Graduation Candidate Advocate

Acceleration Academies•Marietta, GA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Graduation Candidate Advocate is at the heart of our mission, building meaningful relationships with students to support their journey toward earning their high school diploma. Graduation Candidate Advocates act as mentors and advocates, providing both academic and non-academic support while fostering an environment where students feel valued and empowered. This role is highly relationship-driven and persistence-focused, requiring consistent outreach, problem-solving, and a commitment to understanding and removing barriers that prevent students from attending and progressing. This role is ideal for recent graduates or early-career professionals looking to build experience in education, student support, or case management.

Requirements

Associate degree preferred, but equivalent experience in education, youth mentorship, or case management will be considered.
1+ year of relevant experience in educational support, case management, or working with at-risk youth.
Strong relationship-building skills.
Excellent communication skills.
Adaptability.
High energy.
Ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic environment.
Fresh ideas for student engagement.
Genuine enthusiasm for the work.
Comfort with de-escalation: Ability to calmly and effectively de-escalate emotionally dysregulated or disengaged students, using trauma-informed approaches to maintain a safe and supportive environment.
Passion: A genuine commitment to supporting students who have disengaged from traditional schooling and a drive to help them succeed.
Proficiency with learning management systems and educational technology tools.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual skills (Spanish preferred!)
Experience in non-traditional educational settings.
Comfort with project-based and competency-based learning approaches.

Responsibilities

Assist with the registration and enrollment process for new students.
Provide comprehensive support during student orientation to set the stage for success.
Act as a case manager for a designated cohort of students, monitoring and documenting regular attendance.
Implement the Acceleration Academy Retention Protocol through proactive outreach (e.g., texts, calls, home visits).
Identify root causes of disengagement and work to remove barriers not just complete outreach attempts
Utilize technology tools for efficient daily monitoring and maintenance of student attendance and retention records.
Deliver one-on-one academic support and interventions to facilitate student learning and complement the work of center professionals.
Proctor unit tests one-on-one and support small group proctoring in the virtual school setting.
Collaborate closely with the student support team to track learning pathways, monitor behavior, and implement transition plans, including incentive programs to bolster student achievement.
Partner with team members to problem-solve student challenges and improve engagement outcomes
Engage in professional development activities to enhance academic support practices.
Advocate for students by assisting in identifying solutions and connecting them to academy staff for academic and non-academic support.
Provide daily operational support for the academy.
Participate actively in academy meetings and school or community events.
Support home visits and local travel, as needed, to re-engage students
Perform additional duties as assigned to support the overall mission of the academy.