Coordinator, Student Success and Persistence

Commonpoint; New York (NY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonpoint in Ridgewood, NY is seeking a Student Success and Persistence Coordinator to support high school and college readiness initiatives. You will report to the Assistant Director of Persistence and Access and collaborate with school staff to provide post-secondary guidance, attendance outreach, and family engagement activities.

Qualifications include a Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, School Counseling or related field (Spanish bilingual extension preferred), experience with

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in relevant field.
• Experience with adolescents in urban settings.
• Ability to engage diverse student populations.
• Experience developing workshops and seminars.
• College counseling experience preferred.
• Evening hours and travel to sites may be required.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Commitment to strength-based youth development.

Responsibilities

• Travel and provide post-secondary support for sites: Grover Cleveland High School and Youth Opportunity Hub Persistence Program.
• Collaborate with school staff to offer college readiness activities.
• Participate in regular meetings with school-based and agency staff on college readiness.
• Develop activities that enhance exploration of college as a post-secondary option.
• Ensure each student creates a clear postgraduate plan.
• Provide direct individual and group college advisement.
• Arrange participation in college fairs, tours, and panels.
• Provide information on financial aid and FAFSA/scholarship applications.
• Assist with college choice, exploration, and timely applications.
• Provide family engagement workshops on financial aid and college processes.
• Update student contact information regularly.
• Provide family orientation for students proceeding to college.
• Plan outreach and alumni meetings in collaboration with school leadership.
• Act as liaison with college admission offices to deepen connections.
• Maintain statistical and narrative documentation.
• Participate in staff training and meetings.

Skills

Rapport building with urban youth

Strong communication skills

Event/workshop development

Teamwork

Education

Master’s Degree in Psychology, Social Work, School Counseling or related field

Job description

STATEMENT OF THE AGENCY

Commonpoint is a non-profit, multi-service agency with flagship sites in Little Neck, Bayside, Forest Hills, East Elmhurst, and Jamaica with 70 additional sites throughout the community that provides a diverse array of programs and services to over 70,000 mission is to sustain and enhance the quality of family and individual life for all members of our community, regardless of religion, ethnic or cultural background, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual preference, age, or disability, within a pervasive and inclusive environment that facilitates individual growth, meets individual needs and builds community. We accomplish this mission through a broad range of social, educational, and recreational services that reach community members of all ages and backgrounds.

STATEMENT OF THE POSITION

Within our framework of holistic, strength-focused, and family-supported practice, an individual hired as a Student Success and Persistence Coordinator in the High School and College Success portfolio of services will report directly to the Assistant Director of Persistence and Access.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Psychology, Social Work, School Counseling, or a related course of study with a Bilingual - Spanish extension is strongly preferred.
• At least three years experience working with adolescents in an urban environment, providing services that reduce barriers and facilitate educational success and social-emotional well-being.
• Demonstrated ability to establish a strong rapport with an urban adolescent population and their families.
• Prior workshop/seminar development and implementation experience is preferred; prior college counseling experience is strongly preferred.
• Strong ability to create engaging and relevant activities for students and their families connected to college.
• Ability to work evenings, as needed.
• Ability to travel to multiple locations as needed.
• Must have excellent organizational, teamwork, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Must have a commitment to work from a strength-based and/or youth development perspective.
• Foster and manage relationships with college personnel, including college administrators, professors, and staff who provide student support services.
• Experience working with a diverse group of students and ability to support students and hold them accountable as appropriate.
• Strong relationship-building and group facilitation capabilities, incorporating cross cultural sensitivity.
• Deep understanding of positive youth development, education learning standards, and issues facing immigrant and first-generation youth in the U.S.
• College guidance experience and strong knowledge of the college application, financial aid, and scholarship process.
• Provide case management for students identified as needing supportive services in order to achieve academic success.
• Assist students in attending school regularly and on time through rapid identification of obstacles and connecting with resources; attendance outreach including home visits, phone calls, daily “swipe in” data reports, etc.
• Provide assessments and individual and group counseling.
• Develop and implement workshops responsive to student needs.
• Provide crisis intervention as needed.
• Provide family outreach and involvement activities as appropriate to support family engagement and participation in the school community and the lives of their youth.
• Support and participate in school-wide and agency events.
• Collaborate with school staff to develop interventions for students who are truant.
• Work with schools to develop and systematize comprehensive, effective direct outreach methods for the school community and/or other important family and school events, including maintaining and building effective family and community outreach lists, conducting parent-to-parent and staff phone-banking, flyering before and after school and at high parent trafficked areas, conducting door-knocking to families, working with teachers and staff on effective parent and caregiver outreach, etc.
• Work with the school to develop and implement comprehensive family engagement plans that include multiple on-ramps for families to become involved in the school, parents and caregivers taking responsibility for carrying out various components of the plan and moving parents and caregivers up Ladders of Engagement through leadership development and training.
• Advise and recruit parents and caregivers for ongoing workshops and development opportunities.
• Help schools structure all events with students, families, and communities to elicit full and meaningful parent and community participation.

Responsibilities

• Travel and provide post-secondary support for the following sites/locations: Grover Cleveland High School and Youth Opportunity Hub Persistence Program.
• Collaborate with school staff to offer college readiness activities to the broader student population and to create a culture of college anticipation in the school.
• Participate in regular meetings with school-based and agency staff on college and career readiness.
• Develop activities that enhance the exploration of college as a post-secondary choice and option.
• Assure that each student creates a clear, attainable postgraduate plan.
• Provide direct individual and group college advisement.
• Arrange for student participation in college fairs, tours, and retreats.
• Arrange speakers and panels related to college issues.
• Provide information on financial aid and planning and assistance with FAFSA and scholarship applications, as well as applications to SEEK, EOP, HEOP, and College Discovery programs.
• Provide assistance with college choice, exploration, and completion of college applications in a timely manner.
• Provide family engagement workshops on financial aid and the college choice and application process to inform and attain their support for a college option.
• Regularly update student contact information.
• Provide family orientation for students proceeding on to college in collaboration with school staff.
• Plan and implement regular outreach and meetings for alumni in collaboration with school leadership to ensure overall success through the transition to college life.
• Act as a liaison with college admission offices in collaboration with school leadership as we develop deeper connections with institutions.
• Maintain all required statistical and narrative documentation.
• Participate in staff training and meetings, including school retreats and professional development.

General Tasks of Commonpoint Staff

• Promote and implement the Core Values of the Community Center.
• Participation in all staff meetings and staff training seminars.
• Participation in agency-wide programs and program committees, as assigned.
• Active involvement as a supervisee in the supervision process.
• Support the mission of Commonpoint.
• Other tasks appropriate to Commonpoint’s staff, as assigned.

Location: 21-27 Himrod Street, Ridgewood, NY, 11385.

Salary Range: $55,000-65,000.

Non-Union Position.

Commonpoint reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

Commonpoint is an equal-opportunity employers/programs. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.