What are the responsibilities and job description for the GEAR UP Support Specialist position at Watauga County Schools?
Purpose: Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is a federally funded discretionary grant program designed to increase the number of low-income students prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.
The GEAR UP college access initiative national objectives are to:
- Increase academic performance and preparation for postsecondary education.
- Increase the rate of high school graduation and participation in postsecondary education.
- Increase GEAR UP students' and their families' knowledge of postsecondary education options, preparation, and financing.
To achieve these objectives, GEAR UP provides a variety of interventions to students and their families in grades six through year one of postsecondary education.
Services include and are not limited to college visits, summer programs, career exploration, mentoring, job shadowing, tutoring, college advising, and financial aid workshops. Professional development is offered to school and district staff to share best practices and assist in creating and strengthening a college-going culture for the target schools and their communities.
The GEAR UP Support Specialist is a part-time: 20 hours a week (with no benefits) a position requiring a 12-month commitment.
Programmatic, evaluation, and counseling responsibilities are essential to the success of this position. The GEAR UP Support Specialist will work collaboratively with and in support of a full-time Gear Up District Coordinator as well as Appalachian State, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, and local school district staff to fulfill the academic obligations communicated in the approved grant award.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
- Support the district Coordinator in administering the Gear Up grant in Watauga County
- Assist with the implementation and coordination of comprehensive pre-college programs for middle and high school students that include, but are not limited to, career exploration, academic planning and preparation, college visits, mentoring, and financial planning
- Serve as a college planning resource for students, teachers, educators, and counselors.
- Advise students at any stage of the career/college search, application, or financial aid processes
- Work collaboratively with other district-based staff, school personnel, families, and the community at large, raising awareness of the benefits of a postsecondary education
- Assist the Coordinator in creating sustainable initiatives that create a systemically supportive environment encouraging postsecondary achievement and increasing the college-going success rate for all GEAR UP students
- Assist the Coordinator in planning and implementing summer enrichment activities that include academic preparation, job-shadowing, college visits, etc., meeting the needs of the school district’s students (requires some extended day/overnight travel)
- Attend regular GEAR UP meetings, institutes, and conferences, providing continuous feedback and recommendations (may require extended day or overnight travel)
- Liaise with central office and other school administrators to collect paperwork and complete necessary monthly and quarterly financial “packets”
- Enter service data into Gear Up’s Lyceum database and prepare reports as needed
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in a related field
- Knowledge of the college-going process and educational/financial aid opportunities
- Experience in working with diverse populations
- Excellent communication skills (virtual, oral, and written)
- Excellent administration and organizational skills
- Effective presentation skills
- Strong interpersonal and networking skills
- Ability to serve as a positive role model for students
- Commitment to act as an educational advocate for all students
Preferred Qualifications
- Background and experience in education
- Familiarity with TRiO/CTE programs
Employment Term: 12-Month position with limited benefits. This position is grant limited and employment is contingent upon grant renewal and its conditions.