Student Advocacy Specialist

Cherokee Classical Academy seeks a part-time Student Advocacy Specialist. In the Official Code of Georgia 20-2-779.1, the State of Georgia prioritized the creation of Qualified Student Advocacy Specialists.  The duties and responsibilities of the position shall include, but are not limited to:

• Coordinating the efforts to identify and facilitate appropriate interventions for students with or at risk for mental health concerns 
• Coordinating, documenting, evaluating and reporting the outcomes of Tier 1 and Tier 2 behavioral health training programs and materials of the local school system
• Attending information and training meetings related to school safety and student behavioral health 

This position would report to the Director of Student Services on Cherokee Classical Academy’s Canton campus.. The position requires an in-person presence on campus.

The responsibilities of this role include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Coordination of Behavioral and Mental Health Interventions 
  • Coordinate a comprehensive approach to early behavioral health identification and school safety 
  • Facilitate a system to ensure timely referrals and access to a continuum of supports
  • Ensure coordinated case management
  • Ensure that there is a system in place to track each referral to ensure follow-up, reduce duplication of services, and confirm that students receive the appropriate level of care.  
  • Coordinate a process for transition/support plans for students returning to school from a more restrictive setting (e.g. alternative placement, psychiatric residential treatment facility, acute hospital care, regional youth detention center, etc.). 
  • Monitor outcomes and effectiveness
• Tiered Behavioral Health Training and Support 
  • Facilitation and monitoring of Tier I, II, and III level support
• Collaboration, Documentation, and Compliance 
  • Document and evaluate the outcomes of behavioral health programs and interventions, reporting progress to district leadership and state agencies as required. 
  • Attend mandatory training sessions and workshops offered by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) and the Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), and the Department of Education (DOE).  
  • Collaborate with school-level safety and threat assessment teams to integrate behavioral health supports into school safety plans.  

Qualified candidates will meet the following requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in counseling, social work, psychology, a related behavioral health field, or comparable experience in these fields of expertise with PSC certification.  
• Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with students, families, educators, community organizations, insurance care coordinators, behavioral health providers, and state agencies.  
• Experience with or awareness of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). 
• Preferred: Course work in data analysis, statistics, or a related area and/or experience in data-driven decision-making 

Strong candidates will support the school’s Mission: to develop students in mind and character through a classical, content-rich curriculum that emphasizes the principles of virtuous living, traditional learning, and civic responsibility.  They will have enthusiasm for the Vision: to be a nationally regarded K-12 classical school and serve as a local and national incubator for growth and promotion of classical education. And they will embody the school’s organizational values. We value

• the tenets of classical, liberal arts education;
• community and partnership in the common pursuit of forming intelligent, virtuous citizens;
• excellence in teaching and learning;
• the virtues we aim to teach our students: courage, courtesy, honesty, humility, perseverance, self-government, and service.

About Cherokee Classical Academy:

Cherokee Classical Academy (CCA) is a tuition-free public charter school that opened in 2025 in Canton, GA. CCA is open to grades K-7 for the 2026-2027 school year and will continue to add a grade each year until reaching a full K-12 configuration. Families who reside in the counties of Cherokee, Cobb, Bartow, Fulton, Pickens, Paulding, and the cities of Marietta, Cartersville, and Atlanta are eligible to apply for enrollment. No entrance testing is required. CCA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.

CCA is an equal opportunity employer. Interested candidates should apply via the school’s career site. Candidates must attach a letter of introduction, a C.V. or resume, and contact information for three character references to their application. For faculty positions, please attach a 300-500 word “statement of educational philosophy.”