The Career Pathways Coordinator (Grades 6–12) supports, implements, and sustains a comprehensive, equitable career readiness system that prepares students for postsecondary success in college, careers, trades, and life. This role serves as a connector across middle and high school settings, aligning career exploration, academic planning, Career Technical Education (CTE), AVID, and work-based learning to ensure all students, especially those historically underserved, have access to meaningful pathways and opportunities. The Coordinator will collaborate closely with counselors, administrators, teachers, families, higher education partners, trade unions, and business and industry leaders to build meaningful pathways from grade 6 through graduation and beyond.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

CAREER PATHWAYS DEVELOPMENT (GRADES 6-12)

Design, support, and continuously improve a structured, developmentally appropriate career-readiness framework aligned with the Illinois PaCE Framework.
Support career exploration, awareness, and planning beginning in grade 6 and extending through postsecondary transition.
Assist students and families in developing and monitoring individualized career and educational plans.
Support student transitions (6th to middle school, middle to high school, high school to postsecondary pathways).
Operationalize the Portrait of a Graduate through aligned PaCE implementation across all grade bands (6th, 7-8, and 9-12).
Support career awareness experiences that build social awareness, self-management, and goal-setting aligned to the Portrait of a Graduate.

COLLEGE, CAREER, AND WORK-BASED LEARNING

Coordinate and support college and career fairs, campus visits, career panels, workshops, guest speakers, and employer site visits to expose students to various pathways.
Build and sustain work-based learning opportunities, including job shadows, internships, apprenticeships, and youth employment experiences.
Support dual credit and dual enrollment opportunities, with a focus on expanding access for students of color and other underserved populations.
Assist students and families with understanding graduation requirements, promotion, and postsecondary options.
Advance the District’s Portrait of a Graduate by ensuring that career exploration, postsecondary planning, and work-based learning experiences intentionally develop the academic, social-emotional skills, and competencies outlined in the Portrait.

CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) AND AVID ALIGNMENT

Collaborate with the CTE department to align academic programs with career pathways and high-demand industry sectors.
Collaborate and support the completion of documents that align with state and national CTE requirements.
Support the integration of AVID strategies across CTE and core academic pathways.
Assist with the development, implementation, evaluation, and promotion of AVID programs in grades 6–12.
Participate in AVID District Team and site team meetings, professional learning, and AVID Summer Institute.

PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Serve as a primary liaison between district schools and external partners, including community colleges, four-year universities, trade unions, workforce agencies, and local businesses.
Proactively build and maintain partnerships that expand career exposure and postsecondary access.
Collaborate with chambers of commerce, workforce development partners, and community organizations to identify high-growth industries and career trends.

COLLABORATION AND STUDENT SUPPORT

Work closely with school counselors, administrators, department chairs, and teachers, as well as the UHS High School College and Career Coordinator and the GEAR Up Grant Coordinator, to ensure a cohesive, aligned college and career-readiness system.
Support counseling teams in planning and coordinating events tied to the counseling curriculum.
Provide consultation and technical assistance to staff and families related to career. pathways, the PaCE Framework, CTE, and AVID.
Serve as a visible, supportive presence for students across school sites.

COMMUNICATION, OUTREACH, AND MARKETING

Assist with the development and maintenance of College and Career Readiness and PaCE content on district and school websites.
Create newsletters, presentations, and marketing materials for students, families, and community stakeholders focused on Career Readiness and the PaCE Framework.
Inform families and students of upcoming college and career events and opportunities.

DATA, EVALUATION, AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Collect, analyze, and use data to identify gaps in access and outcomes acrossstudent groups.
Monitor student participation and progress within career pathways and postsecondary preparation activities.
Use data to inform program improvement and equitable resource allocation.
Stay informed of emerging trends in education, workforce development, and industry needs.
Possess and maintain a working knowledge of the annual Urbana High School Course
Description and Planning Guide.
Maintain knowledge of the Urbana High School curriculum.
Maintain knowledge and understanding of Illinois’ high school graduation requirements.
Participate in ongoing professional development.
Attend Board of Education meetings and prepare reports as requested.
Perform additional duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Strong knowledge of college and career readiness systems, postsecondary pathways, and workforce development
Understanding of the Illinois PaCE Framework, CTE pathways, and AVID Systems
Ability to build and sustain collaborative partnerships
Strong organizational, project management, and event coordination skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to analyze data to inform decisions and improve equity
Cultural humility and commitment to equity and inclusion
Ability to engage and motivate students across diverse backgrounds
Proficiency with educational technology and data platforms

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in education, counseling, social sciences, or a related field (required)
Valid Illinois teaching, school counseling, or administrative certificate (required)
Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in an educational setting
Demonstrated experience with college and career readiness programming, CTE, workforce development, or postsecondary transitions
Minimum of 5 years of successful secondary (6-12) teaching experience preferred
Work-based learning certification preferred or willingness to acquire the certification
Prior leadership, coordination, or program management experience preferred
AVID experience or training preferred

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Salary and Benefit information can be found on the Human Resources webpage.
This is a position within the collective bargaining unit and is not an administrative position.
Student Contact Days and other days stipulated on the work calendar in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement.
This is an exempt position that will follow the teacher coordinator's work calendar. 185 days with 20 additional days to be used as needed.

EVALUATION: The performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with the

provisions of the Board’s policy on the evaluation of professional personnel.

Start Date: ASAP

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Created: January 2026

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