Healthy Community Initiative

Now completing its 13^th year, the TORCH initiative works to increase the high school graduation and postsecondary attendance rates of Northfield youth who are low-income, students of color, and/or potential first-generation college attendees.  The program works with more than 400 youth in grades 6-12, plus 125+ alumni.

The team of TORCH Coordinators are responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of systems and programs that support TORCH students with their academic success, school engagement, and future planning.

Tasks for the TORCH High School Coordinator include:

• Track student progress and conduct individual academic counseling sessions with each TORCH student in their cohort at least twice per month.
• Work with each student to create an individual plan that identifies areas of need, interventions, goals, and college aspirations.
• Communicate with parents to discuss future plans for postsecondary education. Ensure that parents are aware of academic progress.
• Assist students and families with the completion of college applications, financial aid forms, and scholarship opportunities.
• Coordinate events, activities and communication for the purpose of affirming and rewarding those TORCH students who have achieved academic success and/or met their goals.
• Coordinate schedules and supervise AmeriCorps staff assigned to serve the TORCH program.
• Recruit and maintain a pool of volunteer tutors to work with TORCH students one-on-one or in small groups.
• Communicate with teachers, guidance counselors and social workers in those cases where additional or different levels of academic support and intervention are necessary.
• Recruit TORCH students for summer programs.
• Arrange and lead college visits for groups of TORCH students.

Required qualities for the TORCH High School Coordinator include:

• Bachelor’s degree, ideally in the fields of counseling, social work, youth development, or a related area.
• Ability to engage and communicate effectively with TORCH students and their families.
• Ability to work collaboratively with TORCH team members, school district staff and other groups and organizations.
• Ability to supervise volunteer tutors and AmeriCorps staff.
• Ability to plan, implement and evaluate academic support interventions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to understand and work with different cultures and backgrounds.
• Ability to collect and analyze data to inform programming.
• Ability to speak before groups and make public presentations to promote the TORCH program.
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work select evening hours and to travel within Rice County.

Preferred qualities for the TORCH Coordinator include:

• Familiarity with Northfield and Rice County organizations and resources.
• Familiarity with higher education resources and opportunities.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Experience in grant writing, grant reporting, and fundraising

Reports to: TORCH Director

To apply:  Send cover letter, resume and contact information for three professional references to info@healthycommunityinitiative.org.  Application review will begin on June 20, 2017, and will continue until the position is filled.