Job Description for a Graduation Coach

Graduation coaches push students to the finish line.

The primary responsibility of a graduation coach is to identify students who are at risk of not graduating due to academic reasons or lack of attendance. A graduation coach creates plans and strategies for at-risk students to keep them motivated and help them achieve graduation success. Currently, the state of Georgia is the only state that has a statewide initiative for the use of graduation coaches. However, more states are following suit.

Overall Job Description

Graduation becomes a reality for at-risk students.

A graduation coach assists with high school graduation assistance activities and works regularly with students, school faculty and staff and parents. The graduation coach provides assistance to all students regarding graduation and completion, including identifying students at-risk of not completing graduation requirements, students with attendance issues, and identifying and implementing career plans. The graduation coach also uses data to identify at-risk students and create plans to improve achievement.

Some Essential Duties and Responsibilities

At-risk students can graduate with help.

Graduation coaches are expected to develop and implement intervention and retention strategies for at-risk students and work with students and their parents to create a graduation and achievement plan that will ensure success in meeting their academic goals. Coaches also must develop Graduation Teams for students identified as at-risk. In addition, coaches are expected to connect students and parents with community organizations and programs that foster and support academic achievement. Finally, graduation coaches track the progress of students as they move toward graduation; demonstrate a broad knowledge of advisement and school counseling programs; and conduct individual and group counseling with at-risk students.

Job Qualifications

Education is key!

Most graduation coaches are expected to have a minimum of a Master's degree in counseling and at least three years' experience in teaching, administration or counseling. Graduation coaches must possess expert knowledge of counseling, leadership and management. They must also have the knowledge of effective strategies to motivate students to successfully complete middle and high school and demonstrate successful experience working with at-risk teens. Finally, graduation coaches must be well informed of community services available to students, and their parents, for the purpose of career preparation and development.

Supervisor and Evaluation

Graduation is the ultimate goal.

The graduation coach is typically supervised by the school's principal and evaluated based on effectiveness and performance. Most evaluations consist of observations with a handwritten report.

Physical Demands

The graduation coach must have the ability to lift 10 to 15 lbs.; sit, walk or stand as required during the work day; operate and use classroom and school equipment and print resources which aid at-risk students; and physically restrain students as deemed necessary in extreme cases. In order to restrain students, coaches need to participate in restraint training classes.

References

• Graduation Coach Initiative