Youth Program Coach

About the Employer

District Overview

Holyoke Public Schools is a PreK-12 public school district serving nearly 4,800 students, of whom 80 percent are Latino/Latina. We employ nearly 1,300 people who together educate and support a richly diverse community of learners. We are committed to recruiting and retaining top-quality educators who believe all children can and will learn and who strive daily to make school a joyful place of discovery, support, and belonging. Our strategic plan, "Moving Forward Together," builds on the strengths of our past while serving as a call to action to accelerate student learning by thinking differently about how we teach, how we work together, and how we support students' well-being.

Successes

Some of our successes include:
• The highest graduation rate on record of 77.1 percent, an increase of more than 15 points over 10 years.
• Meaningful, applied learning opportunities for high school students, including theme-based academies, career vocational technical education programming, work-based learning, and advanced coursework.
• A comprehensive approach to early literacy that includes strong core instruction and one-on-one tutoring, contributing to more students reading at grade level.
• A thriving dual language English/Spanish program, where nearly 900 students are on their path to becoming bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural.

Job Coach Position

Transitions Academy - Holyoke Public Schools About Transitions Academy Transitions Academy is a specialized transition program within Holyoke Public Schools that supports students ages 18-22 as they prepare for life after high school. The program focuses on building independence through employment, community access, daily living skills, self-advocacy, and post-secondary planning. Position Summary The Job Coach supports students in both classroom and community-based settings by reinforcing academic, vocational, social, and independent living skills. This role works closely with the Program Manager, teachers, related service providers, families, and community employers to help students develop the skills necessary for successful employment and independent living.

Student Support

• Work with individual students and small groups to reinforce skills and concepts introduced by teachers and program staff.
• Support students in developing vocational, social, communication, and independent living skills.
• Assist students in mastering workplace equipment, instructional materials, and job-related tasks.
• Provide direct support to students in classroom, community, and employment settings.
• Assist students with mobility, personal care, and activities of daily living as needed.
• Support students during breakfast, lunch, snack, and cleanup routines.
• Meet buses and assist students with arrival, departure, and daily routines.
• Participate in physical education and community-based activities, including dressing appropriately to support student participation.

Vocational and Employment Support

• Assist the Program Manager, teachers, and related service providers in implementing vocational training plans and employment experiences.
• Support students at job sites by modeling workplace expectations, reinforcing job skills, and promoting independence.
• Monitor student performance across various work placements and community settings.
• Conduct job site visits and maintain communication with employers regarding student progress.
• Obtain employer feedback and evaluations to support student growth and goal attainment.
• Serve as a liaison between students, employers, families, and school staff.
• Identify areas where students may require additional coaching, training, or workplace accommodations.
• Promote positive work habits, professionalism, punctuality, communication skills, and workplace readiness.

Behavioral and Instructional Support

• Assist in the implementation of behavioral support plans under the direction of Program Staff.
• Maintain accurate behavioral logs, progress monitoring data, and required documentation.
• Reinforce positive behavior strategies and support students in developing self-regulation skills.
• Collect and maintain documentation necessary for program participation, work experiences, and parent/guardian permissions.

Collaboration and Program Support

• Collaborate with teachers, related service providers, families, and community partners to support student success.
• Participate in team meetings, professional development, and training opportunities.
• Assist with community-based instruction, field trips, vocational experiences, and other program activities.
• Maintain confidentiality and uphold all district policies and procedures.