Description
The Program: The Premier High School Student Success Program
The journey to fulfilling dreams starts with Onward Scholars. Made possible through the support of The John H. and Cynthia Lee Smet Foundation, the Onward Scholars Program (OSP) is a competitive scholarship and enrichment program for selected high school students with strong academic backgrounds. OSP provides a unique four-year pathway to success for exceptional students who demonstrate great promise, motivation, and impactful leadership. The three main components of the Onward Scholars Program are scholarship, mentorship, and college access. Please refer to this website to learn more: https://onwardscholars.org.
The Opportunity
The Program Director (PD) is charged with performing a variety of duties related to recruiting and mentoring the Onward Scholars at St. Mary’s Academy, an all-girls Catholic, college preparatory high school in Inglewood, CA. The Program Director will primarily focus on recruiting and mentoring Scholars. Recruiting occurs through presentations at neighboring elementary and middle schools and networking with community partners. The PD is also responsible for establishing new partnerships with local organizations. The OSP program at St. Mary’s Academy has 48 students, 12 in each grade. The Program Director works collaboratively with the admissions and counseling staff, the Head of School at St. Mary’s Academy as well the Onward Scholars Director of College Access and the other Onward Scholars Program Directors at St. Pius X- St. Matthias Academy, Cathedral High School, Salesian High School, St. Anthony High School, and Sacred Heart High School. Finally, depending on abilities and interests, the PD is expected to contribute to the life of the school by sharing through their participation in co-curricular activities.
Requirements
We are seeking an innovative, entrepreneurial, hands-on, flexible self-starter who can maintain the high quality of the Onward Scholars Program and work seamlessly with the administration, admissions, and counseling departments at St. Mary’s Academy and the Onward Scholars team. The successful PD must be able to assess students’ needs and develop solutions for problem areas, while creating enrichment programs designed to enhance the high school experience and prepare the students for success in college. Also, he/she will serve as a mentor to the graduating Onward Scholars seniors as they move onto college. It will also be critical that the PD effectively market this program to other Catholic, charter, and public school students/families who are in the process of choosing their high school. The PD should be a good relationship builder who views his/her role as a service provider and who sets a high professional and ethical standard for all.
Key Qualifications Required
- Have the highest degree of integrity and honesty
- A passion for the success of underrepresented students
- A strong belief in Catholic education
- Proven ability to achieve important goals
- Three + years working with high school students from lower income areas
- Background in high school education and familiarity with programs available to college-bound students in the Los Angeles area
- Knowledge of colleges, college requirements, and financial aid programs for college
- An undergraduate degree in education or counseling is preferred
- Fluency in Spanish is preferred but not mandatory
- Knowledge of social media platforms
- Ability to collaborate with peers, teachers, counselors, students, parents, administrators, and members of the community
- Strong networker who understands the unique Catholic School setting
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects at once
- Dynamic marketing presence
- Ability to excel in a self-directed, entrepreneurial environment
- Clear communicator/good writer
- Basic knowledge of online curriculum platforms such as Google Classroom used for distance learning
- Knowledge of Salesforce preferred
Wage Range
The rate of pay offered to the selected candidate is based on internal pay policy and budget. New hires are commonly paid at the minimum of the wage range or within the lower part of the range. We consider a number of factors when making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience, training and other department needs.
Information/Application Contact
Smet Foundation (Manhattan Beach)
1300 Highland Avenue
Suite 213
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
kathee.barrett@smetfoundation.org