Student Success and Engagement Specialist - Iowa Connections Academy

Connections Academy•Grant Township, IA

12h•Remote

About The Position

In cooperation with Administration and other stakeholders, the Student Success & Engagement Specialist will design, implement, and monitor a comprehensive student success system focused on executive functioning development, student engagement, and whole-person assessment within the virtual learning environment. This role works in partnership with colleagues supporting Math and ELA interventions but does not directly support Math or ELA interventions. Instead, this role focuses on fostering skills deemed key to student achievement and growth that are not tied to Math or ELA competencies (see #2 below). This position integrates: Tiered intervention systems Data-driven decision-making Fostering connectedness and protective factors in students Executive function skill development The role ensures students receive appropriate levels of support for course completion, helps prevent disengagement, reduces credit deficiency, impacts attendance growth, and improves graduation outcomes. The position leads a multi-tiered framework combining academic, behavioral, and engagement data to drive early identification and intervention through a structured Tiered Intervention Framework with ongoing progress monitoring. CORE STRATEGIC PURPOSE This role addresses a critical challenge in online schools: Many students struggle not with academic ability, but with executive functioning and connection to the school environment. Key barriers include deficits related to: Time management Task initiation Self-monitoring Digital organization Sustained attention Critical “student success skills” Lack of structured accountability These challenges often present first as pacing and engagement issues rather than academic inability, requiring proactive systems, structured supports, and early intervention.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in one of the following fields:
Education
School Counseling
Educational Leadership
Psychology
Student Development
Social Work
Experience with:
Online or blended learning environments
MTSS / RTI frameworks
Data-driven student support systems
Academic coaching and intervention design

Nice To Haves

Strong candidates demonstrate:
Systems thinking
Student-centered leadership
Data-driven decision-making
Virtual facilitation and coaching
Cross-functional collaboration
Program design and implementation

Responsibilities

LEAD THE SCHOOL SUCCESS FRAMEWORK
Develop and oversee a comprehensive student success system integrating:
Universal student support structures
Tiered academic and engagement interventions
Comprehensive assessment models
Progress monitoring tools
Data-informed decision-making
This includes full implementation and continuous refinement of the school’s Tiered Intervention Framework, ensuring alignment between data, intervention, and outcomes.
“STUDENT SUCCESS SKILL” / EXECUTIVE FUNCTION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT
Design and maintain systems that strengthen core executive functioning skills, including:
Time management
Planning and prioritization
Digital organization
Task initiation
Self-monitoring
Sustained attention
These skills are essential for success in asynchronous and virtual learning environments.
The role oversees the use of structured tools (e.g., rubrics, goal-setting frameworks, data views, reports, etc.) to support student SMART goal development and ongoing progress monitoring.
OVERSIGHT OF TIERED STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS
Tier 1 – Universal Student Supports
Ensure all students receive consistent executive function support through:
Standardized weekly pacing expectations
Digital planning and organizational systems
Executive function skill instruction
Weekly pacing self-check routines
Early warning indicators and alerts
These structures reduce cognitive overload and promote independence.
Tier 2 – Targeted Student Intervention
Develop targeted supports for students demonstrating risk in pacing or engagement:
Small-group Executive Function Student Success Labs
Academic coaching
Ongoing family communication
Students typically engage in Tier 2 supports for 4–6 weeks with monitored progress before transitioning back to Tier 1.
Tier 3 – Intensive Individualized Support
Coordinate high-frequency, individualized interventions for students experiencing significant barriers, including:
Individualized Student Success Plans focused on skill-building
Micro-deadline pacing models
Coordinated family and support team communication
The goal is stabilization, re-engagement, and prevention of course failure or withdrawal.
DATA SYSTEMS & PROGRESS MONITORING
Develop and manage data systems and dashboards that track:
Course pacing progress
Assignment submission rates
Login frequency
Grade trends
Engagement indicators