JOB TITLE: Academic Coach
HOURS NEEDED: 6-7 hours per week
Compensation: Hourly
Student U is a community organization that uses the power of education to build a just and equitable Durham.
We empower and equip first-generation college students in Durham Public Schools, their families, and educators to become the leaders that will transform our city. Together, we’re creating a Durham where all students succeed.
As a result of structural racism, poverty and other systemic injustices, we acknowledge that first generation college-bound students face significant personal and institutional obstacles to educational success. We want to change the odds for children in our community.
The Student U Academic Coach role is designed for passionate individuals who believe in the brilliance and potential of our students and believe all children can succeed when adequately supported. Each Student U Academic Coach supports and advocates for the academic success of a cohort of 4-5 Student U middle or high school students who attend Durham Public Schools. Ideal candidates for this position have a proven record of developing strong relationships with students, strong collaboration and communication skills, and experience working with students in an academic capacity. Effective academic coaches are highly organized, skillful at managing many logistics, resourceful, comfortable learning and utilizing online tools (Google Drive, Online school platforms), and dedicated to the task of supporting first-generation students to success through high school.
Academic Coaches meet in-person with students at the WG Pearson Center (600 E Umstead St) on Tuesdays/Thursdays from 4:00-7:00 PM. Administrative work may happen flexibly outside of those hours for up to one hour of remote work/week.
Year Round Duties and responsibilities:
- Direct Student Support: Support a caseload of 4-5 Student U middle or high school students towards academic growth and progress, with a high focus on building organizational and executive function skills. This includes:
- Meeting with each student two times a week to build habits and skills for successfully navigating school: setting goals, tracking grades, crafting a weekly work plans/to-do lists, organizing school materials, and building self-advocacy skills
- Coordinating schoolwork support and tutoring as needed, either via direct support or referral to content-specific tutors
- Guiding students in setting realistic and achievable academic goals, creating a plan to meet them, and tracking progress along the way
- Communicating with students’ teachers/other school staff as needed
- Noticing and celebrating student growth and success
- Administrative Tasks & Communication: Communicate updates and share information regularly as a reliable member of each student’s Student U support team. This includes:
- Documenting student meeting notes and updates (weekly)
- Communicating with each student’s Student U Advocate and family (weekly)
- Participating in meetings with a student’s full support team (once/semester)
- Other program documentation/communication tasks (as needed)
- Student U Staff Team Support & Collaboration: Participate as a part of the Academic Coach Team and larger Student U Community. This includes:
- Using any additional time outside of student meetings & documentation to support with other student and/or programming needs (when relevant)
- Attending Academic Coach team meetings and other planned trainings
- Attending at least one monthly check-in with Student U Program Staff to share information about student progress and brainstorm next-steps together
Academic Coaches should uphold a Student U culture of pride, academic excellence and college readiness in all interactions with students and other stakeholders.
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Skills and Qualities:
- A deep personal belief that all students can succeed and a relentless drive to ensure they have the resources and opportunities to do so
- Commitment to the Student U mission and core values
- Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders: students, parents, teachers, and Student U staff
- Ability to flex communication style to multiple environments
- Ability to develop strong, trusting relationships with students and families
- Excellent organizational skills
- High expectations for students and self
- Resourceful problem-solving skills
- Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
- Preferred but not required: Ability to speak Spanish
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Anti-Discrimination Policy & Commitment to Equity & Child Safeguarding Policy
- Student U is committed to fostering an inclusive culture within our organization where people from various backgrounds can participate fully and equitably, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to our mission.
- Student U has a commitment to ensuring the safety of our students. All staff will participate in the Darkness to Light Training, which is a child safeguarding training to help them understand why it is necessary to safeguard and protect children and to be fully aware of the procedure for reporting concerns.
Compensation: $18 hourly rate
Priority Deadline to Apply: July 25, 2025
Commitment: August 2025 - May 2026; 4:00-7:00 on Tuesdays/Thursdays (in-person)
Training Dates:
- Saturday, August 23, 2025: Start date/Fall Staff Launch (half day training)
- Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 4:00-5:30: Academic Coach Training 1
- Tuesday, September 2, 2025, 4:00-5:30: Academic Coach Training 2
- Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 4:00-7:00: Fall Programming Open House
- Tuesday, September 16, 2025: First day with students, begin regular Tuesday/Thursday schedule
How to Apply: Please apply online and include your resume, application, responses to two short answer questions via questionnaire link in confirmation email after submission and two references. Applications are rolling with a priority deadline of July 25, 2025.