GWUOHS, Academic Advisor

• About us
• K12 Produces Results
• thinkTANK12

• The George Washington University Online High School
• Behind the scenes
• A Day in the life

K12 believes in Education for Any One. We provide families an online option for a high-quality, personalized education experience. Students can thrive, find their passion, and learn in an environment that encourages discovery at their own pace. In support of this, we are committed to creating and maintaining a culture of inclusion and diversity where our employees are passionate about serving students and families, treat one another and customers with respect, challenge each other to innovate and always strive to do better.

The mission of GWUOHS is to provide an exemplary individualized and engaging educational experience for students by incorporating school and community/family partnerships coupled with a rigorous curriculum along with a data-driven and student-centered instructional model. Student success will be measured by valid and reliable assessment data, parent and student satisfaction, and continued institutional growth within the academic community. Join us!.

The Academic Advisor helps foster a high touch approach to educational support and exhibits superior customer-service skills along with a commitment and desire to provide the best experience possible for students and families. The advisor will assist students academically, socially, and emotionally, allowing for greater support and student engagement, which will help to ensure the long-range success of students.

Essential Functions, Duties and Responsibilities: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• Oversees the entire on-boarding process for assigned students; serves as a single point-of-contact for all non-instructional issues upon enrollment, ensuring students have all necessary equipment/resources, and know how and when to access their courses;
• Contacts late starting or missing students by phone and works to quickly on-board them;
• Plans and delivers online orientation sessions; monitors student engagement;
• Moderates homeroom/advisory activities and creates required collateral, e.g. PowerPoint decks, handouts, academic resources, etc.;
• Serves as a liaison between the student/family and other academic teachers and administration;
• Takes ownership for student’s academic progress and attendance; communicates high expectations; shows an active interest in student’s achievement;
• Synchronously meets with all advisees each week, supporting each student based on their individual needs; holds synchronous conferences with learning coaches each month to discuss students’ progress and answer questions;
• Examines academic progress and activity of students on their caseload on a weekly basis; Initiates recurring synchronous and asynchronous contact with students and their families when students begin showing signs of failure/struggle as determined by grades, missed log-ins, course activity, and number of missing assignments; arranges and moderates advisor/parent/student/teacher conferences as needed to address performance concerns; creates individualized Student Success Plans for any advisee with a D or lower;
• Sends out daily and weekly emails with important school-level information;
• Attends staff meetings; attends and participates in school events;
• Organizes social and educational activities for students and families, including sponsorship of at least one (1) virtual club;
• Assists in the development and updating of school policies and procedures via the student and parent handbooks;
• Maintains flexibility for needs of students in different time zones;

Other Duties and Responsibilities: The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required; other duties may be assigned.

• Collaborates with peers in order to provide a positive experience for students;
• Builds community by contributing to school communications, social-media platforms, and events;
• Travels to and participates in meetings, in-person school events, and graduation activities;
• Maintains records regarding students in accordance with school policy and state requirements; prepares reports regarding students and classroom matters as directed.

Competencies: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies.

• Adaptability/Flexibility: Adapts to change, is open to new ideas, takes on new responsibilities, handles pressure, and adjusts plans to meet changing needs;
• Integrity/Ethics: Deals with others in a straightforward and honest manner, is accountable for actions, maintains confidentiality, supports company values, and conveys good news and bad;
• Teamwork: Meets all team deadlines and responsibilities, listens to others and values opinions, helps team leader to meet goals, welcomes newcomers and promotes a team atmosphere.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree AND
• Five (5) years of experience in education

Certificates and Licenses: State-level teaching/counseling certification.

Other Required Qualifications:

• Strong interpersonal skills emphasizing tact, patience and courtesy; ability to establish a professional, effective rapport with students;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook as well as Internet research methods and report-writing techniques; utilizes computer software associated with the learning-management system;
• Able to adapt learning plans to meet different needs and learning styles; creates an environment favorable to learning and personal growth;
• Communicates effectively both orally and in writing;
• Demonstrates the use of good judgment in decision-making;
• Great organizational and time-management skills;
• Customer-service orientation;
• Skilled in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with students, parents, staff and a commitment to a team-building approach.
• Willingness and ability to obtain additional licensing as required;
• Ability to pass required background check.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree or other advanced degrees/certifications;
• College-counseling experience;
• Experience in an online school environment;
• Experience in a private-school environment;
• Experience supporting students in the use of technology;
• Ability to learn new technologies and tools;
• Proficient in principles, theories, practices, methods and techniques used in curriculum development and classroom instruction for special-needs students;
• Experience in a premium college-preparatory school;
• Experience in a high-school setting working with student’s academic preparedness, admissions, advising, and/or student support services.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This is a home-based position

The above job is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor. All employment is “at-will” as governed by the law of the state where the employee works. It is further understood that the “at-will” nature of employment is one aspect of employment that cannot be changed except in writing and signed by an authorized officer.

K12 is a Federal Contractor, an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status age, or genetics, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)