At the Social Justice Learning Institute, we are dedicated to improving the education, health, and well-being of youth of color by empowering them to take hold of their educational future using research as a tool for community and social change. We train students to conduct research on problems in their community using a rigorous yearlong curriculum while providing basic academic support (i.e., tutoring, homework assistance, academic counseling, etc.) and college preparatory education. SJLI’s youth learn what it takes to achieve academically to go to college and become civically engaged, solution-oriented, and critical participants in the democratic experience. SJLI envisions an educational system where youth become engaged citizens who discover their best talents and apply them to help improve the world they live within. 

The 2023-24 school year marked the pilot of the Urban Scholars Young Women’s program. This program has been a long-standing goal of SJLI to be able to offer a program that alters the life trajectories for young women as it has done so for the original Urban Scholars program. For the 2024-25 school year, the Young Women’s Program (YWP) will be offered at three school districts, including the Antelope Valley Union High School District.

The Young Women’s Program is a credit-bearing class with 20-25 students, presented over two semesters. The Academic and Career Services Coordinator (ACSC) is responsible for fostering strong relationships with students that enable them to set and make progress on personal and academic goals. A key performance indicator of the Program is working with students to graduate high school and place them onto a college and or career path. It is the ACSC that is primarily responsible for working with students individually on skills-building, assisting with college applications, and referrals for personal and academic support.

The ACSC is an essential part of the program team that implements the Young Women’s Program. The team includes the Program and Curriculum Coach, the school site Teacher-of-Record, the school principal on the school campus, the school counselor; and support from SJLI’s Educational Equity Programs Director, Young Women’s Program Manager, and the National Director of Programs. The Program is also supported by Project Sankofa, who are our program, curriculum and training consultants.

The ideal candidate for this position is someone who has program experience working with young Black women in high school as a teacher, counselor, and or mentor who can establish a strong and trusting rapport with students. A degree in Ethnic and Women’s Studies or related fields is desirable. A thorough understanding of Black Feminist studies, authors, and educators is critical.

The Social Justice Learning Institute is dedicated to improving the education, health, and well-being of youth of color by empowering them to take hold of their educational future using research as a tool for community and social change. SJLI trains students to conduct research on problems in their community using a rigorous yearlong curriculum while providing basic academic support (i.e., tutoring, homework assistance, academic counseling, etc.) and college preparatory education. SJLI youth learn what it takes to achieve academically in order to go to college and become civically engaged, solution-oriented and critical participants in the democratic experience. SJLI envisions an educational system where youth become engaged citizens who discover their best talents and apply them to help improve the world they live within.

Job Summary

At SJLI, the Academic and Career Services Coordinator provides students with mentorship and guidance in their academic, personal, and professional development.

This includes, but is not limited to, case management, developing individual academic plans, academic intervention counseling, developing partnerships with job/career organizations, and working alongside school administrators, parents and community organizations to achieve these goals. These goals culminate in fully preparing students to be eligible to apply to a 4 year/2 year institution and/or in a pipeline to be gainfully employed after graduation. It is essential to build networks with community organizations to be able to connect students with opportunities that can propel them in their personal pursuits.

Primary Responsibilities:

Teaching & Coaching

• Attend curriculum and program training
• Be able to teach YWP curriculum if needed
• Facilitate lessons on college and career readiness throughout the year
• Develop individual academic plans with students and ensure progress towards goals are met.
• Coaches students on financial aid, college process, and college/trade school applications

Student Support and Relationship Building

• Establish and maintain relationships with students
• Facilitate meetings with students, counselors, teachers and parents
• Support academic intervention work
• In partnership with the Program & Curriculum Coach, establish relationships with on-campus site staff and administrators
• In partnership with the PCC plan college trips, program activities, field trips, retreats and other off-campus program activities.
• Connects students to SAT/ACT prep courses
• Familiar with UC, CSU, HBCU/Private Universities and community college applications
• Creates and facilitates college application workshops
• Assists seniors with college applications
• Establish and maintain relationships with school counselors

Data Management

• Ability to use SJLI’s online database
• Responsible for collecting and inputting student data from various sources
• Able to collect, track and input data effectively
• Ability to create site data reports
• Create monthly reports

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Exceptional interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills
• Experience in working with BIPOC young women from the youth development perspective
• Has a social justice framework and is knowledgeable of the tenets of equity
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to the Social Justice Learning Institute's goals, guidelines and principles
• Able to maintain confidentiality
• Possesses a valid California Driver’s License
• Able to obtain a live scan clearance
• Available to work on weeknights and weekends
• Able to form strong relationships with a wide range of constituents, including, but not limited to parents, students, staff and leadership
• Ability to collaborate in a team environment
• Understanding of developmental theories and frameworks including but not limited to Black Feminist Thought, Intersectionality, and Cultural Community Wealth.
• Teaching and classroom management experience.
• Familiarity with the Antelope Valley community.
• Experience working with community organizations in Antelope Valley.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (Masters preferred) in Education, Ethnic or Black Studies, Women’s Studies, Psychology, Social Work, or other related fields.
• 3 – 5 years of high school counseling experience or in an instructional or student services role with high school students.