What You Will Do

The primary purpose of the Scholar Services Coordinator is to provide a comprehensive program of social skills development, behavioral and academic guidance counseling supports to assist scholars in the areas of academic achievement and personal and social development. The Scholar Services Coordinator provides social and emotional supports that are designed to increase scholars’ availability for learning in the classroom, increase self-esteem, raise scholars’ expectations for achievement, and assist scholars in developing social skills needed for high school, college, and beyond. The Scholar Services Coordinator provides the appropriate counseling intervention that will enhance scholars’ success while at Achievement Prep and afterward.

Reporting to the Assistant Principal of Culture, you will:

Character Development

• Support staff in developing and implementing effective classroom based intervention to support scholar achievement
• Support the implementation of AM Prep for Prep based on scholar data and school culture priorities
• Support the direction of grade level teams to effectively implement scholar interventions and support strategies
• Create and implement scholar incentives to support social skill development
• Deliver social skills lessons to targeted advisories and small groups based on data
• Create and provide social skills lessons for teachers to deliver during morning/afternoon advisory time and Wednesday afternoon Preppie & Proud community time
• Work with the Dean of Scholars and Assistant Principal of Culture to create a Prep Academy (pre-school year) curriculum that introduces social skills, expectations, rituals, and routines

Counseling

• Use data and work with culture team to identify scholars in need of counseling/social service assistance and provide substantive service in-house or make referrals to effective community agencies
• Provide individual and group counseling services
• Provide scholar services including but not limited to organizational skills, working appropriately with others, and social skills
• Assist with individual scholar and school-wide crisis interventions
• Identify community-based services and build mechanisms for referrals for mental health services in the community
• Develop, monitor, review and modify behavior intervention plans
• Develop and monitor social-emotional goals for scholars receiving counseling
• Conduct classroom observations of scholars
• Conduct in-class guidance lessons in alignment with character education themes

Family Engagement

• Serve as primary support for Parent As Partners
• Plan and lead parent workshops to develop parent capacity to support The Achievement Prep Way
• Link scholars and families to community-based services
• Work with the culture team to orchestrate and hold parent engagement events to break down barriers between home and school
• Conduct home visits as necessary

Scholar Services

• Serve as the Homeless Scholar Liaison
• Provide transition support for new and retained families/scholars
• Serve as the first line/expert to support scholars in emotional crisis
• Serve as a standing member of Scholar Support Team (SST), and participate actively in SST meetings/ process
• Participate in any meetings for scholars on temporary caseload including, but not limited to, Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings, Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings, and Manifestation Determination Review (MDR) meetings

Staff Development

• Research, plan and coordinate in-service training programs for administrators, parents, teachers, etc. in understanding and meeting the social and emotional needs of scholars; scholar services issues; behavior management; and teaching social skills
• Consult with teachers regarding effective classroom management teaching strategies and appropriate work products and/or modifications to implement for struggling scholars
• Support all staff in developing and implementing effective classroom-based interventions to support scholar achievement
• Foster and develop an awareness of community issues that affect the school environment and intervene when appropriate
• Participate in training activities and clinical supervision provided by Achievement Prep
• Fulfill continuing education requirements consistent with respective discipline and keep licenses current
• Participate in grade level team meetings to effectively implement scholar interventions and support strategies
• Provide training for mandatory reporting

Documentation & Record Keeping

• Maintain confidential, accurate, and up-to-date records for all scholars/families receiving treatment services and submit monthly reports
• Manage time, tasks, deadlines and responsibilities in a fast-paced environment

General School Support

• Serve as a primary reporter for child abuse/neglect concerns
• Collaboratively work with academic department to support scholars
• Engage in additional school-wide responsibilities, such as lunch/recess duty, hallway posts, events committees, etc.
• Receive continuous feedback from peers and school leaders on your practice and be expected to give the same
• Embody our core values of Determination, Respect, Enthusiasm, Accountability, and Mastery
• Exhibit an unwavering commitment to high academic achievement and character development in our scholars
• Be on campus from at least 7:30 AM to at least 5:00 PM daily
• Attend and support monthly Family Nights/events that invite families into the building

Be willing to take on additional responsibilities as necessary to fulfill Achievement Prep’s mission for our scholars 

You Must Have

• Degree in social work, psychology, or counseling
• 2+ years of experience working with children in historically underserved communities

It Would Be Nice for You to Have

• Independent licensure to practice in field
• 1+ years of experience in a school setting

Who You Are

You know and understand the power of education and have seen, first hand, that power manifested either in your life or in the lives of others. You are committed to serving historically underserved communities knowing that your work is part of a larger ecosystem committed to change. You believe in a quality public education for all and are determined to serve every child that comes your way. You are unapologetically mission driven and will do whatever it takes to advance the work and ensure scholar achievement. You are excited about not just the work, but doing the work at Achievement Prep. You are familiar with our community and are not afraid of or by all the beauty and challenges that come with living in impoverished communities. You value and respect everyone and demonstrate that respect in words and actions.

You understand that the needs of the whole child must be addressed in order to fully access her/his education. You work relentlessly each day to ensure that happens for our most vulnerable scholars. But you don’t allow their challenges to lower your bar for what you expect of them and what you teach others to expect of them when it comes to being an Achievement Prep Scholar. You know that every minute counts for our scholars, so you structure your days to maximize your impact with scholars on your temporary caseload while simultaneously serving the broader scholar community with a laser focus on social-emotional trends you see across the school or with specific sub groups. You respect timelines and know that meeting the same are not optional or to be taken for granted. You are open to feedback, eager to grow, and bring your best to everything you do. You know the work isn’t easy and don’t expect for it to be. The grind of our mission ignites you. You are not only capable of performing, but thrive in circumstances involving ambiguity and nuance. You look for, or create, the joy in your day-to-day and want to work with others who do, too. 

What We Value

• 100% Scholars: You prioritize what’s best for scholars first.
• Results Without Excuses: You set, track and achieve ambitious goals; and you own the mistakes.
• Sweat the Small Stuff: You pay attention to the smallest details to ensure smooth, predictable, and effective outcomes.
• Community Matters – Mightily: You show care and respect for others – even when the work is taxing.
• Unapologetically Mission-Driven: You have a “whatever it takes” mentality in achieving the mission.
• Many Minds, One Mission: You value and partner with parents and the community for the good of scholars.

What You Get

• Development:
  • Ongoing weekly or bi-weekly coaching and development from direct supervisor
  • Regular internal professional development tailored to the requirements of the position and staff needs
  • Opportunities to participate in external professional development that increases effectiveness in the role
• Compensation & Benefits: Achievement Prep offers highly competitive compensation and benefits
  • Achievement Prep offers highly competitive compensation
  • Medical, vision, dental benefits
  • Flexible spending accounts for transit, dependent care, and medical expenses
  • 401k with automatic immediate employer matching up to 4%
• It Pays to Stay:
  • Upon completion of 2 full school years of service, employees become eligible for annual loyalty incentives
  • Gifts and Achievement Prep swag
  • Bonuses