Science Instructor/Academic Advisor

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Basic Function

The Science Teacher and Academic Advisor carries two connected responsibilities for an assigned roster of students. The school serves approximately 40 students on site and approximately 40 students online, a scope that allows this position to know every student on the roster by name. As the science teacher, this position does not deliver whole class direct instruction. It provides targeted tutoring at the point where a student stalls in a science course, diagnoses the underlying gap, and builds the science skills the student needs to move forward independently. As the academic advisor, this position meets one on one with each student to plan and monitor the path to graduation, tracks progress against that plan, and delivers timely interventions when a student falls off pace. This role is pivotal to each student’s success and to the organization’s broader success. The work performed revolves around serving each student with the utmost of service, respect, and intentionality. Consistent and effective communication is needed to serve students. This position is a hybrid position.

The Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for the Academic Advisor efficacy and successfulness is the credits earned rate (CER). Success in this position is defined by maintaining an average of 0.5 monthly credit earned rate for a student roster.

Responsibilities

1. Science Tutoring: Provide individual and small group tutoring to students who hit barriers in their science coursework. Identify the specific point of misunderstanding, reteach the concept, and confirm the student can apply it before returning to independent course work. This position does not deliver whole class direct instruction.

2. Science Skill Building: Build the underlying skills students need to complete science courses, including scientific vocabulary, reading of technical text, data and graph interpretation, laboratory reasoning, and applied mathematics. Track recurring barriers across the roster and address them proactively.

3. Student Progress: Track and assess student progress in completing the appropriate number of courses per month. Modify strategies and methods as needed to ensure success.

4. Student Support: Provide students with the support needed to ensure they can work on their courses and achieve monthly progress towards graduation. Refer students to other departments and staff for ancillary services that are nonacademic.

5. Academic Advising: Meet one on one with each assigned student on a scheduled basis to review the graduation plan, credits earned, credits remaining, course sequence, and required assessments. Confirm the student understands what is required and by when.

6. Monitoring and Intervention: Monitor course progress, pace, and engagement data on an ongoing basis. Identify students falling behind, deliver and document targeted interventions, and escalate to the Director and support services when an intervention does not produce measurable movement.

7. Student Rapport: Develop trusting relationships with students and their parents to create a bond between the student and the mentor that advances the student’s progress towards graduation. Document parent and student communication.

8. Student Outreach: Establish and maintain student contact centered around student success. Provide guidance to students as they work through their courses and towards graduation. Refer students over to HUBs and other services as needed.

9. Student Goals: Create individualized student learning plans that clearly set forth the student’s path towards graduation. Update goals as needed and use goals as motivation for students to achieve the desired outcomes.

10. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Science Content Expertise

Tutoring and Coaching

Data Analysis

Strong Communication

Technologically Savvy

Organized

Detail Oriented

Time Management

Prioritization

Customer Service

Integrity

Professionalism

Telephone Etiquette

Process Oriented

Collaboration

Education/Training

Degree: Bachelor’s degree in a science discipline or a related field is required. A valid Arizona secondary teaching certificate with a science endorsement is required. You are required to obtain a Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card.

Experience

At least 3 years of experience teaching high school science. Experience serving credit deficient, dropout recovery, or alternative student populations is preferred.

List of Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently in an 8-hour shift is required to sit; stand; walk; kneel; crouch; stoop; balance; climb; use repetitive motions; lift up to 25 lbs; reach with hands and arms; use hands to finger; handle or feel and look at a computer or hand-held screen for long periods of time.

Disclaimer

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to perform this job. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. Please see your immediate supervisor with any questions you may have.