ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH CENTRAL TEXAS

Breakthrough is the leading college access and success non profit in Central Texas. For more than 20 years, we have partnered with thousands of middle and high school students who aspire to be the first in their family to graduate with a degree or certificate. We make a radical, long-term commitment to students, to and through college, unlocking the power of education and a lifetime of opportunity. We support the whole student with personalized services, work closely with community partners, campuses, and employers, and advocate for our students with lawmakers. Breakthrough students attend 60+ public schools and persist at nearly 100 colleges and universities. The result is that nearly 60% of Breakthrough students graduate from college, compared to 15% of low-income students in our region. Our work has resulted in more than 350 college graduates, with nearly 3,500 on their way, positively impacting families for generations, our region’s educational access, and the Central Texas economy.

ABOUT THE SCHOOLWIDE STUDENT ADVISOR AND PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Schoolwide PSAP is a year-round advising services partnership that supports students to realize their postsecondary goals by providing direct advising services to every junior and senior at a high school. Schoolwide PSAP collaborates with the campus to shift the goal for students beyond high school graduation to success in higher education, whether it involves attaining a credential, certificate, diploma, or enrolling in the military. Critical duties include advising high school students and their families on academic progress, postsecondary pathways, steps to applying to, gaining entrance to, and securing financial aid for their selected postsecondary path, as well as overcoming any obstacles, both academic and non-academic, that may arise. In addition, the Schoolwide PSAP Student Advisor and Program Coordinator will design and lead engaging programming for the high school staff, students, and families to learn about the path to and through the postsecondary journey. The role encompasses both supervisory responsibilities and team collaboration.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Schoolwide Postsecondary Advising, the Schoolwide PSAP Student Advisor and Program Coordinator will work closely with school personnel to ensure that every 11th- and 12th-grade student at the high school receives high-quality, individualized support throughout their high school experience and on their path to postsecondary success. Specific responsibilities of the PSAP Student Advisor and Program Coordinator include:

• Serve as an advisor to a group of up to 75 high school students, regularly engaging with students, their families, teachers, and other key stakeholders to support their success.
• Support students to take academic and non-academic steps necessary to achieve postsecondary success (such as accessing academic tutoring, developing college and financial aid knowledge, seeking leadership and other opportunities, and accessing mental health and other campus and community resources)
• Engage in summer success work supporting students as they matriculate into their postsecondary path.
• Supervise AmeriCorps member(s) to ensure the highest performance and optimal student outcomes.
• Manage large groups of students to foster a positive learning community that aligns with Breakthrough’s core values, career readiness, and postsecondary success goals.
• Develop and maintain relationships with a diverse group of students and families.
• Track student progress and identify critical needs to provide timely and appropriate interventions.
• Meet and communicate regularly with parents/families on student progress, including conducting regular student/family conferences.
• Strategically develop relationships with key partners, including teachers, school administrators, district leaders, counselors, and leaders of other community-based organizations.
• Meet regularly and work collaboratively with other staff members and volunteers to support students and families.
• Support program evaluation efforts and make continuous program improvements to achieve outcomes.
• Collaborate with other leaders on the program team to create and refine Breakthrough’s processes that support students on their postsecondary journey.
• Participate in committees and workgroups to engage in team planning, organizational change work, and other collaborative work as needed.
• Perform other job-related duties as required.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Schoolwide Postsecondary Advising, the Schoolwide PSAP Student Advisor and Program Coordinator will work closely with school personnel to ensure that every 11th- and 12th-grade student at the high school receives high-quality, individualized support throughout their high school experience and on their path to postsecondary success. Specific responsibilities of the PSAP Student Advisor and Program Coordinator include:

• Serve as an advisor to a group of up to 75 high school students, regularly engaging with students, their families, teachers, and other key stakeholders to support their success.
• Support students to take academic and non-academic steps necessary to achieve postsecondary success (such as accessing academic tutoring, developing college and financial aid knowledge, seeking leadership and other opportunities, and accessing mental health and other campus and community resources)
• Engage in summer success work supporting students as they matriculate into their postsecondary path.
• Supervise AmeriCorps member(s) to ensure the highest performance and optimal student outcomes.
• Manage large groups of students to foster a positive learning community that aligns with Breakthrough’s core values, career readiness, and postsecondary success goals.
• Develop and maintain relationships with a diverse group of students and families.
• Track student progress and identify critical needs to provide timely and appropriate interventions.
• Meet and communicate regularly with parents/families on student progress, including conducting regular student/family conferences.
• Strategically develop relationships with key partners, including teachers, school administrators, district leaders, counselors, and leaders of other community-based organizations.
• Meet regularly and work collaboratively with other staff members and volunteers to support students and families.
• Support program evaluation efforts and make continuous program improvements to achieve outcomes.
• Collaborate with other leaders on the program team to create and refine Breakthrough’s processes that support students on their postsecondary journey.
• Participate in committees and workgroups to engage in team planning, organizational change work, and other collaborative work as needed.
• Perform other job-related duties as required

You are a strong candidate for the Schoolwide PSAP Student Advisor and Program Coordinator role if, above all, you are a champion for closing the opportunity gap and increasing social and economic equity and mobility through educational attainment. You are a servant leader and feel at your best in deep, meaningful relationships with the communities you serve. You enjoy supporting students in their learning and planning for postsecondary success. You are passionate about building authentic relationships with students, family members, caregivers, and educators at the schools our students attend. You bring content expertise in youth development, college access, and event or program operations. You will also bring experience or demonstrated capacity in:

• Providing high-quality advising services to students, with a focus on building authentic relationships and a skill for advocating for the students’ success in school and other settings
• Navigating postsecondary access steps at the secondary level, including but not limited to postsecondary identity development, career exploration, military readiness, college visits, test preparation and access, college applications, and financial aid (familiarity with Texas IHEs preferred)
• Tracking of data (e.g., test scores, college readiness indicators, applications submitted, college acceptances, financial aid applications submitted) and utilizing data to inform programming
• Connecting students and their families to resources within the community, including school-based services, mental health services, and others
• Leading students in groups of varying sizes, from small groups to assemblies, to achieve learning objectives
• Supervising individuals and teams to achieve ambitious goals and to grow professionally, including coaching aspiring educators and others on how to be effective classroom teachers and project leaders
• Collaborating with others on a team in complex tasks and projects while also working independently
• Organizing elaborate projects, such as student schedules, events, or other school-like administrative tasks, against a deadline
• Tailoring communication to meet the needs of a variety of audiences, including students, families, staff members, school personnel, and individuals who speak a language other than English
• Approaching conversations about identity, power, and privilege with awareness, humility, and a quest for greater understanding
• Developing your professional skills, with humility towards your competencies and identity
• Using a variety of technology platforms, including operating systems, student databases, and online tools such as Google Suite
• Prioritizing multiple tasks and delivering commitments promptly, and
• Possessing a disciplined, strong work ethic and comfort with working non-standard hours (some weekends and evenings).
• Participate in committees and workgroups to engage in team planning, organizational change work, and other collaborative work as needed.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned