What are the responsibilities and job description for the Student Support Specialist position at Higdon Growth Co.?
About Higdon Growth Co.
Higdon Growth Co. is a student support organization providing individualized academic, executive functioning, and social-emotional support to students and families.
We take a holistic approach to student success by helping students grow academically while also building skills like organization, confidence, self-awareness, and independence.
Who We Want to Hire
We are looking for Student Support Specialists who:
- Have a background or experience in education, psychology, counseling, behavior support, or a related field
- Have experience working directly with children or teens
- Are dependable, patient, and encouraging
- Are comfortable supporting both academic and social-emotional growth
- Are able to build positive relationships with students while providing structure and accountability
Experience in teaching, tutoring, psychology, counseling, social work, special education, ABA/behavior support, or youth development is especially relevant. College students and recent graduates with strong experience working with children or teens are also encouraged to apply.
What You'll Do
Student Support Specialists work one-on-one with students and provide individualized support in three main areas:
Academic Support
- Tutoring and homework support
- Reviewing and reinforcing academic skills
- Study skills and test preparation
- Building academic confidence
Executive Functioning Support
- Organization
- Time management
- Planning and prioritizing
- Task initiation
- Study routines and school habits
Social-Emotional Support
- Self-awareness
- Self-management
- Social awareness
- Relationship skills
- Responsible decision-making
Each student's sessions will look different based on their individual needs. Higdon Growth Co. provides individualized goals, guidance, and resources to help specialists plan and facilitate their sessions.
Additional Responsibilities
- Meet consistently with assigned students
- Follow individualized student goals and recommendations
- Prepare for and facilitate engaging student sessions
- Complete brief session notes after each session
- Communicate student progress, concerns, and needs with the Higdon Growth Co. team
- Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality
- Maintain consistency and reliability with assigned students
Location & Service Areas
This position is primarily in person. Higdon Growth Co. is continuing to expand throughout Maryland, and our service areas will continue to grow.
Our greatest current need is for specialists who can provide in-person support in:
- Montgomery County
- Prince George's County
We also have a smaller current need in:
- Baltimore County
Applicants from other Maryland counties are encouraged to apply as we continue expanding into additional areas.
There are some virtual student opportunities for specialists who are also committed to providing in-person services. We are not currently hiring for virtual-only positions.
Reliable transportation is required for in-person sessions.
Schedule & Caseload
- Part-time
- Schedule is based on student assignments and specialist availability
- Most students meet with their specialist once or twice per week
- Specialists may work with multiple students and build a consistent caseload over time
- Afternoon, evening, and some weekend availability is especially helpful
Higdon Growth Co. will work to build each specialist's caseload based on their availability and preferred service area. As caseloads grow, we will aim to group student sessions by location when possible, creating opportunities for specialists to have multiple sessions on the same day within the same general area.
Students are matched with specialists based on location, availability, student needs, and overall fit.
Compensation
$50 per 60-minute student session
Compensation is based on completed sessions. Weekly earnings will depend on specialist availability, location, and the number of students on their caseload.
Pay: $40.00 - $50.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
Salary : $40 - $50