Educational Specialist

Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc•Chicago, IL

5d•$50,000 - $52,000•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direct supervision of the Vice President of Educational Services, the Educational Specialist will provide career exposure, college access advising, academic coaching, financial aid counseling, and enrichment services to participating 9th-12th grade students in assigned Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and college-enrolled students meeting age eligibility requirements. The Educational Specialist is also responsible for recruiting and retaining students at the assigned Chicago Public high school. The functions of the position are in accordance with all funding regulations and program requirements, including the U.S. Department of Education Title IV Higher Education Act, federally mandated TRIO program performance standards, the Department of Family Support Services (DFSS), the Department of Human Services (DHS) and all affiliated regulatory funding sources.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in counseling, education, social work, or related field
Two years of experience working with youth in crisis, coupled with knowledge relevant to community resources and opportunities for educational advancement.
Capacity to problem solve, handle crises, and work with families and children of various cultures from low-income backgrounds.
Provide an empathic, nonjudgmental, respectful, and professional approach to working with families.

Responsibilities

Provide academic advising, financial aid counseling, college placement, and career guidance for program-eligible participants aged 11-27 attending an assigned Chicago Public School or residing in and around the Chicagoland targeted service areas.
Establish effective partnerships with counselors, teachers, and other school personnel to identify, recruit, engage, and retain prospective program participants.
Perform comprehensive academic skills and career assessments to determine participants’ needs and interests.
Network and collaborate with colleges, universities, vocational and technical schools, and other shared stakeholders to identify educational and enrichment opportunities for program participants.
Develop, implement, monitor, and track individual achievement plans to track students’ progress and ensure academic, career, and post-secondary goals are met, and students’ needs are addressed.
Assess students’ socio-economic needs, academic records, and career interests to recommend and counsel students on various postsecondary educational opportunities and career choices.
Revise and recommend a plan to reflect a continuum of current services or identify untapped resources as dictated by the data.
Assist in planning for, implementing, and attending parent information sessions, workshops, cultural and college field trips/events, and professional development activities. This includes completing and submitting college applications, financial aid forms, and identifying scholarship resources.
Provide coaching, advising, and workshops to program participants that may include but are not limited to the following topics: College Placement and Admissions Processes, Career Assessment and Exploration, Academic Guidance, Financial Aid & FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Assistance, ACT/SAT Prep, Goal Setting, and Study Skills, Researching and Applying for Scholarships, Personal Statement Development.
Maintains a flexible schedule to accommodate occasional evenings, weekends, and rare holiday appointments, events, fairs, college tours, workshops, and other related outreach opportunities.
Secures required documentation, monitors and records participant progress toward project objectives in the agency data tracking system, compiles and prepares/submits accurate and timely reports, assists in the preparation of statistical information for federal reporting and audit, and maintains accurate, up-to-date records of time, effort, and attendance for grant compliance.
Attend agency center and other job-related meetings and training as required.
Develop strategies for building a rapport with school administrators, faculty, colleges’ admissions and financial aid counselors, community leaders and E.T.S. cohorts.
Provide hands-on experience in forming a viable plan for capturing the interest of potential program participants and determining their eligibility.
Performs other duties as assigned.