REPORTS TO: Director of College Counseling & Postsecondary Success
The Director of Alumni Outreach/College Counselor will have responsibility for the college and career planning activities. This person will collaborate with the College Counseling & Postsecondary Success team to prepare students for college and ensure the success of alumni in college and beyond. At Saint Martin, we look to develop a college going culture in which all of our students attend a four year, two year, or high-quality credentialed program directly upon graduation from high school.
OUR ORGANIZATION
Saint Martin de Porres High School is a Catholic college-preparatory program designed exclusively for students of modest means. Eighty percent of our students will be the first in their extended families to go to college. Our rigorous curriculum, which includes students working in a corporate environment, was designed specifically for our school by a committee of prestigious educational leaders. Saint Martin was founded in 2004 and is chartered by the state of Ohio and accredited through the Ohio Catholic Schools Accrediting Association. Our mission is to transform urban Cleveland one student at a time and we are committed to the values of work, study, service, leadership and prayer. We are a part of the Cristo Rey Network of schools founded in 2001.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Director of Alumni Outreach/College Counselor will work with the College Counseling & Postsecondary Success team to prepare current students for college and support alumni in their pursuit of a degree. This is a 12 month position with daily hours as well as occasional evening and weekend as required. Duties include:
Complete check-ins (through mixed media) with all alumni in college. Differentiate outreach by initiating more check-ins with students “at-risk” of dropping out, including in-person visits at college campuses
Manage all aspects of Martin Mentors Program
Track, analyze, and disseminate National Student Clearinghouse data to relevant Saint Martin stakeholders
Update and maintain alumni data through management of the Dell Portal
Co-facilitate College Counseling classes to help students develop the skills needed to succeed in college
Arrange and coordinate college visits for students in spring of their senior year
Coordinate events such as the Alumni Brunch and the Senior Send-off BBQ
Assist with FAFSA and provide financial aid/scholarship advising to current students and alumni
Offer financial aid/FAFSA/budgeting workshops for alumni
Arrange dinners & get-togethers for alumni to connect with and support each other at colleges with large SMDP presence (CSU, Akron, Kent, JCU, ND, BW)
Plan, organize and administer workshops for parents on how to best support their students in college
Create and distribute newsletter to alumni
Create and organize an Alumni Council
Assist with college and career information night meetings for parents
Build and strengthen relationships with key staff at popular colleges and universities
Attend professional development workshops and activities related to access and retention in higher education
Assist Director of College Counseling & Postsecondary Success and Saint Martin community as needed
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
Master’s degree in Higher Education, School Counseling, or a related field required. A Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years of experience in higher education or college counseling may be substituted for degree requirement.
EXPERIENCE:
Experience working in an urban environment with high school aged students and/or experience working with college students. Knowledge of college admissions process, financial aid, and retention in higher education.
REQUIRED SKILLS/TRAITS:
Able to work with school technology (use of academic software, Microsoft Office, social media, etc.)
Excellent organization skills
Ability to work on accomplishing multiple goals simultaneously
Effective communicator (oral, written, using communication tools such as texting, email)
Outgoing personality
Must be able to function in a busy office setting
Flexible
Persistent
Detail oriented
Willing to continue professional development
Ability to track and report data points as needed
PHILISOPHICAL ATTITUDE:
Understands and completely embraces the Saint Martin de Porres High School mission and the Cristo Rey Network’s Ten Standards for Mission Effectiveness
Believes that all learning should be set in meaningful context and related to real world experiences
Utilizes pedagogical approaches that include but are not limited to Habits of the mind and spirit, Socratic questioning, adult and peer coaching, adult and peer presentations, problem-based learning, constructionist approached, inquiry methods, appreciative inquiry methods, and other forms of active learning
Person of faith but not necessarily Catholic
Appreciates that the school is driven by its Catholicity which focuses on the highest level of ethical, moral and social behavior of its students, staff and volunteers
Able and willing to do what it takes to get the job done even if it is not directly related to your job description
Strong sense of being a team player
Please send resume and cover letter to Martha Solarz at careers@stmdphs.org