Chicago Public Schools
College and Career Specialist
Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 500+ schools and employing approximately 44,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments - student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.
Located within the Office of College & Career Success (OCCS), the Office of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising (OSCPA) ensures that school counseling teams have the support and resources necessary to implement comprehensive school counseling programs that advance the academic, personal/social, and career development of all students. OSCPA is comprised of the following teams: school counseling, college and career specialists, scholarships, and post-secondary initiatives. All provide professional development and support to school counselors, college and career coaches, and school administrators at the school level. The College and Career Specialist has the overall responsibility of managing the college and career preparation strategies and activities within their designated Network(s), while managing and monitoring the Office of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising (OSCPA) key performance indicators.
Reporting to a Director within OSCPA and with a dotted line to the assigned Network Chief, the College and Career Specialist is responsible for implementing targeted strategies that prepare all Chicago Public School students for postsecondary opportunities. Chief among the responsibilities is to provide direct services to high schools to advance a college-going culture and use a set of curricular and enrichment strategies delivered through the domains of awareness, readiness, access, and success. Each domain is designed to promote preparation for postsecondary transition and ensure the schools meet their short and long-term outcome measures.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Network-Level College and Career Planning - In collaboration with Network Chiefs, develop and lead the implementation of Network-level plan(s) for driving postsecondary metrics.Develop and manage Network/school plans in collaboration with OSCPA, Network and school staffEstablish productive relationships to ensure a common understanding of OCCS and Network postsecondary objectives and drive efforts to achieve shared goals at each school. Meet regularly with school administration, Network postsecondary team, and central office to mark progress towards goals and develop strategies to improve dataServe as a lead postsecondary advisor to senior administrators - Network Chiefs, principals and school-level postsecondary teams (i.e., counselors, college coaches, and internal/external postsecondary partners)Collect and analyze data as needed to guide program direction and emphasisEnsure OCCS key programs and goals are known to and understood by key stakeholders (e.g., college partners, TRIO, Ladder Up, OneGoal)Promote the importance of having a College and Career Coach in the school building. Target schools that could strongly benefit from a coach resource based on data outcomes. Assist in recruitment and placement of coaches to ensure school needs are metSupport district-wide college access initiatives that promote network and school-level success (e.g., Higher Education Advisory Task Force)Drives key metrics at supported schools, including but not limited to:Associated Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):% of seniors that complete 3+ college applications% of seniors that apply to 1+ match institution% of students with college acceptances% FAFSA completion rate% of students who apply to at least 1 affordable option (individual student calculation)% students completing 1+ scholarship application% of students receiving scholarships for collegeAmount of overall scholarship dollars awarded to students% of students in grades 9-12 completing Individualized Learning Plans (ILP)% of Seniors completing a concrete postsecondary plan% of students enrolled in college, enlisted in the military, or employed 6 months after high school graduation% of graduates persisting and succeeding in college or employment beyond the 1st year of participation% of monthly Specialist objectives completed in the Postsecondary Advising Planner% of Seniors that compete the SEQSupport and monitor postsecondary-related staff in assigned schools, including the development and direct supervision of District-assigned College and Career Coaches.Build Capacity of School Postsecondary Teams - Provide professional development, tools and resources to assist school Counselors and College & Career Coaches in creating a college and career-going culture and driving strong postsecondary outcomesBuild ongoing school staff capacity through network and citywide professional learning communitiesSupport counselors and coaches in developing and implementing strategies to identify and support student needs; Provide targeted coaching and development around key areas of needSupport principals' evaluations of coaches on a periodic basis in alignment with key performance indicatorsMonitor student individualized learning plans (ILP) and completion progress at schoolsBuild outside partnerships and identify resources that can assist in the attainment of quality college and career opportunitiesLink resources to schools based on needs assessmentDirect Support of College Access/Persistence Activities with Students and Parents - Directly support school-level college preparation activities as needed and coordinate Network and Citywide college access and persistence activities for students and parentsGuide school-level staff to meet with students - individually and in groups - to talk about college and career optionsPlan and implement district-wide postsecondary events - e.g., Hispanic forum; Gates Millennium Scholars information sessions and writing workshops; State College Expo; FAFSA completion activities; college "Match" information sessions, etc. - to promote college accessDrive financial aid access activities school-wideConduct network-wide workshops (monthly or quarterly) that inform and prepare students in grades 9-12 for financing their college education, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), scholarships, etc.Maintain information on institutions that offer "strategic" scholarshipsEnsure schools are tracking key metrics such as college applications, scholarship applications, college acceptances, scholarships received, Senior Exit Questionnaire completion, etc.Support efforts to ensure a smooth senior