Academic Coach

About the Organization  

Canal Alliance is a nonprofit champion of immigrants who are challenged by a lack of resources and an unfamiliar environment. We believe everyone has the right to achieve their dreams. Every day, we educate, empower, support, and partner with motivated immigrants to best meet all their unique needs—from putting food on the table, to becoming American citizens, to learning English, to graduating from college. Because when we support immigrants, Marin becomes a place where everyone can live, work, and succeed.  

Canal Alliance University Prep (UP!) is a college readiness and success program designed to support students in their journey to enroll in and graduate from a 4-year university.

Position  

The 10th and 11th Grade Academic Coach collaborates with a team of professionals to provide wrap-around support for high schoolers on their path toward college completion. A successful candidate will be a passionate believer in the power of education to improve the lives of immigrant youth and their families.

Specifically, the 10th and 11th Grade Academic Coach serves as a consistent mentor for a roster of approximately 30 first-generation students. The Academic Coach supports students in their academic progress and college readiness by conducting regular academic check-ins, tracking student performance, maintaining portfolios, and providing targeted support.  The Academic Coach reports to the Supervisor of Academic Success. Candidates should have the ability to work after school hours, Monday-Thursday, approximately 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. (Part-time, a total of 12-13 hours per week) 

This is an in-person position in San Rafael  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities  

• Build strong, respectful, and culturally responsive relationships with students 
• Conduct 1:1 academic check-ins with the same 30 students on a rotating basis 
• Monitor GPA, course progress, and A–G requirement completion for college eligibility 
• Support self-reflection and goal setting as students begin thinking about their future pathways 
• Maintain digital and/or physical academic portfolio for each student 
• Provide occasional homework help to students as needed 
• Facilitate small group academic skills workshops as needed 
• Occasionally assist the High School Supervisor with program supervision, fostering a safe and supportive environment 
• Collaborate with UP! staff and volunteers to align student support strategies 
• Attend bi-monthly meetings with the Supervisor of Academic Success and the Academic Coach team 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Ability to build strong, respectful relationships with diverse youth 
• Awareness of systemic barriers faced by immigrant and first-generation students 
• Knowledge of high school academic requirements, including A–G course completion and GPA tracking  
• Organizational and time-management skills to balance casework and program support 
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal 
• Ability to work collaboratively and build positive relationships with staff and volunteers 

• Minimum 1 year of experience working with youth in academic or mentoring roles 
• Bachelor’s degree, or working towards a degree 
• Proficiency with Google Suite or other digital tracking tools 
• Experience working with Latino, immigrant or low-income communities (preferred) 
• Experience supporting English language learners (preferred) 
• We strongly encourage applicants who are first-generation college graduates or who have firsthand experience navigating educational systems as immigrants to apply 

 We get a high volume of candidates - for the fastest response from Canal Alliance, please use this Paylocity Link to apply:  

https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Apply/3480131/Canal-Alliance/Academic-Coach 

Compensation 

Starting at $35 an hour.  Compensation is commensurate with experience. 

Anticipated Start Date 

August 2025 

Canal Alliance Equity and Inclusion Statement  

Canal Alliance actively promotes and recognizes principles of fairness, equity, and social justice in relation to, and across, intersections of race, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, disability, ancestry and all other identities represented among our diverse employees. 

By appreciating the importance of inclusion, we acknowledge that the collective and individual talents, skills, and perspectives of our staff foster a culture of belonging, safety, collaborative practice, innovation, and mutual respect. 

Canal Alliance is committed to the transformation of attitudes and systems that deprive any person or group of these principles.