Nevada Connections Academy - Graduation Coach, 2024-2025 School Year

Position Summary
Working from your home office in Nevada, the Graduation Coach/Dropout Prevention Specialist will work with the school's leadership team to support the mission and operations to help students successfully complete high school. They will assist students and parents in understanding and meeting graduation requirements, course selection and scheduling, and career pathway planning and completion. They will support the framework of educational and career continuum programs of the school. The Graduation Coach/Dropout Prevention Specialist will become an expert on the state's course requirements, academic planning, and career pathways required to earn a diploma and certifications in the state. The Graduation Coach/ Dropout Prevention Specialist will work to improve graduation rates for all population subgroups within the school.
Responsibilities
The Graduation Coach/ Dropout Prevention Specialist will work under NCA's Superintendent, Principal, or Manager of School Counseling to improve graduation rates for all population subgroups within the school by performing the following duties and responsibilities:

• Must be able to use a personal electronic device and email address for 2-step authentication
• Identify and monitor at-risk students who are not on track to graduate.
• Build a culture of post-secondary planning which includes but is not limited to college, trade school and workforce preparation.
• Develop, implement, and monitor appropriate strategies to reduce behaviors that put students at risk of not graduating on time from high school.
• Train school staff in appropriate strategies to reduce behaviors that put students at risk of not graduating on time from high school.
• Analyze, develop, implement, and track Graduation Recovery Plans and strategies.
• Maintain a Senior Homeroom and establish clear strategies to engage seniors in building a sense of community and belonging at Nevada Connections Academy.
• Understand the multiplicity of social services available in the community to support students at risk of not graduating.
• Keep abreast of all high school graduation requirements;
• In partnership with the leadership team, monitor and develop strategies to assist with late-enrolling high school students to provide guidance on successfully integrating the students into their coursework;
• Report and refer critical incidents that jeopardize student well-being as obligated by law, administrative regulations, or ethical standards;
• Keep current on community resources vital to meeting the needs of students in distress, making them available to school teams and to families as needed;
• Work with school staff to identify students who are at risk or in crisis;
• Counsel families through the school withdrawal process, assisting with data collection regarding withdrawal; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited college/university required/Master's Degree preferred
• Nevada counseling or teaching certification, 9-12 specific
• Nevada resident
• Strong leadership qualities and a commitment to goal-directed management and accountability
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Customer-focused approach
• Flexible, ability to transition from task to task quickly
• Demonstrated ability to work well in fast-paced environment
• Technologically proficient (especially with Microsoft Office products and Google Suite)
• Travel and attendance at in-person events, including State Testing is required throughout the School Year, as determined by the school. This may require overnight travel.
• Ability to work some occasional evening hours, as needed to support some families
• Ability to communicate tactfully and frankly with high-risk students and families
• Finesse and grace to work through tough conversations with people who are sometimes upset and confrontational