Purpose:
The Career Mentor will work in the school district’s guidance office(s) to assist counselors in providing specific help to students and parents of the public and private schools of Potter and McKean Counties. The Career Mentors will provide information and resources to help parents and students establish career paths and connections before they exit school and will track their progress after leaving school.
Employment:
The individuals will be part-time, at-will employees of the Potter County Education Council (PCEC) assigned to a school district based on memoranda of agreement with each district. Each employee will need current clearances (PA Act 151 Child Abuse Clearance, PA Act 34 Criminal Record Check, a current PA FBI Clearance [Education Versions], along with a negative TB test result and one million dollars of professional liability insurance through the Association of American Educators), mandated reporter training, and a valid PA Driver’s License before working in the schools. Each new career mentor will undergo a PCEC and local district training program.
Employees will only receive statutory benefits and be eligible for approved transportation reimbursement at the IRS rate if required to travel for a purpose other than their regular assignment. The work year is typically mid-August until early June (1,000 Hours), dependent upon district schedules. As a part of the work year, employees are expected to participate in mandatory training days scheduled at various points throughout the year. When possible, employees will be notified of these scheduled training opportunities at least 30 days in advance.
Qualifications:
Career Mentors
- Must have a high school diploma and some formal post-high school education.
- Must hold current clearances and a Pennsylvania Driver’s License.
- Must possess excellent communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills.
- Must possess the desire to assist students and parents with career-related needs.
- Must be reliable, demonstrate a strong work ethic, and be able to function as a team member.
- Must model the soft skills that we are encouraging students to acquire.
- Will maintain professional relationships with students, parents, and staff, including through social media.
- Must have excellent organizational skills and pay attention to details.
- Will maintain confidentiality in all aspects of their job responsibilities.
Target Population:
The initiative would target and focus on elementary, middle, and high school students (Grades 3-12), but mentors may work at all grade levels within the district.
Career Mentors will:
- Create dedicated guidance and career vocational mentor/aide role(s) to help school counselors’ efforts related to career exploration, information, advising, mentoring for students, career planning, and post-graduate tracking.
- Help school counselors partner with parents or guardians concerning career planning activities.
- Help school counselors maintain career plans for each student in grades PreK-12.
- Assist school counselors in tracking information for Futures Ready Index requirements and other state requirements.
- Assist school counselors in implementing programs such as Career Cruising.
- Help school counselors and the Business and Education Liaison to develop relationships with local businesses to help provide opportunities for job shadowing, apprenticeships, internships, capstone, coop, part-time work, etc.
- Help school counselors facilitate job shadowing, career cruising, job site visitation, college, careers, and job fairs for students.
- Help counselors work with transition coordinators and other entities for students with special needs career planning.
Job Responsibilities:
The following list gives a broad overview of possible responsibilities that Career Mentors may be called upon to accomplish, with more specific items listed at the local district level.
Career Mentors will
- Help support young people through ongoing, one-to-one relationships.
- Serve as a positive role model.
- Build student relationships by planning and participating in career-related activities.
- Strive for mutual respect between people.
- Build self-esteem and motivation by helping students set and work toward accomplishing goals.
- Increase the resources available to counselors to increase parent and student awareness of the value of career and technical education programs, especially those leading to high-value credentials and college credits.
- Help school counselors increase awareness of ninth-grade students planning to enroll in career and technical education programs.
- Analyze gaps in current college—and career-ready efforts and help school counselors develop strategies to address those needs through partnerships with key stakeholders and career and technical education programs.
- Help to develop middle and high school instructional materials and resources that explore career options for students and parents.
- Assist school counselors in other ways that will allow school counselors more one-on-one time with students for career counseling.
- Help school counselors schedule resources from local and regional businesses.
- Help in the sharing of resources between local districts and businesses.
- Help the regional business-education liaison make contact and develop resources with local businesses and industries.
- Help document student and parent contacts and mentor activities for accountability reporting (Future Ready Index Reporting).
- Help school counselors complete end-of-year surveys.
- Maintain a log of work activities and time spent on their duties and submit the required reports.
- Career Mentors will not transport students alone or in their vehicles. However, they may be directed to utilize a school vehicle to provide transportation for student(s) to and from a career experience (e.g., job shadowing, college fairs, work site visits, etc.).
Accountability:
The districts’ collaborative will need to report annually through the Potter Education Council (PCEC) to various financial supporters on metrics as available, including participation in career exploration activities such as workplace and college visits, internships, mentoring, and job shadowing; enrollment in career & technical education programs; high school graduation; post-secondary enrollment; college credit awarded; job placement; and other metrics to be determined.
Due to the Career Mentor job responsibilities and the need for collaboration, Career Mentors must complete their hours as scheduled within the school setting and not from home. In the event of school delays or cancellations, Career Mentors are to plan accordingly and adjust their weekly schedules as needed to fulfill their assigned hours during the given pay period. Career Mentors should check with their district administrators (i.e., superintendents and principals) to determine availability for completing hours on-site during in-service days, school delays, or cancellations.
Selection:
Career Mentors will be selected by a panel of local counselors, district administrator(s), other district personnel, and PCEC representative(s). They will be assigned to the local school counselor(s) for supervision and coordination. The program is under the direction and coordination of the PCEC Career Mentor Co-Directors to assist in providing training, coordination, and supervision. The district’s superintendent can recommend removing or reassigning a career mentor to the PCEC Executive Director. Continued district placement is contingent upon the approval of the local district superintendent and PCEC Executive Director.
The Career Mentors are at-will part-time employees of PCEC, subject to continued funding and need by either PCEC or the local district.
Application Process:
Interested applicants should send the following to the Potter County Education Council, 5 Water Street, PO Box 5, Coudersport, PA 16915 or via email to Dr. Michele Moore
- Resumé with cover letter
- Three current (less than three-years old) letters of professional reference
- Appropriate clearances including PA Act 151 Child Abuse Clearance, PA Act 34 Criminal Record Check, a current PA FBI Clearance (Education Versions)
- A negative TB test result
The cover letter should be addressed to Dr. Michele Moore, Executive Director. You may be asked to complete an employment application form upon review of your initial application materials. E.O.E.