Graduation Candidate Advocate

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive hourly wage

401(k) with company match

Health, Dental, Vision insurance

Flexible paid time off

Wellness program

Referral incentives

Professional development

Bonus opportunities

Job summary

Acceleration Academies seeks a Graduation Candidate Advocate to build relationships with students and guide them toward earning a high school diploma through personalized advocacy and support.

Ideal for recent graduates or early‑career professionals exploring education, student support, or case management, this role emphasizes mentoring, attendance monitoring, and proactive outreach across multiple academy sites, including Venice.

Qualifications

• 0-2 years of relevant experience in educational support or case management.
• Strong relationship‑building and excellent communication.
• Ability to adapt and work collaboratively in a dynamic environment.
• Passion for helping disengaged students succeed in their education.
• Proficiency with learning management systems and educational technology tools.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the registration and enrollment process for new students.
• Provide orientation support to set students up for success.
• Serve as case manager for a cohort, monitoring attendance and retention.
• Implement retention protocols and proactive outreach (texts, calls, home visits).
• Travel between academy sites to support student needs.

Skills

Relationship building

Communication

Adaptability

Collaboration

LMS proficiency

Education

Associate degree preferred

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 CandidateAdvocate is at the heart of our mission, building meaningful relationships withstudents 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 ideal for recent graduates or early‑career professionals looking to build experience in education, student support, or case management.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with the registration and enrollment process for newstudents.
• Provide comprehensive support duringstudentorientation to set the stage for success.

Retention and Attendance

• Act as a case manager for a designated cohort ofstudents, monitoring and documenting regular attendance.
• Implement the Acceleration Academy Retention Protocol through proactive outreach (e.g., texts, calls, home visits).
• Identify root causes of disengagement and work to remove barriers not just complete outreach attempts
• Utilize technology tools for efficient daily monitoring and maintenance ofstudentattendance and retention records.

Recruitment

• Contribute to canvassing and recruitment efforts to attract newstudents.
• Deliver one‑on‑one academic support and interventions to facilitatestudentlearning and complement the work of center professionals.
• Collaborate closely with thestudentsupport team to track learning pathways, monitor behavior, and implement transition plans, including incentive programs to bolsterstudentachievement.
• Partner with team members to problem‑solve student challenges and improve engagement outcomes
• Engage in professional development activities to enhance academic support practices.

Advocacy

• Advocateforstudentsby assisting in identifying solutions and connecting them to academy staff for academic and non‑academic support.

Operations

• Provide daily operational support for the academy,
• Participate actively in academy meetings and school or community events.
• Support home visits and local travel, as needed, to re‑engage students
• Travel between academy sites (including Venice location) as part of role expectations
• Perform additional 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 supportingstudentswho have disengaged from traditional schooling and a drive to help them succeed.
Technology: Proficiency with learning management systems and educational technology tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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: Starting at $22.50 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

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you’re passionate about making a meaningful impact and shaping the future of education, we’d love to hear from you. Join us in redefining what’s possible for students everywhere.

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.