Retention Specialist

Job Purpose

The Retention Specialist will have a building-wide focus to assist a diverse student population in developing and realizing their goals. The primary focus for this position is to be the point person for the building's retention culture. They will monitor daily attendance, managed attendance thresholds, develop absence intervention plans and conduct/facilitate absence intervention meetings. They will conduct home visits when applicable and develop and plan programming designed to push retention.

Duties and Responsibilities

Primary job duties and responsibilities:

• Serves as the point person for the building's student retention strategies and culture. 
• Transporting students to and from school
• Manage students building-wide, with identified retention outcomes; 
• Facilitate and implement a prescriptive holistic intervention plans; 
• Work with other staff to ensure students are receiving applicable academic and social interventions;
• Monitor daily attendance 
• Manage attendance thresholds Create connections with students 
• Maintain accurate records and data tracking of students; 
• Develop and implement a robust communication plan to facilitate outreach with students
• Assess institutional data and make recommendations for retention planning and implementation to increase retention
• Create informal engagement opportunities to aid with student retention through participation in student-based activities by serving as a mentor/advisor to key student groups; 
• Assist the Director with the planning and implementation of measurable and actionable retention strategies for student 
• Support academically at-risk students 
• Work in a team environment with the student support staff to promote student success through improved processes, programmatic offerings and outreach campaigns 
• Handle confidential student information with tact, discretion and in compliance with FERPA regulations. 
• Review student records for retention issues; follow up on progress through personal contact (including home visits) and correspondence.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications, Education and Experience

Necessary and desirable qualifications include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Knowledge of  Powerschool reports,
• Knowledge of State of Michigan Attendance standards and laws
• Knowledge of student development theories and how to apply them in an academic environment.
• Excellent commitment to customer service
• Superior time management skills to effectively oversee multiple ongoing projects.
• The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills (written, oral and presentation)
• Strong interpersonal skills, including conflict management.
• Education Preferred:
• Bachelor's degree and two (2) years of related professional work experience
• Experience preferred:
• Two (2) years' experience in K-12 education, in a student-focused role,

Working Conditions

This job is performed in a generally clean and healthy environment. May work with challenging students at times. 

Physical Requirements

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; and significant fine finger dexterity. 

Reasonable accommodations can be made to employees with qualified disabilities who can perform the essential functions of the job, so long as there is no undue hardship created upon the organization or other employees within the organization.

Supervision Received

Occasional, minimal guidance, but follows established work methods.

Direct Reports

None.

Conclusion

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed within this job. However, this job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, qualifications, or physical demands associated with the position.