Academic Advisor

Academic Advisor, East Palo Alto

Position Overview 

The Academic Advisor plays a critical cross-phase role in delivering College Track’s academic curriculum and advising scholars from high school through their transition into the College Thrive phase. Reporting to the Director of Program, the Academic Advisor works closely with College Counselor & Advisor, and the entire site-based team to ensure scholars are intellectually challenged, developmentally supported, and equipped with a consolidated education plan that evolves with them. This role blends instructional delivery, individualized advising, and data-informed practice to help scholars reflect on their academic progress, social-emotional development, and postsecondary goals. The Academic Advisor is a scholar-facing leader who drives equity and excellence in the day-to-day implementation of our 10-Year Promise.

Primary Responsibilities 

Academic Curriculum Delivery and Intellectual Preparation

• Deliver College Track’s Academic Curriculum across grade levels, ensuring scholars are engaging in rigorous, relevant, and asset-based learning experiences that prepare them for success in high school, college, and early career.
• Engage in deep intellectual preparation to ensure content is contextually relevant and scholar-centered. This includes reviewing curricular materials in advance, adapting lesson plans to scholar needs, anticipating misconceptions, and preparing facilitation strategies that foster academic identity, critical thinking, and curiosity.
• Track and analyze scholar participation and learning data to inform planning, differentiate instruction, and ensure alignment with program expectations and milestones.
• Collaborate with colleagues and instructional leaders to continuously improve curriculum implementation through reflective practice, peer feedback, and shared planning.

Scholar-Centered Academic and Developmental Advising

Co-create and maintain a holistic, multi-phase Consolidated Education Plan (CEP) for each scholar that supports their growth from high school to college and into the College Thrive phase.

• Support scholars in understanding their academic strengths and needs, and use this insight to guide individualized advising and success planning.

• Facilitate scholar self-exploration of their social-emotional development, mental health needs, and early college and career interests, using the CEP as a central tool for reflection, tracking, and planning.

• Leverage partners  and external Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to align supports and ensure wraparound services for each scholar as defined by CEP.

• Work closely with College Counselors and College Advisors and College Thrive Coaches to deliver a seamless academic advising experience across all scholar phases and ensure alignment in postsecondary preparation.

• Lead proactive outreach and coordination with school counselors, teachers, and caregivers to build a unified support system around each scholar.

• Maintain a caseload of scholars, ensuring each scholar is seen, known, and supported across their academic and personal development journey.

• Track academic performance indicators (e.g., GPA, coursework, graduation requirements), interpret data to drive scholar-facing conversations, and implement timely interventions as needed. 

• Data-informed Practices

• Use scholar data routinely to inform intellectual preparation, instructional delivery, and individualized advising. This includes weekly and monthly review of both leading and lagging indicators.

  • GPA and course performance 
  • Progress toward high school requirements (varies by state and district) 
  • Workshop and advising attendance 
  • Progress on Consolidated Education Plan (CEP) 
  • Postsecondary readiness indicators (e.g. SAT/ACT completion, dual enrollment, FAFSA completion)

• Key data points include, but are not limited to: 

• Apply data insights to prioritize supports, adapt curriculum, and co develop action plans in collaboration with college counselors and advisors. 

• Scholar Engagement and Community Integration 

• Cultivate a culture of belonging by building strong, trusting relationships with scholars and families through 1:1 advising, community events, and culturally responsive interactions.

• Facilitate small group and workshop experiences that center scholar voice and agency in their academic journey.

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications 

First and foremost, the Academic Advisor will be a fierce advocate for College Track’s mission to equip scholars confronting systemic barriers to earn a bachelor’s degree in pursuit of a life of opportunity, choice, purpose, and power. Additionally, candidates bring with them the following skills, experience, and knowledge:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree 
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in academic advising, teaching, or youth development with a strong track record of driving learning outcomes

Preferred Spanish Bilingual

• Demonstrated success in intellectually preparing and facilitating academic content that is culturally relevant and responsive
• Experience using academic and developmental data to personalize support and inform scholar growth plans
• Demonstrated success in analyzing student data and developing targeted, data-driven interventions. Academic advising experience within a college-access institution is a plus.
• Strong sense of possibility; unwavering belief that students can accomplish any goal. Hold the highest expectations for all students and learner types.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships across lines of difference, including scholars, teachers, and caregivers.
• Comfortable navigating Learning Management Systems such as Google Classroom, or Coursera, and grade portals such as PowerSchool, or IIluminate. Experience with Salesforce is a plus.
• Physical Requirements: alternating between sedentary work that primarily involves sitting, standing, typing on a keyboard, manipulating a mouse to use a computer's operating system/internet, and more active work such as moving around an office environment, communicating with scholars/stakeholders, (conveying and receiving information), classroom management, far visual acuity, near visual acuity lifting/carrying/moving objects (20 pounds).
• Other duties as assigned

Compensation and Benefits

This is an hourly role. The full salary range for this position is  $69,000.00 - $83,000.00, with the exact salary depending on experience. As a new staff member, you can expect an offer between  $72,500.00 - $75,999.00 to ensure internal equity while leaving room for salary growth during your time at College Track. 

College Track provides access to extensive benefits centered around three core areas of wellness: health care, work-life balance, and financial security. We believe time off is essential to success and provide up to 23 discretionary time off days (Sick and Vacation) in addition to 23 paid office closures and holidays in your first year of employment.  Learn more about benefits here (bit.ly/JpBs22).

What Else You Should Know

• This is an in-person role based in East Palo Alto, CA.
• While we hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, we especially encourage applicants who identify as first-generation college graduates to apply for open opportunities on staff.
• College Track is an equal-opportunity employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce. College Track does not discriminate based on race, age, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.