2026-2027 Graduation Coach

Portsmouth Public Schools•Portsmouth, VA

About The Position

Responsibilities of the Graduation Coach include, but are not limited to: development of a comprehensive prevention/intervention program for students at risk of dropping out or being retained; identifying eligible students; analyzing data; planning, implementing, and tracking individual high school graduation plans; identifying and resolving barriers to graduation; conferring with parents and community agencies; and facilitating career choices. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Principal in collaboration with the Coordinator of Youth Risk Prevention. ESSENTIAL DUTIES: Develop and implement individual intervention strategies to increase the likelihood that students at risk of not graduating will stay in school; Work with students to develop a Personalized Education Plan (PEP) to include the best program to meet academic and post-secondary goals; Coordinate a transitional program for 9 th graders to successfully adapt to high school Collaborate with an identified Intervention Team and building level instructional specialists to connect individual students and their parents with programs throughout the community; Track the progress of individual students and intervention groups as they move toward graduation using the school division’s Early Warning System; Work with faculty and administration to adapt the curriculum and/or differentiate instruction to meet the needs of students; Conduct periodic meetings to improve communication between parents, students, and the school; Participate in the development of partnerships with community organizations to support the goals of the dropout prevention initiative for PPS; Conduct, review, and analyze formative and summative evaluation of the effectiveness of the dropout prevention initiative utilizing the data listed below: Number of students who meet their individual goals Number of students who remained in school and made progress towards graduation Sub-group Other as decided upon by the Intervention Team; Conduct visits to the homes of students at risk of not graduating; Develop a reclamation program for students who have left school, but have the potential to graduate Participate in the division’s On Time Graduation Meetings Models nondiscriminatory practices in all activities OTHER DUTIES: Maintains professional competence by attending staff development programs, curriculum development meetings and other professional activities. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Must possess a Bachelor’s degree or higher, preferably in education, counseling, social work or related field.
Must possess at least three years successful experience working with at-risk students and working knowledge of appropriate strategies for reducing behaviors that put students at risk of not graduating from high school.
Ability to communicate effectively with youth and adults
Ability to analyze, develop, implement, and track intervention plans and strategies.
Must possess an understanding of the multiplicity of social services available in the community to support students at risk of not graduating.
Must possess ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Must possess the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, parents & the public.
Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time
Exhibit manual dexterity to dial a telephone, to enter data into a computer
See and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids
Hear and understand speech at normal classroom levels, outdoors and on the telephone
Physical agility to lift up to 25 pounds
Bend, stoop, climb stairs, and reach overhead

Nice To Haves

Teaching endorsement not required, but preferred.

Responsibilities

Development of a comprehensive prevention/intervention program for students at risk of dropping out or being retained
Identifying eligible students
Analyzing data
Planning, implementing, and tracking individual high school graduation plans
Identifying and resolving barriers to graduation
Conferring with parents and community agencies
Facilitating career choices
Develop and implement individual intervention strategies to increase the likelihood that students at risk of not graduating will stay in school
Work with students to develop a Personalized Education Plan (PEP) to include the best program to meet academic and post-secondary goals
Coordinate a transitional program for 9 th graders to successfully adapt to high school
Collaborate with an identified Intervention Team and building level instructional specialists to connect individual students and their parents with programs throughout the community
Track the progress of individual students and intervention groups as they move toward graduation using the school division’s Early Warning System
Work with faculty and administration to adapt the curriculum and/or differentiate instruction to meet the needs of students
Conduct periodic meetings to improve communication between parents, students, and the school
Participate in the development of partnerships with community organizations to support the goals of the dropout prevention initiative for PPS
Conduct, review, and analyze formative and summative evaluation of the effectiveness of the dropout prevention initiative
Conduct visits to the homes of students at risk of not graduating
Develop a reclamation program for students who have left school, but have the potential to graduate
Participate in the division’s On Time Graduation Meetings
Models nondiscriminatory practices in all activities
Maintains professional competence by attending staff development programs, curriculum development meetings and other professional activities
Other duties as assigned