Senior Capstone and College Access Teacher

Boys' Latin of Philadelphia•Philadelphia, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia seeks a Senior Capstone and College Access Teacher to prepare students for success in high school, college, and beyond. This is a full-time, 12-month position. The teacher will lead the Senior Seminar, a year-long course culminating in the Senior Defense, and will guide approximately 40-50 seniors through the college application, selection, and matriculation process. Reporting to the Director of Counseling, the teacher is accountable for ensuring every senior graduates college-bound and passes the Senior Defense.

Requirements

Unwavering commitment to the school’s mission of preparing boys for success in college and beyond.
Desire to continuously learn and increase effectiveness as a professional to drive results among students.
Willingness to be flexible and go above and beyond to meet the needs of all students.
Ability to cultivate strong relationships with all members of the school community, including students, parents, faculty and staff members, administrators, and external partners.
Demonstrated strength in at least two of: writing instruction (secondary or post-secondary), college admissions counseling or access work, and high school classroom teaching.
Exceptional writing and editing skills; candidates will be asked to submit a work sample.
Strong project management skills – able to track 40 to 50 students across dozens of deadlines without dropping a ball.
Relational warmth, strong family communication, and a commitment to educational equity and urban public education.
Comfort with college counseling platforms (Naviance, Scoir, or similar), Google Workspace, and Common App school-side tools.
Availability for a 12-month schedule, including key evenings and weekends (e.g., Senior Defense Week, Signing Day, parent nights, and college visits).
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Education, Counseling, English, Writing, or a related field.
Pennsylvania Instructional Certification in English, School Counseling, or a related field.
Prior experience as a college admissions officer, high school English teacher, or school counselor / college access professional.
Familiarity with the college landscape, Pennsylvania state systems, and financial aid for first-generation college students.
Experience teaching or facilitating a capstone, thesis, or senior seminar.

Responsibilities

Teach three to four sections of the Senior Seminar, integrating personal narrative, research writing, and rhetorical preparation for the Senior Defense.
Execute the Senior Seminar curriculum, facilitating students’ exploration, application, and delivery of each course component.
Deliver instruction on core readiness skills: thesis development, source evaluation, MLA/APA citation, evidence-based argumentation, revision, public speaking, and defending claims under questioning.
Facilitate the full Senior Defense experience: thesis research and reflection, alumni interview component, visual presentation, oral defense, and coordination with department leaders on Senior Clearance and the Latin Pledge.
Assess student work against the Boys’ Latin Senior Defense rubric and maintain detailed records of each senior’s progress.
Coordinate Senior Defense panels, recruiting staff, alumni, board members, and community partners as panelists.
Serve as the primary point of contact for a caseload of approximately 40 to 50 seniors across the college-going process.
Build balanced college lists (likely, target, reach) with strong representation of HBCUs, Jesuit/Catholic institutions, Pennsylvania state systems, and selective institutions.
Manage the Common Application / Coalition / institutional application lifecycle: account setup, school profile and transcript submission, letters of recommendation coordination, and deadline tracking.
Coach students through personal statements, supplemental essays, and resumes, integrating with Senior Seminar writing instruction.
Guide students and families through FAFSA and CSS Profile completion, verification, and appeals; support scholarship research and applications.
Prepare students for admissions interviews and yield events; coordinate rep visits, college fairs, and campus tours.
Track every advisee’s applications, decisions, financial aid awards, and final matriculation in the school’s college counseling platform.
Run summer melt prevention for graduates: personal outreach, enrollment confirmation, housing and move-in support, first-bill navigation, and hand-off to campus partners.
Deliver the Summer Bridge / College Readiness program modules and advising sessions during the summer.
Execute the summer melt prevention campaign for the graduated class.
Prepare Senior Seminar materials and advising tools for the year ahead in collaboration with the Director of Counseling.
Report to the Director of Counseling and participate in regular counseling team meetings and planning.
Partner with senior-year teachers, the High School Principal, and the Senior Director of Academics on senior culture, behavior, and graduation requirements.
Contribute to school-wide events, including Signing Day, Senior Defense Week, admitted-student outreach, and family nights.
Communicate proactively with families, including evening and weekend availability around key deadlines.
Commit to the school’s extended day structure, supporting the Leadership Academy, Saturday School, and summer academy programs.
Champion the school’s traditions and rituals and serve as a culture keeper of the Boys’ Latin mission.