Grad PLUS Specialist

Reports To: Executive Director of Secondary Instruction

FLSA Status: Exempt

General Definition of Work

The Grad Plus Specialist is responsible for leading and coordinating district-wide efforts to increase high school graduation rates while expanding postsecondary readiness opportunities for all students. This role works in close collaboration with high school graduation coaches counselors testing coordinators and school leadership teams to ensure students not only graduate but leave with a diploma and a clear postsecondary pathway. The Grad Plus Specialist supports the implementation of targeted interventions credentialing opportunities and partnerships that provide students with meaningful options beyond high school including workforce credentials dual enrollment and postsecondary experiences.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge skills and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Salary/Status

Specialist Salary Schedule/Full-Time/240 days

Start Date

Determined by Human Resources

Place of Work

The normal place of work is on the premises used by Rock Hill Schools. The district reserves the right to assign additional work locations as needed.

Essential Functions

Graduation Rate & Student Success

• Collaborates with high school graduation coaches to monitor student progress toward graduation and implement targeted strategies to increase graduation rates.
• Supports schools in identifying at-risk students through data analysis and early warning indicators.
• Works with school teams to develop and implement intervention plans to increase credit attainment and reduce course
• failures.
• Assists with monitoring cohort graduation data and identifying trends gaps and opportunities for improvement.

MTSS & Academic Supports

• Collaborates with school leadership teams to strengthen MTSS structures focused on high school student success.
• Supports implementation of Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions aligned to credit recovery attendance and academic
• performance.
• Assists schools in monitoring effectiveness of interventions and adjusting supports as needed.

Workforce Credentials & College/Career Readiness

• Works with testing coordinators and school teams to increase the number of students earning WIN Work Ready Credentials.
• Develops and supports school-based plans to improve credential attainment and career readiness indicators.
• Collaborates with local businesses industries military services and community organizations to expand student access to workforceexperiences and certifications.
• Identifies and promotes additional credentialing opportunities aligned to student interests and workforce needs.

Dual Enrollment & Middle College Support

• Partners with Dual Enrollment and Middle College High School programs to monitor student success and persistence.
• Tracks student grades attendance and performance in college-level coursework.
• Communicates with students families counselors and partner institutions regarding student progress and supports.
• Assists in connecting students to academic and personal resources to ensure successful program completion.

Student & Family Engagement

• Provides direct outreach to students and families regarding academic progress graduation requirements and available supports.
• Collaborates with school counselors to ensure students have clear postsecondary plans.
• Supports communication efforts that reinforce expectations and opportunities related to graduation and beyond.

Partnership Development

• Builds and maintains partnerships with local businesses higher education institutions military services and community organizations.
• Expands opportunities for internships job shadowing credentialing and postsecondary pathways.
• Aligns partnerships to district goals for college and career readiness.

Data Monitoring & Reporting

• Analyzes district and school-level data related to graduation rate credit attainment and college/career readiness indicators.
• Supports schools in using data to drive decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Assists in preparing reports and presentations for district leadership and stakeholders.

Other Duties

• Provides professional learning and support to school teams related to graduation improvement strategies.
• Assists with district initiatives focused on secondary education and student success.
• Performs related tasks as required.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Strong understanding of high school graduation requirements cohort tracking and accountability systems Knowledge ofMTSS frameworks and intervention strategies at the secondary level.
• Ability to analyze and interpret student data and translate it into actionable plans.
• Understanding of college and career readiness indicators including workforce credentials and dual enrollment.
• Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills with schools and community partners.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students families and staff.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to support and influence school-level practices.

Qualifications

• A valid South Carolina certification is required with preference for administrative or other applicable certification relevant to this position.
• Experience working in a high school setting required.
• High School administration experience preferred.
• Experience with graduation coaching counseling or student support servicesin a high school setting.

Education and Experience

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in secondary education.
• Experience working with at-risk students MTSS or graduation initiatives preferred.
• Experience collaborating with community partners or postsecondary institutions preferred.

Special Requirements

• Ability to travel between schools and partner institutions.
• Participation in district meetings trainings and events as required Availability to support occasional evening or after-school events.
• Must have and maintain a valid Drivers License or ability to provide own transportation.
• Prior to beginning employment negative tb test results must be provided.

Physical Requirements/Work Conditions

• Must manage interpersonal dynamics conflicts and communications in a professional and respectful way.
• Work requires the occasional exertion of up to ten pounds of force.
• Work regularly requires exchange of accurate and detailed information through oral and written communication.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office business equipment.
• Ability to remain in stationary position for required meetings/work.
• Ability to move to other work locations.
• Visual acuity requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work and observing general surroundings and activities.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data operating standard office equipment and the use of advanced technology.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office light traffic).
• Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.
• Must be adaptable to performing under mild to high levels of stress.
• Must be adaptable tochanging work environments and evolving responsibilites.

Application Requirements
Applicants must submit official transcripts three professional references with at least one supervisory reference and a copy of the appropriate credentials as part of the application process.

Pre-Onboarding Requirements
As a condition of employment and prior to onboarding the district will conduct a criminal history background check. The recommended candidate will be required to provide personal information necessary to complete the background check such as date of birth gender and race to remain in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Disclaimer

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties responsibilities and qualifications required of employees in this job. Job description is sourced from employee interviews internal documents representative job descriptions in similar districts and other state/federal agencies.

Rock Hill Schools provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race color religion age sex national origin disability status genetics protected veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting hiring placement promotion termination layoff recall transfer leaves of absence compensation and training.

Required Experience:

IC