Post Secondary Champion

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 500 schools and employing approximately 44,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans : academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments - student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

Department Summary - The Office of Innovation and Incubation (I&I) provides incubation, management, and oversight of charter, contract, and alternative schools as options for CPS students and families. I&I also leads the district's Academic RFP process, which provides school communities across the city with access to highly demanded programs. I&I oversee approximately 90 Charter and Contract Schools which together educate nearly 55,000 students. Please provide an overview of the department; insert three or four sentences to describe the vision of the department as well as the reporting structure and any high-level projects.

Job Summary :

Reporting to the Manager of College and Career Support, the Post-Secondary Champion serves a critical role in I&I. The Post-Secondary Champion is responsible for driving college and career preparation strategies and activities for all charters and contracts, with a special emphasis on Option Schools and Programs. This position will also engage and converge with the Office of College and Career Success, managing key initiatives and performance indicators. Since the District's 5-year Strategic Plan includes increasing college enrollment to 78% by 2024, most time is devoted to serving high schools via direct school support. This position will also assist charter elementary schools with improved 6-8 grade Individual Learning Plan (ILP) completion in Naviance each year The Post Secondary Champion will be held accountable for the following responsibilities :

• Lead and support College and Career exploration and awareness activities : Educate students on a comprehensive set of college and career options (college & career, in & out-of-state, 2-year & 4-year, corporate and entrepreneurial) through college & career exploration activities; Assist with facilitating meetings between college representatives and students; Serve as school-level point person for district-wide exploration and awareness activities
• Lead and support College and Career readiness activities : Assist with the coordination and implementation of Work-Based Learning (WBL) activities with counselors, teachers, students, and the Central Office such activities as job shadow, career speaker and career service events that promote college and career preparation
• Facilitate supplementary soft skill workshops and support workshops that focus on writing, time management technology, and study skills
• Support School Post-Secondary Teams by assisting in delivering professional development and resources to help school Counselors and post-secondary teams in creating a college and career-going culture and driving strong post-secondary outcomes
• Lead ongoing school staff capacity through the network and citywide professional learning communities Monitor student individualized learning plans (ILP) and LEARN. PLAN. SUCCEED completion progress at schools, along with data troubleshooting for different governance types within I&I
• Provide resources to schools regarding outside partnerships and identify resources that can assist in the attainment of quality college and career opportunities
• Link resources to schools based on needs assessment
• Lead and coordinate the implementation of College Access / Persistence Activities for Charter, Contract, and ALOP schools and Programs - Provide resources and support to schools to implement college access and persistence activities for students and parents
• Assist with implementing district-wide post-secondary events to promote college access and persistence
• Assist with driving financial aid access activities school-wide
• Work with Central Office Scholarship Manager to maintain information on institutions that offer "strategic" scholarships
• Ensure schools track vital metrics such as college applications, scholarship applications, college acceptances, scholarships received, Senior Exit Questionnaire completion, etc.
• Support efforts to ensure a smooth senior transition into college and college persistence beyond Assist and provide school support to complete the Senior Exit Questionnaire (SEQ) Lead schools with Individualized Student Planning - Support Naviance and other post-secondary planning tool implementation and usage
• Monitor Naviance utilization at the network and school level
• Monitor the percentage of 9th through 12th-grade students that complete Individual Learning Plans (ILP) and concrete post-secondary plans
• Monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Assist with activities identified in the school-level counseling Implementation Plans aligned to school, Network, and District goal
• Lead I&I team post-secondary meetings and sub-committee work; Support the implementation of I&I college and career strategy and daily buckets of work
• Participate in ongoing counselor-integrated support strategies using the American School Counselors (ASCA) implementation plan
• Participate in scheduled school planning sessions to develop key tools and strategies that promote the departments' work
• Actively participate in OSCPA meetings and activities, including monthly OSCPA service meetings
• Obtain certification in all Office of School Counseling and Post-Secondary Advising College and Career-related advising credentials
• Other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Post Secondary Champion must possess the following qualifications :

Education Required :

Experience Required :

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to :

Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. "Up-to-date" on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.