Postsecondary Advisor - 2023/2024 School Year
Philadelphia, PA /
Network Support – Postsecondary /
Full-Time 2023-24 School Year
/ On-site
About Mastery:
We believe educational inequity is the most pressing social problem facing our country and the civil rights issue of our day. Mastery exists to help solve this problem. Our ultimate goal is to create a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. We are organized around one driving mission: All students learn the academic and personal skills they need to be truly prepared for postsecondary success and able to pursue their dreams. To fulfill this mission, we attend to the whole child – academically and emotionally – matching high expectations for students with high levels of support.
Mastery Charter Schools is a nonprofit network of more than 24 schools serving over 14,000 students in Philadelphia and Camden. We are the largest turnaround school operator in the nation and have been lauded by President Obama and the US Department of Education for our ability to dramatically boost academic achievement in historically low-performing schools.
We know neighborhood schools matter, all students deserve access to a great education, and the people in our buildings can grow and develop sustainably to make the biggest impact possible in this work.
Mastery's Equity Vision:
We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to achieving our mission.
We strive to be an anti-racist school district that eliminates the inequities in academic achievement that limit our students’ choices; that cultivates classrooms where every student is affirmed, supported, and held to high expectations; and that nurtures a diverse organization where students, staff, and families are valued, respected, and included.
This role is eligible for a $2,000 bonus as well as up to $5,000 for relocation expenses!
New-to-Mastery Teachers can expect a starting annual salary of between $55,000-$101,500 based on years’ experience and level of education.
Position Summary:
The Postsecondary Advisor is responsible for enacting Mastery’s Multiple Pathways strategy, preparing and supporting student matriculation into four and two year college, technical/trade school, workforce development programs and the military. The Postsecondary Advisor works with students in their senior year as they apply and matriculate into their chosen pathway program, with continued support during the summer to ensure matriculation steps are completed. The Postsecondary Advisor is a multi-faceted role that includes teaching, programmatic tasks and 1:1 student advising.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Ensure all 12th grade students at Mastery are provided with robust support and advising for their individualized postsecondary plans
- Engage Mastery seniors in a comprehensive application, financial aid and scholarship application processes in order to meet the varying pathways admissions timelines through classroom instruction, small group and 1:1 sessions.
- Teach Senior Seminar courses (4 cohorts/2x per week). Support seniors in transition-planning through the completion of classroom based Senior Project.
- Conduct regular 1:1 meetings with students to review academic progress, plans for post-graduation and to assist students to match their abilities and interests to appropriate postsecondary choices.
- Manage all paperwork aspects of the admissions process, including but not limited to acting as the liaison between Mastery and IHE’s/Career programs to ensure all components of a student’s application are complete
- Partner with and counsel parents through the application and financial aid process, through twice annual family meetings that may include evening hours.
- Develop productive relationships and partnerships with regional military, college and workforce development program representatives, scholarship programs and other postsecondary-education professionals to expand student access to programming. Attend professional development conferences as needed.
- Consistently track student application progress in Naviance; including: progress in meeting their individual application, aid/scholarship, admittance, graduation and enrollment goals.
- Establish and coordinate alumni outreach with goals of maintaining strong graduate relationships with Mastery and tracking college retention rates.
- Coordinate with the Assistant Principal of Specialized Services to develop transition support plans for students looking into school-to-career options.
Qualifications:
- A deep personal belief in college access for all students and a willingness to do whatever it takes to make college a viable reality for all Mastery students.
- Ability to work well in a team and to communicate effectively with students, parents, teachers, administrators, and universities.
- Ability to travel for college visits and regional/national conferences, including some overnight travel.
- Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.
- Strong understanding of the postsecondary landscape; including but not limited to, admissions processes, financial aid, scholarships and grants, and testing.
- Classroom/facilitation experience preferred, but not required.
- Sharp organizational skills to document students' progress to reach aggressive college admission goals. Knowledge of public education and charter schools highly desirable but not required.
- Maintains high expectations for students and self.
- Strong leadership, personal initiative and problem-solving skills.
- A relentless drive to provide the highest quality education for all students.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) with five years urban education experience preferred
- Demonstrated performance to surpass aggressive and measurable goals in urban schools.
- Experience in postsecondary counseling at the secondary level and/or significant high-school teaching experience.
- PA Specialist-Secondary Counselor certificate a plus.
- Strong administrative background including: detailed data management, communication, and marketing skills.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to physically perform the essential duties of the role – either on-site or remotely, and to work in the environmental conditions required, such as: traveling to network campuses; maneuvering in office spaces (including standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time, speaking loudly and clearly, seeing and hearing things both near and far away); stooping, kneeling, reaching file cabinets/shelves; fine finger and hand manipulation in use of computer, chalkboard, dry erase, &/or projectors; filing, faxing, scanning, coping, typing, mailing, and making phone calls; sitting for up to two (2) hours looking at a computer monitor, using a keyboard/mouse, and typing.
Mastery's Benefits Package:
We offer a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth. Some of our most popular benefits include our 403(b) retirement plan for PA employees (with a 5% match from Mastery), enrollment in the State of New Jersey Pension Plan for NJ employees, a robust Employee Assistance Program, mental health and counseling programs, an annual Professional Development Fund, and discounts and perks at a myriad of retailers, travel organizations, insurance providers, and so much more, as well as a Benefits VIP Helpdesk to help you navigate various benefits-related topics!
Mastery's Annual Calendar:
As you plan to make Mastery your new work home, please feel free to review our PA Academic Calendar for SY 22/23 and our NJ Academic Calendar for SY 22/23. We like to think our calendar is a benefit of working here too!
Mastery Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience.
UPDATE AS OF January 2023 - Please review Mastery’s Health and Safety Plans here to learn about our approach to vaccination and testing as well as our response to COVID-19. For ongoing positions, Mastery roles are designated as in-person, with regular on-site responsibilities, unless otherwise noted. As such, Employees must be able to support Mastery Schools’ academic plan and business strategies on-site – at a Mastery campus - as required.
Exceptions to this requirement will be considered on an individualized basis.
