Educational Specialist

To provide first-generation, low-income middle and high school students with financial aid, scholarships, college, apprenticeship, and workforce training information, applications, and assistance to encourage and ensure students enroll in postsecondary education.

TRIO Educational Talent Search works with first-generation, low-income students, 7th-12th grade, to facilitate their enrollment in postsecondary education. We work at 28 middle/high schools and serve 2043 students annually. We provide academic advising, advising for rigorous curriculum, high-impact tutoring, career planning, financial literacy education, completion of postsecondary applications & FAFSA, and scholarship completion. Students also attend campus visits. All services are free to students and their families.

Fully competent and productive professional contributor who applies acquired job skills, policies, and procedures to complete substantive assignments/projects/tasks of moderate scope and complexity. Works independently with general supervision; exercises judgment within defined guidelines and practices to determine appropriate action. May provide guidance and assistance to entry-level professionals and/or support employees.

This position will drive to assigned target schools four to five times a week. The schools we serve are in Ada, Boise, Canyon, and Owyhee counties. A documented mileage reimbursement is available.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship

60% of Time the position must:

• Provide participants with information about postsecondary schools and programs; technical assistance in the areas of college admissions, financial aid, and scholarships; career information and referrals to Academic Coordinator for tutoring.
• Coordinate workshops, financial aid nights, college visits, and apprenticeship and career technical events.
• Create individual education plans for students.
• Maintain accurate documentation of work with students through contact/service logs in the database.
• Acquire each student’s semester/trimester transcripts, review, and refer to the Academic Coordinator if tutoring is needed by student(s).
• Develop and coordinate workshops as directed by the grant or Project Director (e.g., financial literacy, study skills, test anxiety).
• Develop and maintain a positive working relationship with each target school assigned as well as with coworkers.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records regarding participants’ academic progress while in the program.
• Provide information to students regarding postsecondary opportunities including apprenticeships, workforce training, trade schools, community colleges and four-year colleges, admissions, financial aid, ACT/SAT and COMPASS testing, and scholarships and assist with applying to postsecondary educational programs, the FAFSA, scholarships, ACT/SAT and any other program that helps students be successful in education past high school.
• Assist the Project Director with the student records required for the submission of the Annual Performance Report to the U.S. Department of Labor.

35% of Time the position must:

• Recruit the required number of students for target schools to the program; complete student needs assessment and turn in complete applications to the Project Director as received.
• Spend time at the office completing required paperwork and documentation and planning curriculum and college and career events assigned.
• Required chaperoning at various out-of-town and overnight college and career visits throughout the school year.

5% of Time the position must:

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Experience teaching multiple grade levels (7th - 12th).
• Previous experience…