About KIPP Chicago

All eight KIPP Chicago campuses are rated Level 1 or 1+ in the Chicago Public Schools SQRP rating system, making KIPP Chicago the highest-performing network of schools in Chicago. Currently we serve 3,100 students in grades K-8 and 2000 alumni in high school or college through our KIPP Through College program. Our schools are located in West and South Side neighborhoods where 99% of our students identify as Black or Latinx,  96% qualify for free and reduced price lunch, and 16% qualify as diverse learners. KIPP Chicago alumni graduate high school at a rate of 91% (compared to 78% for low-income students nationally), matriculate to college at a rate of 77% (compared to 34%), and earn a four-year degree at a rate of 30% (compared to 11%). We attract, develop, and retain a diverse and talented staff of educators, 61% of whom identify as People of Color, with 51% identifying as Black and 10% identifying as Latinx. Our students and families choose our schools because our teachers are exceptional educators who work together as a collective to ensure students achieve and thrive.

The KIPP Through College (KTC) Team supports KIPP Chicago alumni in developing the tools and knowledge needed to attain a college degree. By offering a mix of programs and services designed to reach every student and family — from one-on-one student meetings, to financial aid counseling, academic advising, life skills training, mentoring, college guidance, and more — KIPP Through College provides KIPP Chicago Schools alumni with the tools for success in high school, college, and the competitive world beyond.

The College Advisor for our KIPP Bloom campus, serves alumni from our middle school in the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago's south side.This is a mid-level position for an experienced professional. The College Advisor is critical to the success of serving a cohort of alumni ranging from 230 to 250 students per year. To ensure we fulfill our promise to support our KIPP alumni, our model begins during their freshman year of high school and continues through college graduation. Our goal is to guide and equip our bright, motivated, first-generation students of color to and through college. Therefore, the College Advisor will be an individual who embraces innovation, structures, meaningful relationships, improvement, and goes above and beyond to ensure alumni remain on a path to successful careers and lives. The College Advisor will report to the Director of College Support and will join a growing KIPP Through College (KTC) team of High School Transition & College Advisors. 

The role of the College Advisor includes, but is not limited to the following responsibilities:

• Caseload management: Our KTC team’s goal is to maintain continual contact with our KIPP alumni to ensure we are supporting them to and through college. The College Advisor accurately provides bi-weekly data reports and monitors progress towards prioritized goals in college match, college persistence and student advising. 

• Student Advising: Backwards plans outreach efforts to support student passion/purpose/plan, academics, social-emotional and financial challenges. Executes school campus visits while also leveraging resources to support KIPP alumni in high school and college. Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to support the needs of students. 

• College Access: Supports KIPP alumni and families through the college application and financial aid process, and accurately reports progress towards high school graduation and college match goals.

• College Persistence: Supports KIPP alumni as they transition to college to ensure they meet their academic benchmarks, renews FAFSA, and accurately reports progress towards college graduation and college persistence goals.

• Project Management: Completes annual event planning for class cohorts and manages special projects to support students through pre-college summer programs, scholarship opportunities, and any KIPP Foundation initiative. 

• Bachelor’s degree or higher (required) 

• Demonstrated success working with communities historically underrepresented in higher education and commitment to KIPP Chicago’s mission (required)

• At least two years of professional experience managing large caseloads (>150) in student advising, academic advising, college counseling, college access, college admissions, school counseling, college advising, college persistence and/or three years experience teaching (required) 

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage competing priorities (required)

• Excellent oral and written communication skills and evidence of strong follow-through, initiative taking, and interpersonal skills 

• Evidence meeting/exceeding goals and ability to work under pressure 

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and build relationships with diverse stakeholders

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Drive Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Salesforce, and able to quickly learn how to use new programs/systems (OverGrad is a plus)

• Flexibility to work some nights and weekends to connect with KIPP alumni/families and ability to travel around the Chicago-land area to support alumni at various school campuses

COMPENSATION

KIPP Chicago Schools offers a competitive compensation and benefits package: 

• Salaries based on experience

• Competitive rates for medical insurance and short-term disability insurance

• Dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, and long-term disability insurance are offered at no cost

• If a licensed educators in Illinois, contributions to the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund in accordance with Illinois state law

• An additional, optional 403(b) retirement account

• Robust professional development

TO APPLY: 

Please submit a current resume and cover letter with your application. 

INTERVIEW PROCESS 

In accordance with current public health guidelines, the interview process during Spring 2021 for all KIPP Chicago position will be conducted remotely and will include a phone interview, submission of a performance task, and panel interview via Zoom with our team.  To apply, please submit a current resume and cover letter with your application. 

STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

 KIPP Chicago is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying for employment. KIPP Chicago does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic background. 

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