Academic Student Advisor Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Description

The Student Academic and Career Advisors ensure that all students grades 6-12 are prepared for post-secondary success after high school graduation. This includes fostering college, career, or other pathways that lead students toward a meaningful and fulfilling life. This position entails advising individual students regarding academic schedules, plans and progress, and assists the student in making decisions concerning personal and educational goals leading to graduation and beyond including post-secondary career and vocational planning. This position is responsible for organizing post-secondary experiences including college visits and career pathway events. This position supports Learning Site implementation of Life Skills and Critical Thinking lessons/curriculum. This position is responsible for developing and maintaining academic records including student schedules, transcripts and collection of post-secondary plan documentation. The position requires working closely and collaboratively with administration, staff, students, and families.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Priority Area:  Student Advisement

30%

Duties and Responsibilities

• Plan, monitor and direct the multi-year process to student graduation. 
• Use a full body of evidence including historical progress and testing results to determine the appropriate Graduation Pathway and Plan of Study for each student on caseload
• Advise students on realistic graduation dates & timelines
• Coordinate and promote advanced coursework options including Concurrent Enrollment, AP/Honors courses eligibility
• Review course catalog with students and support students in choosing elective courses that are relevant to their future career pathway
• Develop expertise in curriculum offerings including sequence of courses, prerequisites and required courses for students with Personalized Learning Plans including IEP and ML (ELL) learners
• Communicate student's Plan of Study Progress with all stakeholders including student, family, mentor/coach, Learning Site director and appropriate HOPE staff members
• Collaborate with HOPE Site Coordinators and Learning Site staff on course placement and on-going course progress
• Collaborate with Learning Site staff to improve academic achievement and student engagement, advisor may participate in attendance concerns and review meetings
• Complete enrollment reviews for incoming students, collaborate with HOPE and Learning Site staff on enrollment decisions for returning students based on academic standing and/or progress, attendance/engagement and discipline

Evidence of Success

1. Stakeholders report they have an understanding of what is needed to graduate
2. Stakeholders report they understand advanced coursework options
3. Stakeholders report high level of communication and collaboration
4. Enrollment in CTE and advanced courses increases

Priority Area:  College and Career Programming

30%

Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure that each student in grades 6-12 completes required activities for ICAP (Individual Career and Academic plan) including career interest inventories, career goal setting, financial planning for education and career goals
• Determine student outcomes and sequence of career experiences at each grade level with each Learning Site to provide necessary instruction and experiences
• Develop and schedule post-secondary student visits to institutes of higher education (IHE) including colleges, universities, trade/vocational schools.
• Collaborate with Learning Site staff on implementing Life Skills critical thinking curriculum. Provide classroom instruction on career development, financial literacy, ICAP and other topics designed to support school completion and post-secondary transition
• Develop career experiences for students that meet their career needs and interests including business tours, job shadowing and apprenticeships, career speakers, professional interviews etc.
• Provide individual and small group support for students and families to complete post-secondary applications and forms such as FAFSA, school applications,, scholarships and employment applications 
• Develop and collaborate with Learning Site staff to implement student and parent events on topics that support school completion and post-secondary planning (FAFSA nights, Employability Skills, Student Motivation, etc)
• Promotes post-secondary pathway opportunities by meeting with post-secondary partners; and by gathering, submitting, and disseminating information regarding external college and career opportunities
• Oversee Work Study program at assigned sites

Evidence of Success

1. Completion of FAFSA meets or exceeds average for AEC high schools with similar student populations
2. 70% or more of HOPE graduates have documented post-secondary success plans
3. All students have completed ICAP milestone for grade level
4. All 11th & 12th graders have participated in 1 or more IHE (college or trade school visit)

Priority Area:  Course Scheduling and Academic Records 

30%

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain student schedules, including auditing virtual curriculum/coursework and Infinite Campus schedules for alignment and accuracy
• Accurately and efficiently enter transcripts for incoming students into Infinite Campus
• Enter local assessment scores (Workkeys, Capstone, other) required for students chosen Pathway
• Use Infinite Campus and HOPE developed tools to monitor student's graduation progress
• Verify report card grades at end of term and ensure report cards match student schedules
• Maintain Graduation Eligibility lists for assigned Learning Sites
• Recommend and verify that students have met the graduation requirements
• Collect and maintain documentation of post-secondary plan for each student including college acceptance, military acceptance or evidence of employment
• Collect and maintain Work Study course documents
• Maintain appropriate, confidential records and provide timely reports

Evidence of Success

1. All schedules are completed within 72 hours of enrollment
2. All transcripts are entered within 2 weeks of receipt
3. Graduation eligibility lists are accurate and kept up to date, graduation verification is completed by deadline
4. HOPE has needed information to submit Post Secondary plans as an AEC framework optional measure

Priority Area: Lead by exemplifying professionalism and commitment to the community

10%

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide a leadership role in College and Career Fair, Graduate Day and Graduation Ceremony preparation and execution
• Participate in Center Based PLCs and support Learning Site in meeting UIP and school-wide goals
• Participate in extracurricular offerings and programs at HOPE or Learning Sites including clubs, activities and special events such as orientations and awards ceremonies
• Sets personal goals related to student engagement outcomes and seeks opportunities to improve personal professional practice through professional development and reflection.
• Other duties as assigned.

Evidence of Success

• Meets personal and department goals.
• Participates in several events and activities outside of regular job functions

EDUCATION, LICENSURE AND RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE:

Required

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience 
• 2 or more years of experience working in an educational  setting(s) with demonstrated success in supporting students school completion and providing students with the employability skills and content knowledge necessary for post-secondary success
• Knowledge of Career Clusters and Colorado Department of Education PostSecondary Readiness initiatives and policies
• Experience in developing internal and external collaborative relationships that support student success

Preferred

• Active Colorado School Counselor license/endorsement
• Experience with college admissions and financial aid systems 
• Secondary teaching background or experience in academic advising or related career 

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES: 

Required

• Commitment to social justice and equitable education for all and support of community-based learning
• Excellent personal and public relations skills; must be able to communicate effectively with students, staff, and the public from diverse cultural, social, economic, and educational backgrounds
• Fluency and literacy in English, excellent oral and written communication 
• Excellent technology skills - Online curriculum, Google Docs, Drive and Gmail, MS Office, Student Information and learning management systems
• Proactive and detailed oriented, ability to prioritize and be self-directed
• Ability to handle multiple projects and meeting deadlines
• Flexibility to adapt to unexpected and frequent changes, based on organizational needs

Preferred

• Oral and written fluency in Spanish

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:

The Student Academic and Career Advisor position reports to the Academic Liaison for assigned sites. This position is supported by the Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and PD and does not supervise any HOPE or Learning Site employees. 

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL FUNCTIONING REQUIREMENTS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: 

• Compare, analyze, communicate, instruct, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile and negotiate
• Communicate effectively using speech and hearing
• Use near vision to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer) as required for computer use, reading and instruction 
• Use hands for extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation
• Operate office machines and computer equipment
• Be subject to standing, walking, sitting, bending, reaching, kneeling, climbing, balancing, stooping, pushing and pulling
• Occasionally lift objects up to 25 pounds