KIPP Through College and Career, High School Placement Manager/Counselor

  • Full-time
  • Grade Level: Middle
  • Subject: College and Career Readiness
  • Start Date: Next year opening
  • Department: Regional Support and Leadership

Company Description

The mission of all of KIPP Massachusetts schools is to create an environment where students develop the academic skills, intellectual habits, and character traits necessary to maximize their potential in high school, college, and the world beyond. Our program is based on:

  • A focus on high-quality instruction supported by rigorous professional development to ensure that our students develop the academic skills necessary to pursue the life they choose.

  • High regard for character development to ensure that our students and staff celebrate and develop their character and identity strengths.

  • An emphasis on family engagement, because we believe that our students are most likely to be able to maximize their potential when we work in partnership with our students and their families.

  • A focus on college readiness for all students so that all students can make choices about their post-secondary education and future.

What We Do

We seek to provide a world-class education for students from educationally underserved communities in Lynn and Boston. Our student demographics mirror those of neighborhood schools in terms of race, socioeconomic status, English Language Learners, and students who receive special education services.

Our promise to families is that their children will enter college and the professional world able to thrive academically due to their literacy, numeracy, and core knowledge in science and social studies. We also promise that our students will develop the zest for learning and grit necessary to persevere as they climb the mountain to and through college and career. Our graduates will be prepared to return to their community as teachers, leaders, and architects of continued growth in Lynn and Boston.

Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Vision

At KIPP Massachusetts, we believe that Knowledge is Power. Every day, our team and family have the opportunity to either perpetuate systems of oppression or disrupt them. We are compelled by the ideals of diversity, equity, and inclusivity. Therefore, we continuously commit to operating as an anti-racist organization.  Read more at Diversity Equity Inclusivity Vision.

Who We Are

KIPP Massachusetts began enrolling students in 2004. We currently hold two charters, operating two “districts.” Our first district, KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School, is based in Lynn, MA.  Our second district, KIPP Academy Boston Charter School, is based in Mattapan, MA. Each district is housed on one or more “campuses,” which we use to refer to different grade spans, for example, elementary grades, middle school grades, or high school grades.

In Lynn, KIPP Academy Lynn Elementary (serving grades K-4), KIPP Academy Lynn Middle (serving grades 5-8), and KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate (serving grades 9-12), are all under our Lynn charter.  Admission to any grade in the Lynn district is admission to all remaining grades in the Lynn district K-12. 66% of our students in Lynn are Hispanic, 23% are Black, and 11% are other races/ethnicities.

KIPP Academy Boston(serving grades K-8) operates under our Boston charter. Admission to any grade in the Boston district is admission to all remaining grades in the Boston district, K-8. 68% of our students in Boston are Black, 30% are Hispanic and 2% are other races/ethnicities.

Across both districts, in the school year, 2020-2021 KIPP Massachusetts will serve over 2,100 students.

KIPP National

KIPP Massachusetts is part of the nation-wide KIPP non-profit network of 255 college-preparatory, public charter schools educating more than 100,000 early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school students.

KIPP Massachusetts is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all of our students, families, teachers, staff, and community members.

Job Description

KIPP Through College and Career

The KIPP Through College and Career (KTCC) department provides alumni and their families with the essential knowledge and preparation they will need to live out our departmental mission. Successfully climbing their mountains to varying post-secondary training opportunities that will position them to live sustainable lives of choice, we look forward to watching them thrive as educated, professional, and socially conscious citizens. Ultimately, we envision that these self-sustaining KIPPsters will transform communities and create systemic change thereby increasing equity of access, opportunities, and resources. Grounding our mission and vision are the following core values:

  • Holistic Development
  • Strength’s Based Perspective
  • Mentorship and Education
  • Advocacy & Social Justice
  • Community & Collaboration

Role

Reporting to the Managing Director of KIPP Through College and Career (KTCC), the High School Placement Manager/Counselor is an essential member of the KTCC team who will work directly with KIPP Academy Boston (KAB) Middle School students, alumni, families, and stakeholders. They are responsible for working with 7th and 8th-grade students from KAB and supporting them through the high school application process as well as implementing holistic, critically conscious programming that helps drive high school matriculation and essential life skill development. This position will ultimately promote KTCC’s mission of supporting students to and through all secondary and post-secondary pathways while developing students’ knowledge, skills, and character with a specific focus on KAB middle school students that are pursuing public, pilot, charter, parochial, exam, and private high school options. All of their efforts will ensure all 8th graders from KIPP Academy Boston gain admission to and attend target high schools as well as support the KIPP MA aspirational goal of reaching a 75% post-secondary program completion rate for all of our 8th-grade completers. 

Responsibilities

The employee within this role is expected to meet the responsibilities as indicated below and other duties as assigned. 

High School Placement Counseling

  • Develop strengths-based, empathic relationships with current students and alumni

  • Develop and facilitate parent meetings to educate families about high school placement options and application processes

  • Develop and implement individualized plans for 8th graders to support creation of their high school wishlists 

  • Advise students and families on the best fit high school options available to each student leveraging school and student-level data 

  • Support Summer transitions with rising high school freshman to prevent disengagement after graduation 

  • Invest in early relationship building with the 7th grade to promote early engagement that will support their 8th-grade transitions year

  • Implement trauma-sensitive and healing-centered practice to aid KAB 7th and 8th graders in identifying and developing their individual strengths, interests, and opportunities.

Program Management

  • Develop and implement High School Placement programming and initiatives for 7th and 8th-grade students to ensure progress on high school readiness factors

  • Lead the 8th-grade Transitions Wrap-Around Team by collaborating with KAB stakeholders to onboard the 8th-grade class to KTCC services.

