Assistant Director of College Readiness, Mastery Charter Schools

Posted by on November 29, 2010

Assistant Director of College Readiness, Mastery Charter Schools

Last day to apply: January 1, 2011

Description:
Mastery seeks an Assistant Director of College Readiness to develop and oversee a comprehensive college readiness program at all our schools. In collaboration with the Director of College Initiatives, the Asst. Director of College Readiness leads the effort for Mastery students’ academic and personal skill development for success in getting ready, getting into and getting through college.

The Asst. Director of College Readiness dominant focus is to serve the schools. The Asst. Director of College Readiness will work directly with Principals and school-based college staff to build and sustain highly effective college readiness programming including: early college awareness for students and their families; dynamic college-going culture at all campuses; college readiness seminar series; college and career advising; intensive sophomore internship experience; summer opportunities access; admissions testing preparation; college and financial aid application processes; matriculation and transition to college. This position will work at the NST and report to the Director of College Initiatives.

This position is a fantastic opportunity for a leader in college advising and early college awareness. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a relentless commitment to excellence and will share a deep belief in Mastery’s mission to increase access to college education for underserved populations. The right candidate will combine exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with capacities for strategic thinking and acute attention to detail.

Responsibilities will include:

Comprehensive College Readiness Program Development
o Develop and implement a comprehensive K – 12 college process that motivates students to excel academically in preparation for college and demonstrate tenacity to overcome obstacles they encounter on the path to college.
o Design and/or edit Career and College Seminar Series that supports school-based college staff with strong resources that drive student achievement in a measurable way.
o Design and document College Readiness protocols such as: College-Going Culture Systems; Admissions Test Prep Program (SAT); College Advising Handbook; Alternate Pathways to College; Parent College Workshop Series.
o Develop and implement a Summer Opportunities Program to drive high levels of student participation in summer pre-college programs, internships, and community service.
o Establish guidelines for school-specific adaptations and/or system standardization of program.

Network College Readiness Coordination
o Oversee all college-related data collection, analysis and reports at the school and network level.
o Participate and/or write network policy for all things college related such as: GPA, transcripts, APs, dual enrollment, internship, etc.
o Assist principals with attracting, hiring, training, evaluating and motivating school-based college and career staff.
o Support principals in monitoring and assessing quality and effectiveness of college readiness initiatives in the schools.
o Oversee annual district and school-based college initiatives budgets.
o Establish annual calendars, benchmarks, student surveys, vision for yearly college trips, and standardized data collection throughout the college testing, application, financial aid, and processes.
o Coordinate all Naviance and College Board policies, calendars, network databases for scholarships and enrichment, and procedures for the network.

Coaching and Professional Development
o Provide and coordinate school-level coaching of college advisers, including co-planning and observation with principals, giving feedback to college advisers, and providing school-specific professional development.
o Design and deliver high-quality on-boarding for new college advisers and launching programs at new schools as they open.
o Coordinate on-going professional development for new and experienced college advisers across the network.
o Design a multi-year training sequence for new and experience college advisers.
o Ensure all advisers have quick access to needed data-sources and up-to-date college information.
o Foster sharing of best practices among schools within and outside of the network.

College Relationships
o Coordinate school-based staff to promote a consistent Mastery’s identity with college admissions professionals on both the highly selective and community college levels.
o Coordinate an annual Mastery-wide College Fair.
o Coordinate college advisers’ outreach and on-going relationships with colleges.
o Represent Mastery at national, state, and local college and admissions professional associations.
o Plan and implement campus visits and conference and meeting participation for Mastery college personnel.

Experience
College Advising Experience
o At least three years of demonstrated success in advising low-income, first generation college applicants and their families in all phases of the college and financial aid application processes including student admissions to selective colleges and favorable financial packages.
o Track-record of developing early college awareness programs.
o Wide knowledge of East Coast and national colleges including degree programs, opportunity programs, diversity programs, admissions criteria, defining “fit” for first-generation low income students, as well as familiarity with admissions personnel.
o Track record of participation in and/or presentation at local, state, and national college admissions counseling events and professional organizations.
o Successful coordination of a college-going culture at urban school(s) that motivates students to pursue and succeed in college.
o Extensive use of Naviance or other data system for management and tracking of students’ college outcomes.

Management
o Successfully managed a team to performance metrics
o Successfully coordinated programs, events, and college trips
o Demonstrated experience developing and codifying systems
o Strong data analysis skills to effectively drive others to set aggressive goals and reach them

Curriculum Development and Instruction
o Experience in curriculum development and lesson planning
o Minimum of 3 years classroom teaching demonstrating a high rate of student success with strong pedagogical and classroom management skills
o Coaching experience supporting staff to meet aggressive instructional goals in a structured instructional model
o Design and implementation of outcome-oriented professional development programs

Skills and Characteristics
o Deep personal belief that all students should have access to and ability to succeed in college
o Exceptional organizational skills and acute attention to detail
o Ability to see multiple projects with many moving parts through from beginning to end
o Strong analytical and writing skills on the micro and macro levels
o Strong focus on results and the flexibility and willingness to do “whatever it takes”
o Self-starter with initiative and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
o Ability to work autonomously, as well as to take direction and incorporate feedback into positive change
o Exceptionally skilled at analysis, communication, persuasion, and negotiation
o Maturity, humility, strong work-ethic, sense of humor, and “roll-up-my-sleeves” attitude
o Solid technical skills and experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Naviance

To Apply:
Please visit the “Careers” section of http://www.masterycharter.org to upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter outlining how you meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Mastery Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a diverse staff and encourage those from traditionally under-represented backgrounds to apply.

How to Apply:
Please visit the “Careers” section of http://www.masterycharter.org to upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter outlining how you meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Job/407285-140/c