The RISE Network’s mission is to ensure all high school students graduate with a plan and the skills and confidence to achieve college and career success. Founded in 2016, RISE partners with public high schools to lead networks where communities work together to use data to learn and improve. Through its core and most comprehensive network, RISE partners with nine high schools and eight districts, serving over 13,000 students in historically marginalized communities. 

RISE high schools work together to ensure all students experience success as they transition to, through, and beyond high school by using data to pinpoint needs, form hypotheses, and pursue ideas to advance student achievement. Partner schools have improved Grade 9 promotion rates by nearly 20 percentage points, while also decreasing subgroup gaps and increasing schoolwide graduation and college access rates. In 2021, the RISE Network was honored to receive the Carnegie Foundation’s annual Spotlight on Quality in Continuous Improvement recognition.  Increasingly, RISE is pursuing opportunities to scale its impact through research publications, consulting partnerships, professional development experiences, and other avenues to drive excellent student outcomes.

Position Summary and Essential Job Functions:

The Freshman Success Coach  will play an integral role in advancing RISE’s programmatic efforts through school and district support, Network-wide strategies, and facilitated learning and collaboration.  RISE is seeking a talented and highly motivated individual to provide coaching and programmatic support to educators at RISE partner high schools who are working to strengthen the middle to high school transition for Grade 9 students.  This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment, and is passionate about closing achievement gaps and developing the potential of all students regardless of life circumstance.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Network-Wide Program Strategies:

• Support the implementation of the RISE by 5 Network-wide strategies designed to strengthen the middle to high school transition.

• Collaborate with RISE high schools to implement efforts in Grade 9 to support all students in on-time promotion and pursuing a well-matched postsecondary plan, including on-track data meetings, Grade 8 to 9 summer bridge programs, and freshman on-track counseling.

• Contribute to and manage network-wide Freshman Success Team projects, collaborating with other RISE team members to identify, pursue, and scale strategies to strengthen the middle to high school transition.

• Produce and disseminate high quality tools and resources to advance network strategies and goals.

• Collect, analyze, and use data to strengthen program design and implementation. 

• Maintain accountability for individual contributions and project outcomes in support of RISE’s success. 

School and District Support:

• Support each school and district on its unique path to advance student outcomes.

• Collaborate with and coach RISE school and district administrators, teachers, counselors, and other staff to build capacity around freshman success strategies and practices.

• Provide embedded support and cultivate strong partnerships with RISE school/district staff. 

• Creatively solve strategy implementation challenges and champion a results-orientation mindset with a focus of on-track achievement with all school partners.

• Invite teachers and counselors to pursue innovative ideas through the RISE Educator Innovation Fund, and facilitate opportunities for cross-school sharing and learning.

• Implement systems and processes that support collaboration with, and coaching of, RISE school, teachers, counselors, and other staff to build capacity around freshman success strategies and practices.

• Support educators in collecting and tracking data, ensuring all students promote on time to sophomore year.

Network Learning Agenda:

• Co-facilitate RISE Network-wide convenings sessions and professional learning opportunities that advance the Network’s shared agenda to build and strengthen school and district systems.

• Design and facilitate cross-district collaboration as Network school and district teams come together to share data, successes, and challenges implementing Network-wide strategies.

• Collaborate with the Educator and Community Engagement team to design and facilitate  professional learning needed to advance overall Network-wide strategy.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Deep understanding of urban districts and schools.

• Experience and expertise with middle to high school transition efforts and strategies preferred.

• Strong belief that all students can learn and achieve at high levels.

• Strong sense of accountability and responsibility for results.

• Desire to work in a dynamic, entrepreneurial, results-oriented environment.

• Commitment to systems-driven solutions for scalable and sustained impact.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including group facilitation.

• Ability to interact professionally and earn credibility with a diverse range of stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to motivate and inspire school and district staff.

• Sense of humor, positive attitude, and willingness to work in a collaborative environment.

• Ability to ramp up on new content quickly and work in a self-motivated manner.

• Strong critical thinking including synthesizing different types of data.

• Experience assessing and applying best practices at scale to drive results.

• Strong organizational and project management skills.

• Ability to work effectively under pressure and to meet competing demands.

• Excellent computer skills; ability to use PowerPoint, Excel, Google apps, and the Internet.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required; master’s degree in a relevant field preferred.

• Minimum of four years of professional experience with deep experience facilitating improvement and working in and/or with schools and/or districts.

• Prior experience working as and/or directly with urban school/district leadership.

RISE is an Equal Opportunity Employer