ROE 21 Student Advocate (ALOP

Regional Office of Education #21 is seeking applicants for

STUDENT ADVOCATE (ALOP)

Are you passionate about making a real difference in students’ lives? As a Student Advocate in the Alternative Learning Opportunities Program (ALOP), you’ll have the opportunity to mentor, support, and empower at‑risk students, helping them overcome challenges and achieve success. This role allows you to build meaningful relationships, provide academic and social‑emotional support, and collaborate with educators and families to create lasting change.

If you’re looking for a rewarding career where your impact is felt every day, this is the perfect opportunity to inspire and uplift students who need it most!

• Ability to work effectively with students, parents, staff, colleagues, school districts and community.
• Excellent communication, organization, and case management skills.
• Advocacy skills, including the ability to negotiate, compromise, and confront conflict, including crisis intervention.
• Willingness to persist with students, despite their behavior and decision‑making.
• Experience in creating safe and welcoming social emotional learning environments.
• Passion for serving at‑risk and underserved youth.
• Experience fostering strength based educational programming.

• Case management of approximately 32 students.
• Ensures that ALOP procedures are implemented with fidelity (ie obtaining consent, Student Success Plan goal development/monitoring, case note documentation, etc).
• Prepares and facilitates frequent in‑person check‑ins with all students.
• Works as a liaison between family and school to create and implement a plan for students’ academic and social‑emotional success.
• Provides ongoing support in areas of academic deficiencies (credit recovery, executive functioning support, tutoring, etc), social emotional development, and resources around other identified areas of need.
• Works collaboratively with schools and programs to define and outline the role of school staff in improving student participation, performance, and success for individual students.
• Schedules, plans and participates in family outreach visits and family engagement events.
• Proactively communicates with parents/guardians in order to support student growth.
• Participates in the planning of transportation for students to and from school, as necessary.
• Shares performance data and serves as program ambassador at staff/school meetings.
• Monitors attendance, behavior, and grades.
• Responds and intervenes in student crises in accordance with school policy.
• Plans and facilitates SEL sessions with other staff.
• Provide transitional support in career and post‑secondary exploration.

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in a human services field, i.e. Social Worker. Experience with at‑risk youth preferred.
• Valid IL Driver’s License
• Familiarity with ROE 21 School Districts and partner schools
• Student Advocates will be working in partner school districts.

Full time position with salary and benefits – $45,000.00 – $55,000.00 per year
Offers of employment will be made contingent upon passing a pre‑employment physical, and criminal background check, as well as meeting the Faith’s Law background requirements. Candidates who refuse to submit to employment requirements will be disqualified from the hiring process.

Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.