Student Support Coordinator - Opportunity Academy

Holyoke Public Schools•Holyoke, MA

About The Position

Holyoke Public Schools (HPS) is seeking passionate, student-centered Student Support Coordinators to join the team at Holyoke High School Opportunity Academy (HHSOA), an innovative alternative high school designed for students who have not found success on traditional campuses. We believe that schools are the unit of change, and that Student Support Coordinators are essential to a school’s success. At HHSOA, Student Support Coordinators play a central role in building strong relationships with students, supporting classroom instruction, and helping students stay on track toward graduation. We are looking for educators who are committed to equity, flexibility, and helping every student thrive in a non-traditional setting. HPS has engaged in a high school redesign process starting in 2018, with the founding of HHSOA as one of the three main high school campuses as a critical piece of that redesign. Built upon choice, flexibility and access to diverse and challenging educational opportunities, HHSOA’s unique approach to the alternative model deepens student engagement and provides families and business and civic leaders explicit opportunities to partner with educators to help guide students’ career and college plans, as well as strengthen our local economy; while simultaneously addressing each student’s path to graduation and post-secondary readiness through an individualized approach.

Requirements

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred
1-3 years experience working with at-risk youth doing social-emotional development work required
Commitment to ensuring academic success for all students
Demonstrated leadership experience
Strong de-escalation and care planning skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills; excellent teamwork skills

Nice To Haves

Experience working in an urban setting, preferred
Experience working with diverse student populations, preferred
Bilingual applicants (Spanish) strongly encouraged to apply

Responsibilities

Assist with redesigning the Student Support Room
Oversee day-to-day operations of the Student Support Room
Maintain a welcoming and therapeutic physical space
Implement social-emotional and restorative justice curriculum and assist with its design
Collaborate with school administrators, guidance counselors, teachers, restorative justice staff and others.
Co-design, communicate and implement clear policies and protocols
Communicate with and maintain positive relationships with parents/guardians
Develop individual plans with students to address the issues that led to their referral
Continuously evaluate program effectiveness and make improvements.
Form caring relationships and model respectful communication and unconditional positive regard for students and families.
Teach self-regulation skills and self-care strategies to identified students.
Utilize behavior management techniques respectfully and appropriately.
Employ relationship and counseling skills effectively.
Provide occasional restorative classroom interventions when necessary.
Participate in, and help to facilitate when appropriate, training and support for school staff
Supervise interns and volunteers as needed