Specialist - At-Risk Students

Job Title: Specialist - At-Risk Students   
Wage/Hour Status: Exempt / At-Will
Reports To: Principal
Pay Grade/Days: 102/212 Days
Dept./School: Campus                     
Date Revised: March 2026
 

Primary Purpose:     

Coordinate and implement strategies aimed at improving academic performance and attendance for individual economically disadvantaged, at-risk students. Provide targeted support to these students to reduce disparities in high school completion rates and performance on state assessment instruments.

Education/Certification:

Bachelor's Degree in Education 

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• State and Federal Program Compliance (Title I, At-Risk, Accelerated Instruction)
• Knowledge of research-based intervention instructional practices
• Expertise in deploying at-risk resources to improve student outcomes.
• Understanding of tiered interventions
• Expertise in State attendance guidelines, PEIMS reporting, and At-Risk graduation requirements to mitigate credit loss
• Ability to maintain accurate and complete records as required by law, district policy, and administrative regulations
• Adhere to school rules, administrative regulations, and board policy
• Technologically adept with a proven ability to master emerging platforms and manage complex district data-tracking systems

Experience:

Three or more years of teaching experience, with a proven track record of closing student learning gaps.  

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

1. Work closely with district and campus personnel and families to identify and prevent potential dropouts among at-risk students
2. Partner and engage families and community stakeholders to improve student outcomes and graduation rates.
3. Collaborate with appropriate stakeholders to develop individualized student plans that address academic, behavior, and attendance.
4. Schedule, conduct, and document Student Assistance Team (SAT) meetings to review plans and data for students identified as at risk.
5. Provide required data, forms, and information to school and district personnel.
6. Coordinate appropriate compensatory, intensive, remediation, or accelerated instructional services for students.
7. Collaborate with campus and district leaders to ensure evidence-based, TEKS-aligned instruction is utilized during tiered interventions as determined by students' Accelerated Instruction Plans.
8. Coordinate the writing and documentation of instructional plans for at-risk students in the district tracking system.
9. Assist in identifying, coding, and reporting At Risk data.
10. Responsible for receiving and maintaining specific state, school, district, and student materials/data of at-risk/dropout information.
11. Keep abreast of high school graduation requirements, Credit Restoration, and Mandatory Attendance Laws (high school only).
12. Arrange opportunities for attendance recovery, including Saturday schools.
13. Track student attendance recovery data for the campus.
14. Submit data to the registrar when the student completes attendance credit recovery.
15. Demonstrate respect for and adherence to confidentiality laws.
16. Attend and participate in faculty/district meetings as appropriate.
17. Participate in appropriate in-service and professional growth activities.
18. Establish and maintain professional relationships with all colleagues, students, parents, and community service contacts.
19. Perform other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

 Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

Maintain emotional control under stress. Frequent extended days. Administrative office environment, high pressure, fast pace, multiple deadlines, and people-intensive.
 
Note: This is not necessarily an exhaustive or all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, functions or working conditions associated with the job. This job description is not a contract of employment or a promise or guarantee of any specific terms or conditions of employment. The school district may add to, modify or delete any aspect of this job (or the position itself) at any time as it deems advisable.
 
 
Non Discrimination Statement
 
The Waco Independent School District is an equal opportunity educational provider and employer who does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information or non-proficiency in English language skills in educational programs or activities that it operates or in employment matters. The District is required by Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans with Disabilities Act; and school board policy not to discriminate in such a manner.
 
For information about your rights or complaints regarding compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Title IX, please email titleixcoordinator@wacoisd.org or contact Waco ISD Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources at 254-755-9410 or Assistant Superintendent for Student Services and Support at 254-755-9417. For information or complaints regarding compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Title VI and Title VII, as amended, contact the Waco ISD Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources at 254-755-9410.  For information or complaints regarding compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, contact Waco ISD Special Education Executive Director at 254-755-9569 or write to P.O. Box 27, Waco, TX, 76703.