagement, and prevention of course failure or withdrawal.

4. Data Systems & Progress Monitoring

Develop and manage data systems and dashboards that track:

• Course pacing progress
• Assignment submission rates
• Login frequency
• Grade trends
• Engagement indicators

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in one of the following fields:

• Education
• School Counseling
• Educational Leadership
• Psychology
• Student Development
• Social Work

Experience with:

• Online or blended learning environments
• MTSS / RTI frameworks
• Data-driven student support systems
• Academic coaching and intervention design

Key Competencies

Strong candidates demonstrate:

• Systems thinking
• Student-centered leadership
• Data-driven decision-making
• Virtual facilitation and coaching
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Program design and implementation