Description | Primary Purpose:
Work alongside middle and high school staff to assist students with academic and college knowledge counseling, mentoring, college admissions, financial aid, and scholarship applications. The coordinator will also plan and assist with college awareness activities at the school-level to meet UT GEAR UP TCB project objectives and goals. Coordinators will serve middle school GEAR UP cohort students starting in Grade 7 and subsequently follow them through high school to Grade 12.
This is a grant funded position and continued employment is contingent upon grant funding.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education/Certification
Bachelor's degree in counseling, social work, child development, education, public administration or related field and at least five (5) years’ experience in working with middle school or high school students
Candidate must have satisfactory outcome of fingerprinting background check. Non-refundable fee approximately $50.00) paid by the employee.
Required Experience:
Experience working with middle school or high school students
Knowledge/Skills:
Knowledge of postsecondary education options, application procedures, and admission requirements
Knowledge of financial aid and scholarship opportunities and FAFSA application processes
Strong bilingual/bicultural (Spanish) fluency/knowledge (preferred)
Strong organizational/clerical skills
Strong communication skills
Strong data reporting and management
Strong collaborative skills
Sound multi-tasking abilities
Exemplary event/program management skills
Effective detail-orientation
People oriented
Major Responsibilities and Duties:
(The following statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned and should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions that may be assigned or skills that may be required.)
Professionalism
The Educators' Code of Ethics is set forth in Texas Administrative Code to provide rules for standard practices and ethical conduct toward students, professional colleagues, school officials, parents, and members of the community.
- Rule §247.1 Purpose and Scope; Definitions
- Rule §247.2 Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators
Organization Management
The coordinator manages administrative, fiscal, and appropriate facilities functions responsibly through activities such as the following:
- Monitor GEAR UP cohort student grades, attendance, and transcripts to promote on-time promotion and graduation and completion of appropriate rigorous coursework.
- Assess academic and personal needs of GEAR UP students through transcript evaluations, student interviews, and school counselor recommendations.
- Maintain GEAR UP cohort student information including files on academic and advisement progress and student participation in GEAR UP using a caseload management approach through the grant-sanctioned data system.
- Leverage grant resources to ensure GEAR UP cohort students avail of partner- provided services in academic and non-academic fields.
- Submit in-kind match and other supporting documentation upon request to the Fiscal Analyst as per grant requirements and assist district personnel in identifying match opportunities.
- Perform a variety of administrative duties in support of the GEAR UP grant, including collection of volunteer and donation forms.
- Maintain documentation files of all grant activities, correspondence, reports, procedures, and presentations related to the GEAR UP program.
- Identify, collect, enter, and interpret key progress and outcome data in order to assist the Project Director and Evaluation staff to evaluate the effectiveness of the UT GEAR UP TCB project.
- Submit monthly progress reports to the Project Director documenting progress and outcome data.
- Meet with external program evaluators, as appropriate.
Organization Improvement
The coordinator promotes efforts to improve the school or organization through activities such as the following:
- Assess, in consultation with the UT GEAR UP TCB project director and school personnel, the particular needs of each school, and adapt programs and activities to meet these needs.
- Establish vertical teams with assistance of district and school staff to develop a support system for GEAR UP cohort students and to ease the transition between middle school, high school, and college.
- Assist in the assessment and long-term sustainability of the program.
- Collaborate with school site team to develop and implement a service plan to meet students’ specific needs and monitor progress of high school graduation and college readiness.
- Supplement the school’s efforts to help GEAR UP cohort students meet passing standards in STAAR and EOC assessment and meet criteria in PSAT, SAT, ACT, or TSI.
Student Growth and Development
The coordinator fosters student growth and development through activities such as the following:
- Provide academic enrichment, informational, and motivational opportunities and interventions, including mentoring, tutoring, and advising activities (before school, during school, and after-school) for GEAR UP cohort students including for at-risk, LEP, and special education students.
- Coordinate access for GEAR UP cohort students to qualified counselors at the school or district level.
- Provide one-on-one admissions and financial-aid advice to any GEAR UP cohort student or their family seeking assistance.
- Encourage each GEAR UP cohort student to consider a broad range of appropriate college choices.
- Develop for each GEAR UP cohort student a comprehensive college timeline, including application deadlines for admission and financial aid.
- Help each GEAR UP cohort student complete and submit admissions and financial-aid applications.
- Assist each GEAR UP cohort student in interpreting correspondence from colleges, including offers of admission and financial aid.
- Recognize and celebrate student success and help motivate GEAR UP cohort students do better in school.
Communication and Community Relations
The coordinator promotes a positive tone for school or community relations through activities such as the following:
- Establish productive working relationships with principals, counselors, and teachers in the assigned middle and high school.
- Actively seek the advice and counsel of the campus principal.
- Assist in the efforts of other UT GEAR UP TCB Coordinators within the district and the cohort.
- Visit other schools within the district and the UT GEAR UP TCB cohort to coordinate events and services.
- Help organize, provide support for, and attend evening and weekend events organized by other site coordinators.
- Organize group events such as student assemblies and pep rallies, family night events, and other student and parent support activities (before school, during school, and after-school) that encourage students and their families to consider, plan for, and apply to colleges and universities.
- Visit classrooms, assemblies, and club meetings to offer GEAR UP services and emphasize the importance of college.
- Work with local community groups, non-profit organizations, community groups, churches, boys and girls clubs, social service providers to offer group events outside school setting and hours.
- Develop outreach materials, including newsletters and social media site
- Represent UT GEAR UP TCB, as requested by the project director, to potential supporters and to other interested parties.
Personnel Relations/Management
The coordinator manages personnel effectively through activities such as the following:
- Recruit and select tutors and vendors for enrichment activities and events with principal approval.
Professional Growth and Development
The coordinator provides leadership in professional growth and development through activities such as the following:
- Participate fully in two weeks of training each summer on the UT Austin campus.
- In consultation with the Program Director, seek out and participate in other opportunities for professional development.
- Participate in staff development activities to improve job related skills.
Qualities of Effective Coordinator
The coordinator exhibits qualities such as the following:
- Daily attendance and punctuality at work are essential functions of the job.
- Demonstrate professional and responsible work habits.
- Keep informed of and comply with state, District, and school regulations and policies.
- Attend and participate in faculty meetings and serve on committees as required.
- Compile, maintain, and file reports, records, and other documents required.
- Correct unsafe conditions in work area that could cause an accident and inform supervisor of any conditions that are not correctable immediately.
- Shall comply with District policies, as well as state and federal laws and regulations.
- Shall comply with the standards of conduct set out in Board Policy DH (Legal) and (Local), and with any other policies, regulations, and guidelines that impose duties, requirements, and standards.
- Maintain confidentiality.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Monitor after school instructors and associated staff.
Equipment:
Personal computer, printer, calculator, telephone, copier, fax machine, shredder, scanner, and other equipment applicable to the position.
Working Conditions:
Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:
- Maintain emotional control under stress.
- Work with frequent interruptions.
- Work irregular hours and extended work hours to include holidays and weekends.
- Frequent walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing.
- Occasional light lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); may lift and move text books and classroom equipment.
- Occasional district wide and statewide travel.
- Use computer for prolonged periods resulting in repetitive hand motion.
- Frequent exposure to: temperature extremes (hot and cold), humidity extremes, noise, low or intense illumination vibration.
- Occasional exposure to: biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, etc.), work outside, work around moving objects or vehicles, work on uneven surfaces.
The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required. |