Graduation Candidate Advocate

Acceleration Academies; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 25,571 - 36,420; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible PTO

401(k) match

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Bonus opportunities

Job summary

Acceleration Academies seeks a Graduation Candidate Advocate to build strong relationships with students and support their path to graduation. The role focuses on enrollment, attendance, and academic interventions, with a bias toward proactive outreach and problem-solving.

Ideal candidates are recent graduates or early-career professionals in education or case management, comfortable with LMS tools, and prepared to engage families and communities to reduce barriers to school completion.

Qualifications

• Associate degree preferred, but equivalent experience in education, youth mentorship, or case management will be considered.
• 0-2 years of relevant experience in educational support, case management, or working with at-risk youth.
• Proficiency with learning management systems and educational technology tools.

Responsibilities

• Enrollment: assist with registration and enrollment for new students and support during orientation.
• Retention and Attendance: act as a case manager for a cohort, monitor attendance, and maintain records.
• Recruitment: contribute to canvassing and recruitment efforts to attract new students.
• Academics: provide one-on-one academic support and interventions, track learning pathways, and monitor progress.
• Advocacy: identify solutions and connect students to academy staff for support.
• Operations: provide daily operational support, answer phones, and participate in meetings.

Skills

Relationship-building

Communication

Adaptability

Collaboration

Education

Associate degree preferred

Tools

Learning Management System

Educational technology tools

Job description

Role

Graduation Candidate Advocate is at the heart of our mission, building meaningful relationships with students to support their journey toward earning their high school diploma. Graduation Candidate Advocates act as mentors and advocates, providing both academic and non‑academic support while fostering an environment where students feel valued and empowered.

This role is highly relationship-driven and persistence-focused, requiring consistent outreach, problem‑solving, and a commitment to understanding and removing barriers that prevent students from attending and progressing. This role is ideal for recent graduates or early‑career professionals looking to build experience in education, student support, or case management.

Key Responsibilities

• Enrollment:
  • Assist with the registration and enrollment process for new students.
  • Provide comprehensive support during student orientation to set the stage for success.
• Retention and Attendance:
  • Act as a case manager for a designated cohort of students, monitoring and documenting regular attendance.
  • Implement the Acceleration Academy Retention Protocol through proactive outreach (texts, calls, home visits).
  • Utilize technology tools for efficient daily monitoring and maintenance of student attendance and retention records.
• Recruitment:
  • Contribute to canvassing and recruitment efforts to attract new students.
• Academics:
  • Deliver one‑on‑one academic support and interventions to facilitate student learning and complement the work of center professionals.
  • Collaborate closely with the student support team to track learning pathways, monitor behavior, and implement transition plans, including incentive programs to bolster student achievement.
  • Utilize the Learning Management System and other technology resources to monitor and facilitate student progress and maintain up‑to‑date academic records, including attendance.
  • Engage in professional development activities to enhance academic support practices.
• Advocacy:
  • Advocate for students by assisting in identifying solutions and connecting them to academy staff for academic and non‑academic support.
• Operations:
  • Provide daily operational support for the academy, such as answering phones and maintaining student records.
  • Participate actively in academy meetings and school or community events.
  • Perform other duties as assigned to support the overall mission of the academy.

What We’re Looking For

• Education: Associate degree preferred, but equivalent experience in education, youth mentorship, or case management will be considered.
• Experience: 0‑2 years of relevant experience in educational support, case management, or working with at‑risk youth.
• Skills: Strong relationship‑building, excellent communication, adaptability, and the ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic environment.
• Passion: A genuine commitment to supporting students who have disengaged from traditional schooling and a drive to help them succeed.
• Technology: Proficiency with learning management systems and educational technology tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual skills (Spanish preferred!)
• Experience in non‑traditional educational settings.
• Comfort with project‑based and competency‑based learning approaches.

Why Join Us?

Being part of Acceleration Academies means joining a team that’s dedicated to transforming student outcomes. Here, you’ll directly impact students’ lives, championing their growth, resilience, and path to graduation.

We Value Our Team’s Well‑being

• Competitive compensation: Starting at $22.50 an hour.
• Retirement savings: 401(k) plan with up to a 4% company match.
• Comprehensive insurance coverage: Medical, Dental, Vision, FSA, Company Paid Life Insurance, Supplemental Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, and Accident insurance options.
• Flexible paid time off: Encouraging a healthy work‑life balance through adaptable FTO.
• Wellness support: Employer‑paid financial wellness programs and access to mental health resources.
• Employee referral incentives: Rewarding you for helping us build a talented team.
• Professional development: Certification reimbursement programs to invest in your growth.
• Bonus opportunities: Celebrating milestones and achievements with performance‑based bonuses.

Physical & Work Environment

• Regularly required to sit, talk, hear, and use hands.
• Occasionally lift up to 20 pounds.
• Work in a collaborative classroom or office setting and may involve exposure to outdoor weather during events.
• Occasional travel between nearby academy sites may be required to support student needs or operational coverage.

Core Responsibilities

• Consistent, reliable attendance during scheduled work hours.
• On‑site presence (for roles designated as in‑person/onsite).
• Management of assigned workload and productivity expectations.
• Ability to perform job functions in an open, student‑centered workspace.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Acceleration Academies is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.