College Advisor

Integration Charter Schools•New York, NY

2d•$71,000•Onsite

About The Position

Integration Charter School is dedicated to providing innovative pathways to college that fully integrate students living with emotional challenges and others with special needs. In building a family of associated schools that share this common mission, ICS strives to fill gaps in public education. When fully realized, ICS, in conjunction with local public schools, will provide Staten Island parents of special needs children with an array of options richer than that enjoyed by any other community in the United States. Our vision is to reimagine what public education can be — a place where schools serve not only as centers of learning, but as hubs of opportunity and transformation for children, families, and our faculty. We believe that amazing things happen when we remove obstacles and meet every child and family exactly where they are, through a wraparound service model that ensures each child has access to the full spectrum of academic, emotional, social, and practical supports needed to thrive. Our commitment is simple but radical: we will do whatever it it takes to set the standard of excellence for kids and families — pushing beyond compliance, beyond expectation, and beyond convention. We lead with love, innovation, liberation, and accountability, and we build schools where belonging is non-negotiable, excellence is expected, and the whole community grows together. “The Bar” at ICS Every member of our team is a standard-bearer of this vision. The bar is high — by design — and our work demands courage, integrity, conviction, and an unwavering belief that we can and will do whatever it takes to change the trajectory for children, families, and faculty. As College Advisor, you will be expected to embody: Leading with Love and Liberation Doing Whatever It Takes — No Excuses, No Ego Modeling Collaboration and Coherence Holding Ourselves and Each Other Accountable Building Schools Where Belonging Is Non-Negotiable Summary The College Advisor is a grade-level leader and mentor who builds the systems, culture, and relationships that prepare ICS students — including students with emotional challenges and special needs — for a successful path to and through college. Grounded in the ICS vision of whatever it takes, the College Advisor creates grade-wide norms, traditions, and celebrations; leads grade-level team collaboration; and partners closely with families, teachers, and school leadership to ensure every student is known, supported, and held to a high bar. This role combines day-to-day team leadership with a long-term focus on college and post-secondary readiness, and is central to ICS's mission of building a richer array of options for Staten Island students and families than exists anywhere else in the country.

Requirements

Strong written and verbal communication skills.
A whatever it takes attitude centered in the notion of children first.
Understanding of school student-achievement data and New York Charter School Standards.
Thorough understanding of best practices for middle and high school.
Operating knowledge of and experience with personal computers, word processing, and database software.
English language skills required; oral and written fluency in a second language may be preferred or required based on staff, student, and parent primary language needs.
Understanding of, or willingness to learn, New York State graduation requirements.

Nice To Haves

Oral and written fluency in a second language may be preferred or required based on staff, student, and parent primary language needs.

Responsibilities

Create grade-wide norms, traditions, and celebrations that lend to a well-rounded, fun, and nurturing learning experience.
Send out weekly grade-level newsletters and/or communications to students, families, and grade team members.
Ensure strong systems for grade-wide student attendance and engagement.
Establish a structure for team collaboration, decision-making, and grade-level team meetings.
Set grade-level team collaboration norms and ensure they are implemented by the grade-level team.
Act as a mentor for new teachers.
Chair all grade-level meetings and manage the grade-level team in a manner that promotes positive and productive relationships between colleagues, students, parents, and community.
Oversee the communication of grade-level and school-wide events to grade-level staff, students, and families.
Select, use, and interpret evaluation data; demonstrate, based on the data, a willingness to examine and implement changes necessary to produce efficient and effective systems and increase positive behavioral outcomes and student achievement.
Assist in staff development, especially training staff to develop and measure learning outcomes and use data-driven measures to ensure student success and identify gaps in services, programs, and resources.
Coordinate field trips and special activities for the team, including arranging transportation, securing reservations and permission slips, and arranging meals (duties may be delegated to the teacher sponsoring the trip).
Dedicate time for after-school duties on an as-needed basis.