Our Team

Who we are: KIPP Minnesota is a network of high-performing public charter schools in North Minneapolis and part of a nationwide movement that began over 25 years ago. Next year, we will teach over 700 students in Kindergarten through 8th Grade at four schools in North Minneapolis. KIPP Minnesota is as a community of game-changing educators who are leading the way in providing a high-quality education to all students. 

What we do: We hire outstanding educators, maximize time in school learning, build a strong culture of achievement, and provide years of support to our alumni from KIPP Through College & Career advisors so that every one of our students has the opportunity to attend college and has access to a life of choice and opportunity. We continually engage in courageous conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion to create new and equitable systems for our students, their families, and our staff.  We do not shy away from discussing local and national issues that impact our students and their families. 

How we do it: We build partnerships between our families, staff, and community organizations. We work as a team, use data, and constantly reflect to improve our practice. We prioritize and invest in professional development for all of our staff, from on-going coaching, endless opportunities for collaboration, and weekly half-days for school-wide trainings to national conferences and retreats. We work hard to take care of ourselves with quarterly Wellness Wednesdays (a free afternoon off!) and a school calendar designed to maximize sustainability.

Why it matters: In our community, approximately 1 in 10 students earn a college degree. We believe that this is unjust and unacceptable and, most importantly, can be changed. Nationwide, over 85% of KIPP middle school alumni matriculate to college.

The Opportunity

The College Match Advisor supports KIPP Minnesota alumni in their pursuit of higher education and/or other postsecondary pathways. The advisor will serve as the primary point of contact for a caseload of alumni in grades 11-12 at various high schools. The advisor’s role is to support alumni on the path to and through college using KIPP’s framework of “College Match” counseling. This role includes significant student outreach to promote college access events and advising sessions. This position reports to the Director of KIPP Through College & Career.

Alumni Support & Advising

• Serve as an advisor for a group of KIPP Minnesota alumni and monitor their progress toward high school diploma and college or CTE matriculation

• Develop meaningful relationships with students, parents, teachers, and high school counselors

• Provide regular check-ins with students (and/or parents) using phone calls, emails, in-person meetings, social media, and high school campus visits (during the coronavirus pandemic, this will also include virtual advising)

• Provide individual support for alumni in areas such as: study skills, referrals to tutoring/counseling, on-campus support, goal-setting, coaching, problem solving and encouragement, college readiness, finding co-curricular learning and internship opportunities, etc.

• Keep students and families apprised of college admission requirements and monitor eligibility

• Keep students and families informed of deadlines and resources related to the college, financial aid and scholarship application processes

• Assist alumni to register and prepare for college entrance exams

• Support alumni to register for college prep, summer programs and enrichment opportunities

Marketing, Research, and Data

• Input and track data using the Alumni Database

• Research and stay current on higher education programs, trends and issues with student impact and make recommendations based on best practices and research

• Assist in developing profiles of high schools based on performance, achievement results, and college-going rates

• Assist with data collection for annual report and program evaluation

• Maintain documentation for program files and evaluation of program activities

• Prepare marketing, publicity materials and reports as needed.

Project Management

• Plan and execute co-curricular initiatives as assigned. These may include: application events, college-readiness workshops, socials, and parent workshops

• Implement KIPP Foundation initiatives around college access and success including: summer program nominations, data drives, Match Matters

• Work with KIPP Through College & Career team to identify partnerships that could provide additional support and services to alumni such as tutoring, internships, and college placement services

• Bachelor’s degree required

• 1 or more years of experience providing direct advising support to high school students

• Familiarity with the challenges and opportunities for first-generation college students

• Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills

• Ability to connect with people from diverse ethnic, socioeconomic and professional backgrounds

• Professional demeanor with strong initiative and creativity

• Ability to travel to school sites across the Twin Cities

• Flexibility to multi-task within an ambiguous, fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions

• Flexibility to work evening hours and weekends as necessary

Compensation and Benefits

We’re committed to providing best-in-class benefits to our teachers and staff. Elements of KIPP Minnesota’s benefits package include competitive pay, subsidized health insurance, free dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, and generous paid time off.

KIPP Minnesota is an employment at-will organization and provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. Learn more at www.kippminnesota.org.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.