Georgia Connections Academy - College Readiness Coach, 2024-2025 School Year

School Summary:

Georgia Connections Academy is a tuition-free, full-time virtual school for students in grades K-12 throughout Georgia.  The school is authorized by the Georgia Charter Schools Commission and governed by an independent Board of Directors, with a mission to maximize academic achievement for students who are seeking other academic options.  The school is operated by Georgia Connections Academy, a nonprofit corporation, through a contract with Connections Academy of Georgia, LLC, to provide its educational program and other services. Connections Academy, a division of Connections Education, is accredited by Cognia, and GACA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement. 

Working with high school team and students:

Data and Records

• Uses and analyzes data (achievement, attendance, behavior, credits, post high school plans) to: 
• Identify high school students who are college bound, high achieving and/or accelerated students
• Identify students who meet requirements for attending college, but are undecided
• Based on school and department goals, monitors and analyzes data to determine effectiveness of strategies to increase college admissions and scholarship for all student population subgroups within the school.
• In conjunction with the caseload counselor, monitors grade, attendance, behavior, credit accrual students toward meeting graduation requirements. 
• Maintains a record for each student to include, but not limited to: transcripts, documentation of meetings with parent(s)/guardian(s), documentation of individual student conferences, referrals for needed educational supports, and/or social services. 
• Regularly presents data and student progress to the counseling department and at school level and counseling advisory meetings.
• Provides and/or submits reports to the district and GADOE as scheduled and requested. 

Interventions

• Support students in meeting specific college milestones and provide support for college-going activities such as school-based college fairs/tours, field trips and College and Career Week 
• Using tools such as Pathful Explore or You Science, ensure each student completes a career assessment and develops a plan towards appropriate post-secondary preparation.
• Coordinates graduation, college readiness, college choice and financial aid plans for each student 
• Communicate to students who qualify for specific scholarships, and assist them in applying.
• Provides individual and group support to students for personal, social, and emotional development specific to this population of students
• Collaborates with high school team to engage students in critical standardized tests (SAT, ACT, AP)  to promote post high school plans
• Supports the state testing department in PSAT testing
• Develops and implements individual, small group, and whole school preventative/intervention strategies to increase the likelihood that students will persist in school, graduate and intentionally transition into their post high school plans. 
• Offers regular in-person opportunities for students and parents to increase engagement.
• Communicates regularly with parent(s)/caretaker(s), to discuss academic progress, obstacles, and needed efforts by students and parents; should include face-to-face contact, phone, e-mail, texts messages, newsletters, and other communication opportunities.

Collaboration and Engagement

• Collaborates with STEAM, AP/Honors and Dual Enrollment program staff to ensure ALL groups of students are encouraged and included in advanced academic programs
• Partners with family and parent engagement teams to deliver key information during critical times throughout the school year cycle (enrollment, onboarding, semester start/end, in-person events)
• Develops partnerships with business and community organizations to support the goals of district high school graduation initiatives 

Requirements

• Please note 2-step authentication is required to set-up to login to all systems if given a job offer.
• Georgia certification with a Bachelor’s degree in education. Master’s Degree preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years successful work experience in working with high school students (at-risk population preferred).
• Expertise in post secondary opportunities and a working knowledge of graduation requirements.
• Working knowledge of appropriate strategies for reducing behaviors that put students at risk of not graduating from high school. 
• Willingness to travel on occasion for marketing and state testing events (may require occasional overnigh