Overview

The college access and success manager will execute the vision for the college and alumni program, which is designed to ensure that students matriculate in and graduate from college. He or she will follow and advise our high school graduates during their first two years of college. This is an ideal opportunity for a dynamic individual to play a role in growing and shaping a premier charter school committed to helping students not just to matriculate in college, but to graduate from college.

At Brooklyn Ascend High School (BAHS), we are looking for educators who are passionate about their academic discipline and personally driven by the academic achievement of their students. Ascend staff hold exceptionally high intellectual expectations of their students and create a culture of joyful academic discovery in their rooms. Their aim is to ignite intellectual curiosity in their students and build their academic knowledge and confidence in preparation for four-year colleges. They are vigilant in ensuring that all tasks placed before their students are rigorous and, without exception, reflect the school's aspirations of academic excellence.

Our staff knows that a strong culture that respects and motivates students relies on excellent academic teaching in every room. We believe in restorative practices and teach students to resolve conflicts on their own, understand the impact of their actions, and acknowledge responsibility to the school community. We believe that a true liberal arts education - which fosters and prizes critical thinking and independence of thought-cannot be joined to a no-excuses culture that emphasizes silence and compliance. We prepare students for success in college and in life by fostering agency-our students' confidence that they are in control of their own lives and can act of their own free choices. Discover more about BAHS .

Responsibilities

Stay in constant communication with every student to increase student accountability and success:

• Develop a personal, professional relationship with each student
• Relentlessly track every student using obstacles as learning experiences, not dead-ends
• Use all possible forms of communication to stay in close contact with each student including in-person meetings, e-mail, phone, instant messaging, text messaging, etc.
• Be available to students during the evening and weekends to discuss any issues that may arise
• Record relevant notes from each communication in student database
• Send weekly SMS/email communications to all alumni with study tips, words of encouragement, summer opportunities and other relevant messages
• Create and edit seasonal Alumni Newsletter and mail to alumni and alumni parents
• Send care packages to students during exams

Maintain an up-to-date record of each student's progress in the alumni database:

• Record a summary of each interaction with each student in the database
• Maintain up-to-date records of each student's progress in his/her post-secondary career including grade point average and credits accumulated
• Ensure accurate contact information is maintained in database

Help students take full advantage of their college experience; meet each student where they are and then push each to work towards next steps in his/her personal progress:

• Advise students on academic issues including building relationships with professors, study habits, time management, etc.
• Make individualized academic plans with each student reflecting on strengths and weaknesses and setting appropriate goals to push student's growth
• Help students make decisions about choosing a major and selecting classes
• Advise students on ways to best prepare for next step in life (graduate school, law school, work, etc.)
• Help connect students to resources on campus including study abroad opportunities, academic help centers, writing centers, advisement offices, mental health offices, etc.

Build relationships on each campus who will advocate for and support students:

• Research key individuals on campus to meet with during on-campus visits
• Connect students to on-campus officials who will help ensure success
• Discuss student progress with campus officials to maintain accurate record of student progress as well as to encourage continued support from official
• Maintain existing relationships through phone calls, email, holiday cards

Visit each graduate on his/her campus:

• Visit graduates as often as possible: at least once a year for stable students and multiple times for students who need extra support
• Use campus visit to assess student's progress, create individualized action plan, connect with on-campus resources, and deal with any present or impending challenges
• Schedule meetings with key campus administrators and adults in students' lives (e.g. deans, admissions counselors, financial aid officers, special program directors, EOP officials, R.A.'s, professors, etc.)
• Speak with and meet campus officials to advocate for student support, financial aid assistance or other topics as necessary
• Make travel arrangements and submit all receipts

Contact parents of graduates to inquire about students.

Find summer enrichment and volunteer opportunities for students:

• Research programs for college students
• E-mail students regularly with opportunities

Assist with transfer process when appropriate.

Plan Winter and Summer Alumni Days:

• Secure workshop presenter and/or design relevant workshops
• Make report of day for administrators

Manage the book scholarship:

• Receive applications and receipts or set up bookstore accounts
• Process checks and maintain record of scholarship accounts for each student

Staff and Reporting Relationships

The high school alumni coordinator reports to the director of college counseling. He or she also accepts direction from and works closely with the department head and the school's culture team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; master's degree and certification preferred
• Minimum of three years' teaching experience; experience in an urban setting preferred
• Demonstrated experience required with SAT preparation; college access and alumni success; teaching or tutoring in English or Math disciplines
• Knowledge of current trends and topics facing higher education institutions affecting students and college retention rates
• Teaching experience in an urban school setting and in the subject to be taught preferred
• The ability to create a classroom environment where students are academically engaged and challenged and feel safe and supported
• Passion for teaching students in underserved areas and commitment to closing the achievement gap
• Relentless drive to set and achieve ambitious goals
• Strong collaboration and teamwork skills
• Growth mindset and ability to use feedback to improve practice
• Experience teaching in underserved areas preferred

Diversity at Ascend

Ascend is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community, both through our hiring practices and our focus on creating a culture and environment where diverse perspectives, ideas, and identities are valued and integrated into our way of working and educating students. Ascend staff represent a wide diversity of racial, socio-economic, gender, religious, and national identities-opening a window to the entire Ascend community on the richness of humanity. We welcome all applicants who share our mission and vision to join us in our deeply consequential work.

Compensation

Ascend offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. Please visit www.ascendschools.org/careers to learn more about the benefits of working at Ascend.