  • Work with the 8th-grade school counselor and learning specialists to tier each student based on their skill levels and socio-emotional status

  • Manage the execution of all high school entrance exam preparation and registration needs. 

  • Develop and facilitate gatherings to educate parents and students of all grade levels on admissions to and affordability of target high schools

  • Create differentiated plans to support KAB 8th graders as they transition to private, parochial, exam, charter, public, and pilot schools in the Greater Boston area.  

  • Identify candidates for summer programs and assist with the application process

Partnerships and Collaboration

  • Establish and maintain relationships with KAB Leadership as well as the 7th and 8th-grade teams to align on and execute the high school placement program model 

  • Develop and maintain consistent relationships with collateral contacts at high schools within the Greater Boston area as well as additional private schools our students may attend

  • Coordinate with local community-based organizations to ensure all eligible students apply to and utilize relevant local resources aimed at college and career readiness.

  • Collaborate with KAB grade level chairs to better understand students’ levels of high school readiness as well as to inform more effective development of students’ levels of academic preparedness and independent life skills

  • Work collaboratively with members of the KTCC team to develop and execute programming and initiatives that support persistence pathways, career development, and social/emotional awareness

  • Collaborate on KTCC strategic planning that builds alignment and identifies best practice for department-wide program development

  • Connect with KTCC network colleagues via virtual learning communities, retreats, and webinars as opportunities present themselves 

Data Management

  • Research students’ academic, executive functioning, and socio-emotional skills through a variety of sources to inform the high school matriculation goal

  • Utilize Salesforce, the KTCC Alumni Database, to track and report on student and family data throughout the year

  • Manage and facilitate the development of meetings with critical, internal stakeholders that engage in strategic program discussions informed by comprehensive data report cards

  • Collaborate with the Data Manager to generate reports on various metrics and milestones throughout the high school placement process

  • Regularly progress monitor student caseload to maintain clarity on which students are at greatest risk and leverage insights to intervene. 

  • Work with the KTCC Managing Director and KIPP MA Data team to liaise KIPP Foundation, KIPP MA, and KTCC@ KIPP MA data needs

At KIPP MA, we believe that an excellent staff member does the following:

  • Believes that all of us can and will learn

  • Upholds high expectations for their students, self, and team 

  • Has a strong work ethic and commits to doing whatever it takes for students to excel

  • Thrives as part of a team-oriented, mission-driven culture

  • Constantly assesses progress, communicates results clearly, and uses data to inform decisions and set ambitious goals

  • Demonstrates a growth mindset and a desire to continually improve through actively seeking feedback, coaching, and professional development

  • Demonstrates resilience and flexibility when facing familiar and unfamiliar challenges

  • Focuses efforts on achieving both short-term and long-term results

  • Prioritizes attention to detail/effective execution and follows through on commitments 

  • Takes a holistic, student development approach to their work

  • Demonstrates an embodiment of KIPP MA’s values –including grit, community, zest, enthusiasm, and love of learning

  • Demonstrates unquestioned integrity and commitment to the KIPP Through College and Career mission, vision, and values

Qualifications

Desired Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s Degree required. Master’s Degree preferred in Education, Social Work, Guidance Counseling, or a related field.

  • 3-5 years of working with youth from diverse populations, underserved urban communities, and/or first-generation college students in educational and/or non-profit youth development programs.

  • Detail and process-oriented, able to develop and implement internal programming necessary to build capacity and organizational structure.

  • Has knowledge of the high school access process and landscape of high schools in the Greater Boston area.

  • Experience evaluating programs and developing innovative strategies to meet challenges with flexibility and creativity

  • A driven self-starter with a demonstrated track record of success in developing and executing on a long-term, multi-tiered strategy with accountability and reliability

  • Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with attention to detail, a sense of humor, and a humble/growth mindset

  • Ability to connect with people from diverse ethnic, socio-economic, and professional backgrounds

  • Flexibility to multi-task within a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment while driving toward clarity and strength based solutions

  • Ability to facilitate group workshops for a range of age groups

  • A proven ability to collaborate and build relationships with stakeholders across functional and organizational lines

  • Has outstanding project management skills, with an ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite. Note: Salesforce a plus.

  • Bilingual Haitian, Cape Verdean Creole and Spanish speakers highly encouraged to apply

Additional Information

Specifications:

  • Ideal start date: July 1st, 2021
  • This position is full-time (1.0 FTE)
  • This position will function primarily from the Boston, MA campus (37 Babson, Mattapan, MA 02126); however, there may be meetings held at our Lynn Campus (20 Wheeler Street, Lynn MA 01902) 

Essential Duties:

  • Ability to travel by car or public transportation is required. 
  • For safety during the COVID pandemic, employment will remain remote and the employee will be asked to work from home until further notice. 
  • Experience with program management and development required. 
  • There may be commitments that require early mornings, late evenings, and some Saturdays (roughly 10% of the time)

Compensation

Compensation is commensurate with experience and includes a comprehensive benefits package.

Application process:

Internal candidates: If you are currently a member of the KIPP MA team, please apply by emailing your resume to the Recruitment Team at [email protected].  Be sure to indicate to which position you wish to apply.     

External candidates: If you do not currently work for the KIPP MA team, please visit our job board at https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/KIPP/massachusetts and complete an online application.

  1. The KIPP MA Recruitment Team will select candidates to move forward to the phone interview stage.

  2. Following the phone interview, the KIPP MA team will invite qualified candidates to interview with KIPP MA School or Regional Office Teams. 

KIPP Massachusetts, KIPP Academy Lynn, and KIPP Academy Boston are equal opportunity employers. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, gender identity, religion, creed, ethnicity, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age, ancestry, special need, proficiency in the English language, or a foreign language. We are committed to hiring a diverse and multicultural staff and encourage applications from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.

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