Job Description
Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois is excited to begin its hiring process for the Excel Center. For those less familiar with the Excel Center, it provides a tuition-free education for adults seeking to obtain a high school diploma. The Excel Center model was created by the Goodwill in Indianapolis in 2010, and has since grown to 47 schools across 10 states and Washington D.C. Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois will open the first Excel Center in Illinois in Fall 2025. We are currently seeking to hire the Lead Teacher.
Target start date for this position is July 21, 2025. The Excel Center will be located at the YMCA in Rockford on Y Boulevard; however, the position will initially be housed at the Goodwill Home Office; 850 N. Church St in Rockford.
Life Coaches are integral to student success at The Excel Center. Life Coaches promote continued student engagement in The Excel Center and serve as a student advocate. Each coach is responsible for a caseload of students, typically ranging from 65-80 students. To support student learning and productivity, Life Coaches build relationships with students and provide resources to remove barriers from their educational progress. Effective Life Coaches understand how to triage their caseloads by managing their core responsibilities while also being responsive to student crises as they arise.
Responsibilities & Essential Functions:
Student Support & Relationships
- Tracks students’ academic progress, graduation plans, and guides them toward post-secondary conversations.
- Becomes part of a reliable alliance to ensure student engagement.
- Initiates and maintains contact with key community partners (community agencies, educational institutions and employers) to enhance the menu of support services provided to students.
- Enforces school expectations.
- Collaborates and communicates with teachers on a consistent basis.
Tracking Student Data
- Ensures case notes that document student activity and/or circumstances are current and accurate in database.
- Manages and monitors students’ information to ensure academic progress.
- Develops class schedules and directs students on a path that leads to graduation and post-secondary success.
Student Problem Solving
- Conducts effective crucial conversations.
- Identifies and connects students to community resources to remove barriers and support academic and/or personal goals.
Setting School Culture
- Provides support (for example, tutoring and substituting), works closely, and maintains open communication with leadership, staff, and students to support student success.
- Attends and contributes to all team and professional development meetings.
- Models professionalism.
- Maintains a strong building presence.
- Facilitates co-curricular activities for students to foster a sense of belonging.
The above-listed responsibilities are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities or duties required. Incumbents will be expected to perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications & Basic Job Requirements:
- A combination of education and relevant work experience that aligns with the duties of this position.
- Experience working with high school age students in a nontraditional setting and/or in adult education setting highly preferred.
- Knowledge of community resources and case management standards.
- Strong and effective communication and facilitation skills.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish highly preferred.
- Working knowledge of computer programs: Google applications (specifically Gmail), School Information Management System, Excel, Word and Internet Explorer.
- Demonstrated ability to develop relationships at all levels and relate to a diverse population.
- Ability to gather and analyze data for informed decision making.
- Must be able to successfully pass a background check.
- Must be able to work 12 months per year with breaks scheduled throughout the year.
Sensory and Physical Requirements:
Ability to efficiently and effectively perform all functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
Environment:
The work is conducted at The Excel Center housed in a partner location at the YMCA. Hours are primarily daytime hours with occasional weekend or evening work.
Goodwill offers competitive pay and benefits along with our positive working culture and flexible work environment. The pay range for this position is $20.50 - $26 per hour. Goodwill's Excel Center operates on a 12-month schedule with scheduled breaks. Key benefits are listed below –
- Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, vision insurance, basic and voluntary life insurance as well as short-term disability and employee assistance program.
- Financial Security: Competitive salary and retirement plans with employer discretionary match.
- Work-Life Balance: Paid time off, and scheduled breaks.
- Professional Growth: Training programs, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement opportunities.
- Perks & Extras: Employee discounts, and a supportive, inclusive workplace.
Thank you for your interest in working at The Excel Center. We commit to providing each applicant a hiring experience that allows you to bring your authentic self to the table. If you need an alternative method to apply this for position, please contact Goodwill's Human Resource Department at SharethaH@goodwillni.org.
Job Tags
Hourly pay, Full time, Temporary work, Work experience placement, Work from home, Home office, Currently hiring, Flexible hours, Afternoon shift,