Transition Assistant - College & Career Specialist - Full-Time (8.0 hpd) - Thurston High School

This position is responsible for performing a variety of complex tasks requiring initiative and independent judgment to dispense career information to counselors, high school students and parents. In addition, this position coordinates with guests and school the scheduling of events involving career selection and guidance such as symposiums, speakers and conferences in order to maintain students, accurate, up-to-date knowledge of options available in the career field. Works with students on both a drop-in basis and a scheduled basis.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential duties of this position include the following. Employees in this position perform some or all of the following tasks. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Supervise student activity in the College and Career Center; provide guidance for research activities and selection of brochures, books, labor market information and other materials.
2. Orient students in the availability of financial aid, apprenticeship programs, scholarships, and career selection processes.
3. Make available standard forms for student use, such as college, scholarship and financial aid applications; provide instruction for correct completion and submission.
4. Explain format and content guidelines for resumes to students.
5. Publicize local job openings; do initial screening and referral of applicants.
6. Research new career developments in newspapers and periodicals; develop improved familiarity with the materials by personal study as time allows.
7. Identify new resource materials by reading professional journals, resource catalogs, and other sources; order new materials.
8. Maintain an inventory of office supplies for the College and Career Center; order materials, check-in and shelve upon arrival.
9. Host informational nights for parents and students; Scholarship Night, Financial Aid Night, Junior Parent Night; invite guest speakers, publicize; provide materials for attendees.
10. Coordinate a College and Career Day in partnership with local businesses and a range of colleges to support student college and careeer exploration.
11. Coordinate College Application Week (CAW), invite college representatives to help host workshops for college applications, recruit and train volunteers to help students complete college applications.
12. Coordinate College Goal Oregon event; invite guest speakers, invite financial aid advisors from colleges, communicate this county wide event, record keeping to satisfy the grant.
13. Coordinate College and Career Exploration event at Oregon colleges; recruit students, secure bussing, permission slips and recruit volunteers.
14. Compose announcements for the College and Career Center activities using various social media; contact students or parents to inform them of agendas.
15. Design and update bulletin boards for the College and Career Center.
16. Host representatives from various colleges and military and arrange presentations to students.
17. Completes special projects as assigned.
18. ASPIRE Coordinator: Manage applications of students and volunteer mentors, recruitment of students and volunteer mentors, training of volunteers, background checks of mentors, matching of student/mentors, tracking of hours of volunteers and ASPIRE activities, reports to fulfill the grant requirements, supervise student/mentor meetings.
19. Cooperative Work Experience: Manages applications, evaluations, record-keeping of students receiving credit for employment.
20. Also prepares an annual report of Career Center activities and compiles data for presentation of other reports as requested.
21. Professionally represents the school and the District in interactions with community and staff.
22. Maintains appropriate certifications and training hours as required.
23. Complies with applicable District, state, local and federal laws, rules and regulations.
24. Attends work regularly and is punctual.

MARGINAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Marginal duties of this position include the following. Employees in this position perform some or all of the following tasks. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Attends in-service trainings.
2. Attends staff meetings.
3. Completes required paperwork and communication log(s), timely and accurately.
4. Troubleshoots office machinery (copy, fax, postage meter etc.), coordinates maintenance and supply inventory.
5. Reports issues to authorities as necessary, animal control, suspicious activity etc.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

All school employees have some responsibility for supervising students and assisting in maintaining a safe environment.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Education and/or Experience:
• Associate’s degree (A.A.) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school; OR
• At least one year related experience and/or training; OR
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must be highly qualified under the reauthorized ESEA.
• Prior successful experience working in a school setting with students with various disabilities strongly preferred.

• Interpersonal Skills:
• Works well with others from diverse backgrounds;
• Focuses on solving conflict;
• Maintains confidentiality;
• Listens to others without interrupting;
• Keeps emotions under control;
• Reemaining open to others’ ideas and contributing to building a positive team spirit;
• Demonstrates ability to successfully work with students with disabilities.

• Language Skills:
• Ability to communicate fluently verbally and in writing in English.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond effectively to questions in one-on-one, small group situations to students and other school staff.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, IEPs, lesson plans, data, memos, e-mails, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals and governmental regulations.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.

• Mathematical Skills:
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.

• Reasoning Ability:
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in standardized situations.

• Computer Skills:
• General knowledge of computer usage and ability to use standard school software, internet software, e-mail, spreadsheets and word processing software and computer programs used by the District.
• Ability to type accurately and proficiently.

• Other Skills and Abilities:
• Ability to appropriately communicate with students, teachers, parents and members of the community.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and work in a dynamic environment and appropriately react to a wide spectrum of behaviors of disabled students.

• Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
• Certificates as determined by the District including meeting current highly qualified requirements under the reauthorized ESEA.
• Ability to obtain a valid CPR/First Aid card.

Work Direction, Lead & Supervisory Responsibilities

No assigned permanent staff to supervise.  May train and provide work directions, as directed by supervisor, to appropriate staff and volunteers.

Physical Effort

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee is frequently required to walk, stand, sit, use hands for fine manipulation, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move 25 pounds and occasionally maneuver up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus and peripheral vision.

Working Conditions

Normal school environment.  The employee may be exposed to bodily fluids, bloodborne pathogens, sick and/or contagious students. The employee may be exposed to toxic chemicals (for disinfecting) and outdoor weather conditions.

Other

This is not necessarily an exhaustive or all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, functions or working conditions associated with the job.  This job description is not a contract of employment or a promise of guarantee of any specific terms or conditions of employment.  Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work or otherwise balance the workload.  The school district may add to, modify or delete any aspect of this job (or the position itself) at any time as it deems advisable.

Salary : $20 - $26