transition into college and college persistence beyond the first year (e.g., summer workshops, freshman year of college data tracking and touchpoints, etc.)Serve as a liaison between Central Office and partnerships to promote and advertise enrichment activities (e.g., Summer Quest, TRIO, internships, job shadows, etc.)Provide direct school support to complete the Senior Exit Questionnaire (SEQ)Lead parent engagement efforts around postsecondary access and persistenceDrive Individualized Student Planning - Support Naviance and other post-secondary planning tool implementation and usage in all schoolsTrain coaches, students, and other school staff (including administrators, teachers, and counselors) on Naviance, etc.Conduct comprehensive workshops preparing students for the Naviance Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) and Milestone completionMonitor Naviance utilization at the area and school levelMonitor the % of 9th through 12th grade students that complete Individual Learning Plans (ILP) and concrete postsecondary plansFacilitate integrated school counselor/coach planning and implementation - Participate in ongoing counselor and coach integrated support strategies using the REACH Counselor Framework, Annual Implementation Plan, and ASCA National ModelWork with counseling teams to maintain strong counselor, coach, and post-secondary team integration in the schoolsWork with counseling teams to develop counseling Implementation Plans aligned to school, Network, and District goalsOther duties as assignedIn order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the College and Career Specialist must possess the following qualifications:
Education Required:
Bachelor's Degree in a related field from an accredited college or university is requiredMaster's degree preferredExperience Required:
Minimum of five (5) years of full-time professional youth development and programming experienceMinimum of three (3) years of full-time professional post-secondary (college and career) related work experienceKnowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Possesses an unyielding commitment to continuous improvement and an unwavering belief that all students can achieve at high levelsPossesses the knowledge, principles and practices of academic and college/career developmentMaintains the ability to establish effective working relationships with students and parents; school, network and central office staff; and representatives from universities, businesses, government and community-based organizationsStrong communicator: speaking, listening and writingHas a proven track record leading large-scale programs and/or projectsDemonstrates a sense of urgency in accomplishing goals and objectives to ensure successProficient in Windows Operating System and MS Office; strong internet skillsPlanning and budgeting capabilitiesTeam playerAbility to develop and maintain partnershipsOther Requirements:
Must have a valid driver's license and reliable access to a personal car to travel between multiple sites in a dayOccasional evening and weekend work is requiredConditions of Employment
As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:
Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency -
Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 -
Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. "Up-to-date" on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.
Located within the Office of College & Career Success (OCCS), the Office of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising (OSCPA) ensures that school counseling teams have the support and resources necessary to implement comprehensive school counseling programs that advance the academic, personal/social, and career development of all students. OSCPA is comprised of the following teams: school counseling, college and career specialists, scholarships, and post-secondary initiatives. All provide professional development and support to school counselors, college and career coaches, and school administrators at the school level. The College and Career Specialist has the overall responsibility of managing the college and career preparation strategies and activities within their designated Network(s), while managing and monitoring the Office of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising (OSCPA) key performance indicators.
Reporting to a Director within OSCPA and with a dotted line to the assigned Network Chief, the College and Career Specialist is responsible for implementing targeted strategies that prepare all Chicago Public School students for postsecondary opportunities. Chief among the responsibilities is to provide direct services to high schools to advance a college-going culture and use a set of curricular and enrichment strategies delivered through the domains of awareness, readiness, access, and success. Each domain is designed to promote preparation for postsecondary transition and ensure the schools meet their short and long-term outcome measures.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Network-Level College and Career Planning - In collaboration with Network Chiefs, develop and lead the implementation of Network-level plan(s) for driving postsecondary metrics.Develop and manage Network/school plans in collaboration with OSCPA, Network and school staffEstablish productive relationships to ensure a common understanding of OCCS and Network postsecondary objectives and drive efforts to achieve shared goals at each school. Meet regularly with school administration, Network postsecondary team, and central office to mark progress towards goals and develop strategies to improve dataServe as a lead postsecondary advisor to senior administrators - Network Chiefs, principals and school-level postsecondary teams (i.e., counselors, college coaches, and internal/external postsecondary partners)Collect and analyze data as needed to guide program direction and emphasisEnsure OCCS key programs and goals are known to and understood by key stakeholders (e.g., college partners, TRIO, Ladder Up, OneGoal)Promote the importance of having a College and Career Coach in the school building. Target schools that could strongly benefit from a coach resource based on data outcomes. Assist in recruitment and placement of coaches to ensure school needs are metSupport district-wide college access initiatives that promote network and school-level success (e.g., Higher Education Advisory Task Force)Drives key metrics at supported schools, including but not limited