Director of Graduate Success & Outreach – Episcopal News Service

Esperanza Academy, an independent middle school for girls from Lawrence, Massachusetts, seeks a full-time Director of Graduate Success & Outreach to join the Graduate Support Program (GSP) team of three. Esperanza Academy was founded in 2006, and currently, we serve 60 students from grades 5 through 8 and 189 alumnae. This new position is designed to support the growth of our institution and work with alumnae, particularly as we strengthen the high school and college-level support and develop career readiness initiatives.

Together, the team commits to our student’s academic and personal success from the time they enter Esperanza and as they make their journey through high school and college. Our 12-year commitment provides mentoring and targeted academic, social-emotional, financial, and career support to our alumnae. We walk alongside our graduates and positively impact the trajectory of their lives in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and beyond. The GSP has helped transform Esperanza alumnae’s lives by empowering them to graduate high school at a 100% rate and create rewarding futures for themselves and their families. Our alumnae have diverse outcomes: 30% go to independent boarding schools, 25% go to independent day schools, 27% go to parochial schools, and 18% go to local public schools. 70% of our alumnae enroll in college.

The Director of Graduate Success & Outreach should be a relentless ally to relentless ally to black, brown, and other girls of color who will be the first in their families to attend college, have been underserved in their communities, and want to lead successful educational journeys. In this role, the Director of Graduate Success & Outreach will oversee a caseload of 60 alumnae and collaborate with the Chief of Equity and Alumnae Success (CEAS). As an administrative staff member at an extended day school, the Director of Graduate Success & Outreach will be expected to be on-campus most days, with some hybrid work and flexibility in the schedule as the school year unfolds.

The Director of Graduate Success & Outreach’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Alumnae Support

• Oversee a caseload of approximately 60 high school and college alumnae to support students on their path to college graduation
• Build systems for ongoing college guidance to ensure college students are meeting graduation requirements
• Develop relationships with alumnae, their families, and school partners through annual visits to high school and college campuses; Maintain a regular schedule of communication with alumnae
• Offer college counseling services such as college visits, SAT preparation, and financial aid application preparation
• Expose alumnae to summer programs, college, and career opportunities; Provide feedback on student resumes and cover letters
• Execute two annual alumnae social events
• Develop content for alumnae newsletter sent out three times a year
• Facilitate annual college transitions workshop for incoming first-year college students
• Coordinate outreach and interventions with alumnae in crisis

Program Support

• Track and record student progress, using both quantitative and qualitative measures
  • Enter data into the database within three days of a student interaction
  • Enter assessments and academic plans in the fall and spring semesters
• Maintain a comprehensive, user-friendly alumnae database
• Analyze alumnae data to inform program delivery
• Create opportunities for current Esperanza students to connect with alumnae to strengthen the network
• Attend weekly supervisory and faculty meetings to provide updates on alumnae and provide input on curricular decisions
• Support Program Assistant with a weekly one-hour high school preparation course
• Maintain the GSP Center to offer mentoring and targeted academic, personal, financial, and career guidance to alumnae
• Manage and communicate effectively with high school, college, and community program partnerships
• Maintain an active presence and participate in campus life
• Other duties as assigned by the CEAS or Head of School. (May include student supervision during lunch, recess, and arrival/dismissal assigned in the staff rotation)

Requirements

• Ability to engage young people and work from a strength-based, trauma-informed lens
• Commitment to partnering with low-income families and institutions for alumnae success
• Ability to build effective relationships across lines of difference, resolve conflict, and gain the confidence of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity
• Familiarity with these platforms: Salesforce, Microsoft Office, and Google Suite
• At least 4-5 years of related work experience
• A Master’s degree in education or a related field required
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills (virtually and in-person; one-on-one and group)
• Organized and detail-oriented
• Creativity and the ability to improve upon existing systems
• Fluency in oral and written Spanish is highly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to manage, analyze and utilize data for programmatic purposes
• Strong personal commitment to our school values; A growth mindset, curiosity, and humility
• A valid driver’s license is required

Compensation

Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience. Esperanza Academy offers an attractive benefits package including 403(b), medical, dental, life, and disability insurance, and a comprehensive professional development program.

To Apply

Please send a cover letter, a resume, and contact information for three professional references to [email protected].

Non-Discrimination Policy

Esperanza is committed to a diverse and inclusive community with respect to race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, family status, economic circumstance, age, and physical disability in its student body, faculty and staff. Esperanza Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Esperanza Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.