Academic Completion Specialist

Spring Independent School District•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Academic Completion Specialist is responsible for coordinating and implementing the district’s dropout prevention and recovery initiatives. Facilitates, monitors, and evaluates program effectiveness and reports progress results to department supervisor on a weekly basis. The Academic Completion Specialist assists assigned middle and high schools in developing dropout prevention strategies and programs. All employees of SISD are expected to act with integrity, support organizational goals, communicate in a clear and respectful manner, championing the needs of our students and drive continuous improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university
Knowledge of the Texas graduation requirements
Knowledge of the districts credit recovery programs
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
Detail oriented and able to handle deadline pressures
Experience in supervision of workplace learning activities

Nice To Haves

Five years’ successful classroom experience
Bilingual: English and Spanish

Responsibilities

Collect, interpret, and use student data to develop a district early warning system and strategies to prevent student dropout
Collaborate with Data Management and Compliance Department to identify students who have withdrawn from Spring ISD and have not re-enrolled in school
Contact all students within ten days of dropping out and again 30 to 45 days later for the purpose of offering re-engagement opportunities to students
Make personal home visits to the students who have not re-enrolled in school to identify problems and provide opportunities for enrollment in home campus or other alternative programs
Collaborate with school administrators, guidance counselor, and student support personnel to assist in the development of an intervention plan for each identified student for the purpose of ensuring students’ success in meeting graduation requirements
Collaborate with other district and building level personnel and administration for the purpose of serving as a liaison and resource to facilitate the growth and development of dropout prevention and recovery support
Establish and maintain communication links with community agencies that serve homeless, neglected delinquent and disengaged students for the purpose of re-engaging affected students
As needed, identify alternative educational placement opportunities for students in danger of dropping out of school and assist students in the enrollment process
Collaborate with attendance officers, registrars and school based attendance hearing officers
Support students in increasing their self-esteem, critical thinking, conflict resolution, and communication skills
Develop daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly work schedules based upon established priorities that maximize services “at risk” students (by addressing the greatest needs of the greatest number of students)
Deliver a wide range of direct parent activities and services including - but not limited to – in-service, training, and workshop sessions related to dropout prevention strategies
Identify and process student/family referrals to appropriate educational, social, and other support services in the school, district, and community for students and their parents and families
Monitors the school performance of targeted “at-risk” students in the areas of academic achievement, attendance, and deportment
Display the highest ethical and professional behavior and standards when working with students, parents, school personnel, and other agencies associated with the school
Communicate regularly with parents, seeking their support and advice, so as to create a cooperative relationship to support the child in the school
Ensure the safety and health of all students, immediately notifying the appropriate personnel of evidence of substance abuse, child abuse, child neglect, severe medical or social conditions, potential suicide or individuals appearing to be under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or anabolic steroids or any unsafe conditions
Recommend to the Principal the supplies and equipment needed to support dropout prevention efforts and assist with ordering, following established procedures
Research model programs and funding opportunities for dropout prevention programs/ activities in the district
Protect confidentiality of records and information gained as part of exercising professional duties and use discretion in sharing such information within legal confines
All other duties as assigned