The Office of Secondary Schools is comprised of the Graduation Excellence division, instructional superintendents who support DCPS middle and high schools, and college and career programs and athletics. The Office is responsible for effective management, and operation and achievement of the middle and high schools, and provides leadership to principals, administrators, and teachers to ensure academic excellence for all students.

The Student Engagement Division plays a critical role in working directly with schools to ensure all students are engaged in school and feel supported with everything they need to succeed in DCPS and beyond. The Student Engagement Division includes:

• School Counseling team, which ensures students in all grades have access to the social-emotional skills and academic supports they need to succeed.
• New Heights program, which is comprised of school-based coordinators dedicated to serving the needs of expectant and parenting students in DCPS.
• Postsecondary Planning team, which is comprised of school-based coordinators who help students identify and actively pursue their postsecondary plans.
• Graduation team, which supports schools in monitoring student progress and identifying supports for students who are off-track of may have disengaged from schooling.
• Academic Recovery and Pathways programming, including the Twilight program, which are school-based programs that target off-track and at-risk students.

The Coordinator, STEM Career Exploration is responsible for supporting Career Preparedness Programs major initiatives, including the Career Ready Internship and Career Bridge Program. The Coordinator, STEM Career Exploration will focus on researching, recruiting, and stewarding STEM industry partners and support the partnership management process for DCPS Career Prep programs. The Coordinator, STEM Career Exploration will also support the expansion of youth apprenticeships within DCPS high schools.

The Coordinator, STEM Career Exploration will report to the Manager, Career Preparedness Programs..

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Researches, recruits, and stewards specific industry and community partners to provide existing or newly developed pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, internship, employment, and work-based learning opportunities for DCPS students, with a focus on creating pipelines for students interested in STEM sectors such as, but not limited to: Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Health Sciences, Biotech, Digital Media, Architecture, Building Trades, Mass Media, and Auto-tech.

• Supports coordination of work-based learning activities in DCPS high schools by supporting school staff in implementing activities in the career exploration stage of the work-based learning spectrum, with a focus on building earlier exposure to STEM careers and DCPS high school career academies and supporting CTE programs without academy staff.

• Supports the expansion and implementation of youth apprenticeships within high-wage, high-demand industries in DC for DCPS high school students.

• Supports the implementation of the Career Ready Internship Program and Career Bridge program at DCPS high schools

• Supports the partnership management of industry partners interested in supporting work-based learning opportunities at DCPS high schools.

• Supports the implementation of DCPS College & Career clubs at DCPS middle schools.

• Supports logistics for DCPS Internship programs, including supports for Interview Days and Host Employer screening and training, as needed.

• Supports Career Prep programs outcomes tracking, including work-based learning and internship program tracking for CTE programs.

• Supports the coordination of Career & Technical Service Organizations (CTSOs) at DCPS high schools.

• Supports the creation of marketing and communications materials for all Career Prep team initiatives, particularly those that are partner-facing.

• Researches and reports out on regional labor market data on a quarterly basis in order to identify labor market trends and emerging opportunities for growth.

• Recruits volunteers to support employability skills training and mock interview days.

• Travels frequently to diverse locations across the District.

• Supports central office College & Career Programs team as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and two to four years of related work experience.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills, including keen attention to detail, the ability to autonomously manage complex initiatives with numerous stakeholders, and the ability to adhere to strict deadlines.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to use soft power to achieve outcomes.
• Strong preference for specific experience working within the high school setting and career and technical education, including expertise with work-based learning, internship programs, and workshop facilitation.
• Prior experience establishing key partnerships across public and private sectors.
• Creative, solutions-oriented, flexible, and hard working.
• Ability to learn quickly, work in a fast-paced environment, and multi-task effectively.

DCPS Values

• STUDENTS FIRST: We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
• COURAGE: We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
• EQUITY: We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing in effective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
• EXCELLENCE: We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
• TEAMWORK: We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
• JOY: We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.