Graduation Candidate Advocate

Acceleration Academies, LLC; Cincinnati, Northern (OH, KY); Hybrid; USD 20,457,000 - 29,136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

401(k) match

Insurance: medical/dental/vision

Flexible PTO

Wellness resources

Referral incentives

Professional development

Bonuses

Job summary

Acceleration Academies in Cincinnati is seeking a Graduation Candidate Advocate who will build relationships with students and provide both academic and non‑academic support to help them earn a high school diploma. This onsite role focuses on mentoring, advocacy, and connecting students to resources within the academy and community.

You will recruit, canvass, enroll new students, monitor attendance, and coordinate with the student support team to tailor learning pathways.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required and experience in educational support or working with at‑risk youth.
• Strong relationship building and communication across differences is essential.
• Ability to motivate others and work with minimal supervision in a fast paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a connector between students and community resources, identifying and securing support for students experiencing homelessness, emotional distress, and other urgent needs.
• Build and maintain relationships with the greater Cincinnati community to expand academy offerings.
• Represent the academy at community events and initiatives, proactively seeking new partners.
• Advocate for students by connecting them to academy staff for support.
• Lead canvassing efforts to attract new students and support enrollment.

Skills

Relationship building

Excellent communication

Self-motivation and leadership

Organization and executive function

Decision making with minimal supervis

Conflict resolution

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Google Workspace

Email

Zoom

Learning Management Systems

Educational technology tools

Job description

At Acceleration Academies, we believe in transforming the lives of students who have disengaged from traditional schooling to achieve their high school diploma through personalized, flexible learning and innovative educational practices, we empower young adults to earn their high school diploma tuition‑free. Partnering with school districts nationwide, our dropout recovery and student re‑engagement programs are supported by cutting‑edge technology and a commitment to compassionate, impactful teaching.

The Role

The 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. At Cincinnati Acceleration Academy, this role carries a strong community focusing. You will be out in the greater Cincinnati community building partnerships, connecting students to resources, and telling the story of what our students can accomplish.

This position is onsite at Cincinnati Acceleration Academy. Additional cities listed on this posting reflect the surrounding areas we recruit from, not alternate work sites.

Key Responsibilities

Community Engagement and Advocacy

• Serve as a connector between students and community resources, identifying and securing support for students experiencing homelessness, emotional distress, and other urgent needs.
• Build and maintain relationships and partnerships across the greater Cincinnati community that expand what the academy can offer students.
• Represent the academy at community events and initiatives, proactively seeking out new partners rather than waiting for opportunities to come to us.
• Advocate for students by assisting in identifying solutions and connecting them to academy staff for academic and non‑academic support.

Recruitment and Canvassing

• Lead and contribute to canvassing efforts throughout the community to attract new students.
• Communicate the mission, model, and measurement goals of Acceleration Academies clearly and confidently to anyone, including people you have never met.
• Support ongoing student recruitment efforts alongside the academy team.
• 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 such as texts, calls, and home visits.
• Utilize technology tools for efficient daily monitoring and maintenance of student attendance and retention records.
• 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.

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.
• Step into academy and Graduation Candidate Advocate related tasks as needed on a small, closely connected team.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support the overall mission of the academy.

What We’re Looking For

Education: Bachelor's degree required.
Experience: 1-3 years of relevant experience in educational support, case management, or working with at‑risk youth.
Skills: Strong relationship building and excellent communication across differences in race, gender, orientation, need, mindset, and working style. The ability to motivate others and inspire confidence. Strong organization and executive function. Comfort taking charge and making decisions with minimal supervision in a fast paced environment. Sound judgment in conflict resolution.
Passion: A genuine commitment to supporting students who have disengaged from traditional schooling and a drive to help them succeed.
Technology: Advanced proficiency with Google Workspace and email is required, along with Zoom. This role manages a high volume of information daily, so the ability to learn new systems quickly and pivot as priorities shift is essential. Proficiency with learning management systems and educational technology tools is expected.

Preferred Qualifications

• Willingness to obtain an Ohio substitute teaching license, which opens additional growth opportunities within the role.
• Familiarity with myINCITE, Slack, or similar platforms.
• 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 prioritize the holistic well‑being of our team members and their families through comprehensive benefits:

Competitive Compensation: S tarting at $18.00 an hour

Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with up to a 4% company match to help secure your future.

Comprehensive Insurance Coverage: Medical, Dental, Vision, FSA, Company Paid Life Insurance, Supplemental Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, and Accident insurance options are available to protect you and your loved ones.

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

Third-Party Agency & Recruiter Notice for Acceleration Academies

Agencies presenting candidates must have an active, nonexpired Master Services Agreement and be formally engaged by an Acceleration Academies Recruiter. Resumes submitted outside these terms will be considered the property of Acceleration Academies.

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.

All roles at Acceleration Academies include core responsibilities that are fundamental to student success and overall academy operations. Applicants should carefully review the job description to ensure they can meet these requirements. Essential duties typically include:

• 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

If you believe you may need a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of the role, Acceleration Academies will engage in an interactive process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Please note that accommodations cannot remove essential job functions or fundamentally alter the nature of the role.