to:Associated Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):% of seniors that complete 3+ college applications% of seniors that apply to 1+ match institution% of students with college acceptances% FAFSA completion rate% of students who apply to at least 1 affordable option (individual student calculation)% students completing 1+ scholarship application% of students receiving scholarships for collegeAmount of overall scholarship dollars awarded to students% of students in grades 9-12 completing Individualized Learning Plans (ILP)% of Seniors completing a concrete postsecondary plan% of students enrolled in college, enlisted in the military, or employed 6 months after high school graduation% of graduates persisting and succeeding in college or employment beyond the 1st year of participation% of monthly Specialist objectives completed in the Postsecondary Advising Planner% of Seniors that compete the SEQSupport and monitor postsecondary-related staff in assigned schools, including the development and direct supervision of District-assigned College and Career Coaches.Build Capacity of School Postsecondary Teams - Provide professional development, tools and resources to assist school Counselors and College & Career Coaches in creating a college and career-going culture and driving strong postsecondary outcomesBuild ongoing school staff capacity through network and citywide professional learning communitiesSupport counselors and coaches in developing and implementing strategies to identify and support student needs; Provide targeted coaching and development around key areas of needSupport principals' evaluations of coaches on a periodic basis in alignment with key performance indicatorsMonitor student individualized learning plans (ILP) and completion progress at schoolsBuild outside partnerships and identify resources that can assist in the attainment of quality college and career opportunitiesLink resources to schools based on needs assessmentDirect Support of College Access/Persistence Activities with Students and Parents - Directly support school-level college preparation activities as needed and coordinate Network and Citywide college access and persistence activities for students and parentsGuide school-level staff to meet with students - individually and in groups - to talk about college and career optionsPlan and implement district-wide postsecondary events - e.g., Hispanic forum; Gates Millennium Scholars information sessions and writing workshops; State College Expo; FAFSA completion activities; college "Match" information sessions, etc. - to promote college accessDrive financial aid access activities school-wideConduct network-wide workshops (monthly or quarterly) that inform and prepare students in grades 9-12 for financing their college education, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), scholarships, etc.Maintain information on institutions that offer "strategic" scholarshipsEnsure schools are tracking key metrics such as college applications, scholarship applications, college acceptances, scholarships received, Senior Exit Questionnaire completion, etc.Support efforts to ensure a smooth senior transition into college and college persistence beyond the first year (e.g., summer workshops, freshman year of college data tracking and touchpoints, etc.)Serve as a liaison between Central Office and partnerships to promote and advertise enrichment activities (e.g., Summer Quest, TRIO, internships, job shadows, etc.)Provide direct school support to complete the Senior Exit Questionnaire (SEQ)Lead parent engagement efforts around postsecondary access and persistenceDrive Individualized Student Planning - Support Naviance and other post-secondary planning tool implementation and usage in all schoolsTrain coaches, students, and other school staff (including administrators, teachers, and counselors) on Naviance, etc.Conduct comprehensive workshops preparing students for the Naviance Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) and Milestone completionMonitor Naviance utilization at the area and school levelMonitor the % of 9th through 12th grade students that complete Individual Learning Plans (ILP) and concrete postsecondary plansFacilitate integrated school counselor/coach planning and implementation - Participate in ongoing counselor and coach integrated support strategies using the REACH Counselor Framework, Annual Implementation Plan, and ASCA National ModelWork with counseling teams to maintain strong counselor, coach, and post-secondary team integration in the schoolsWork with counseling teams to develop counseling Implementation Plans aligned to school, Network, and District goalsOther duties as assignedIn order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the College and Career Specialist must possess the following qualifications:
Education Required:
Bachelor's Degree in a related field from an accredited college or university is requiredMaster's degree preferredExperience Required:
Minimum of five (5) years of full-time professional youth development and programming experienceMinimum of three (3) years of full-time professional post-secondary (college and career) related work experienceKnowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Possesses an unyielding commitment to continuous improvement and an unwavering belief that all students can achieve at high levelsPossesses the knowledge, principles and practices of academic and college/career developmentMaintains the ability to establish effective working relationships with students and parents; school, network and central office staff; and representatives from universities, businesses, government and community-based organizationsStrong communicator: speaking, listening and writingHas a proven track record leading large-scale programs and/or projectsDemonstrates a sense of urgency in accomplishing goals and objectives to ensure successProficient in Windows Operating System and MS Office; strong internet skillsPlanning and budgeting capabilitiesTeam playerAbility to develop and maintain partnershipsOther Requirements:
Must have a valid driver's license and reliable access to a personal car to travel between multiple sites in a dayOccasional evening and weekend work is requiredConditions of Employment
As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:
Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency -
Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 -
Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. "Up-to-date" on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.