Local Advocate - Tacoma, WA

Job Description
About Us:
In partnership with educators, government agencies, and community leaders across the nation, Graduation Alliance provides versatile pathways to high school graduation for youth and adults, fosters college and career exploration, and connects job creators to skilled and ready workers. Since 2007, Graduation Alliance has worked with more than 650 state agencies, school districts, community colleges, and workforce boards around the country to recruit, re-enroll, educate, and mentor students. Graduation Alliance also operates The American Academy, an exemplary online high school that is fully accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission, a division of Cognia.
Our full-service diploma completion programs can be delivered in facility-based, blended, or fully online settings. These programs are supported with recruiting, transcript analysis, technology, coaching and mentoring, and robust support services.
We also develop and facilitate skill certification packages with tailored support to students of all ages. In coordination with local and national employers, we offer work experience, internship programs and job placement. And we partner with institutions to provide pathways to post-secondary education and career training, complete with preferential enrollment, dual credit opportunities, and early financial aid reviews.
In early 2021, Graduation Alliance became a Certified B Corporation. B Corporations use the power of their businesses to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy, and meet the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
Graduation Alliance works for one common goal: creating opportunity through the power of education.
Job Description:
Graduation Alliance is looking for a Local Advocate in the Tacoma, Washington area to join a team dedicated to helping at-risk youth and adults reach graduation day. Local Advocates work directly with students’ virtually and face-to-face to ensure each student has the support necessary to be successful. Local Advocates are instrumental in identifying students’ social/emotional challenges and work with both local and national resources to help them achieve success. Local Advocates accomplish this by working with an assigned student population and meets with them regularly to help resolve life barriers.
Our ideal candidate has a passion for and experience in helping students, especially those who have faced substantial life obstacles that previously have prevented academic success.

Duties And Responsibilities
Responsibilities:

• Local Advocates work with new students to ensure a successful start to the program

• Local Advocates facilitate and participate in weekly meetups, including:

• Provide social/emotional support and information around community resources

• Build and foster sense of community within assigned student group

• Attend weekly study sessions with students and the Academic Coach to provide support

• Local Advocates hold scheduled office hours:

• Meet 1:1 with students, virtually or in-person

• Perform outreach to connect with students and parent/guardians

• Create resources & plan Meetups

• Host Monthly Community Event (per region):

• Identify and secure a safe location for students’ and families to meet once a month for community engagement events

• Meet with Academic Coach weekly to discuss student interventions:

• Help students re-engage

• Support students in crisis

• Support those students needing 1:1 assistance

• Local Advocates must maintain open, safe, and regular communication with students, parents, and school staff

• Local Advocates must be able to document interactions with both students & parents within the student portal

• Local Advocates must be comfortable engaging and updating parents when possible**

Qualifications:

• An undergraduate degree in social work, education, counseling, or a related field is strongly preferred. This is a requirement for staff members working with students in Texas.

• For staff members working with students in California, Michigan, and Washington state, a bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, education, or a related field is required OR at least two (2) years’ experience providing case management, counseling, or related direct services to at-risk individuals.

• One-year successful educational counseling experience is strongly preferred

• Experience in high school teaching, tutoring or mentoring is strongly preferred.

• A valid teaching, counseling, or administrator license is highly desirable

• Experience building relationships with at-risk students

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Critical thinking, curiosity and good listening skills

• Well-developed emotional intelligence (ability to empathize/sympathize and motivate).

• Comfort with technology, social media and learning management systems.

• Team-focused, “can-do” attitude about the achievement of goals

• Superior organizational skills, ability to prioritize, multitask and work independently

This position is eligible for a monthly bonus plan based on department and individual goals. Bonus plans are presented annually.
Both Stratus.hr and Graduation Alliance will extend equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, creed, age (40 and over), sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, national origin, ethnic background, genetic information (including of a family member), past, current, or prospective military service, and/or citizenship, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state or federal law.

In compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, Graduation Alliance and Stratus.hr have a longstanding commitment to providing a safe, quality-oriented and productive work environment.

Benefits
Paid sick leave
Incentive Compensation Plan
401K
401K Matching

Skills & Qualifications
Google Suite
Educational Counseling (Preferred)
1 Year Relevant Experience
Organizational Skills
Teaching Experience (Preferred)
Mentoring Experience
Experience With At Risk Youth
Bachelors Degree
Learning Management System Experience

Bonus
Bonus plans are presented annually. This position is eligible for a monthly bonus based on department and individual goals.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $18.00 per hour

Expected hours: 25 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off

Supplemental pay types:

• Bonus opportunities

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Tacoma, WA 98405

Salary : $18