Success Mentor

$50,000 - $55,000/year

Position Summary: The Success Mentor role is located at our Salome Urena Campus site:

The Salome Urena de Henriquez Campus Schools - M.S. 322 and M.S. 293 - in partnership with Children's Aid (CAS), mission is to provide deep, targeted support enabling students to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to get back on track, earn a middle school diploma, and succeed in high school. We envision a school community that values student voice, meets the individual academic and social/emotional needs of every student, and provides a wealth of opportunities for students to discover personal meaning and a sense of purpose in their work.

Under the supervision of a CAS Community School Director, the Success Mentor will work with M.S. 322 chronically absent youth to address the barriers keeping them from going to school every day - and to help them reach their potential educational outcomes. They will help to identify the causes of poor attendance, which may include family struggles or poor health, and work with these schools and CAS staff to seek solutions, and they will ensure meaningful engagement in the schools.

Necessary Training or Training Plan to be implemented:

Success Mentor will be provided training after s/he is hired. The Success Mentor will receive trainings specific to this role as well as being enrolled in monthly staff training on delivering educational material, classroom management along with identifying areas of needed improvement.

Impact:

The Success Mentor will help us to meet the expected outcomes by ensuring the continued improvement of school attendance and engagement of chronically absent youth.

Essential Duties:

• Understand and promote the organization's Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.
• Conduct student intakes.
• Track attendance and celebrate improvements.
• Co-facilitate with school attendance agent/team weekly meetings to discuss and develop care plans for participants.
• Provide ongoing, weekly case management services for 20-25 youth for a full year.
• Meet and greet youth each morning/afternoon when they arrive at school or the program site; make early morning phone calls home to absent students.
• Work collaboratively with each student to create and follow Pathways to success plan.
• Meet with mentees regularly, both one-on-one and in small groups, to check in on how school is going and listen to youth's needs.
• Link students and make referrals to external and internal services in the areas of education; high school awareness; leadership development; and support services.
• Monitor and track student's progress towards achieving benchmarks.
• Work cooperatively with school personnel, family members and the school teams to advance student's academic and attendance goals.
• Participate in student and teacher conferences.
• Work with school and site leadership to identify appropriate interventions to support and engage the mentee.
• Seek advice and identify targeted sources of youth or family supports from appropriate school staff and community-based partners under the direction of the Site or Program Director.
• Keep notes about youth attendance patterns, needs and interventions-make sure monitoring of data is strategic.
• Attend (or be represented at) weekly/bi-weekly student success meetings to share any best practices or challenges and to present a summary of how youth are doing.
• When working with groups of youth develop and maintain an effective system of classroom management that encourages children to develop pro-social behavior and self-discipline.
• Communicate regularly with Program or Site Director or other designated CAS personnel regarding needs for materials and supplies to support chronically absent youth.
• Work with parents and students, as partners, to develop individual work plans that will outline strategies and outcomes that will ensure student success in the area of attendance and tardiness.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Education, Social Work, or Related Field (preferred); or working towards a bachelor's degree.
• 2+ years of experience working with youth, ages 10 to 14.

Key Competencies:

• A demonstrated ability to motivate, stimulate and challenge students to commit, participate, and remain engaged throughout the program.
• Organized with strong follow-up.
• Mature, uses good judgment and good listener.
• Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent classroom management skills and proven ability to employ a variety of behavior management techniques to create a safe and fun learning environment.
• An understanding of and sensitivity to the emotional, social and academic needs of students during different developmental stages.
• Counseling and advisement.
• Planning and goal setting for current and future education and careers.
• Mediation, conflict resolution and problem-solving.
• Networking and resource acquisition.
• Able to interact and work with High-Risk Middle School Students.
• Outreach and working with families and adults.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children's Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children's Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children's Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.