Cumberland County Schools to Hire Pathway Coach

Cumberland County Schools will start the search for a new Pathway Coach for Phoenix High School.

Chief Academic Officer Dr. Rebecca Wood said the school will hire a career coach to help students with goals beyond graduation.

“And that is the purpose of this coach, to work with individual students. This position is about working with the student to help create that vision and to be right there next to them. ‘Have you filled out your FAFSA? What are you going to do after graduation?’ So it’s very much a coaching relationship.”

Tennessee declared Phoenix High School as a Comprehensive School Improvement School. (Photo: Phoenix School)

Wood said the state of Tennessee identified the high school as a Comprehensive School Improvement School, which made Phoenix High School eligible for different state grants.

“For this year, well actually for the next three years, we are eligible to receive  $150,000 for each year, for a total of $450,000 for Phoenix High School,” Wood said.

The grant funding covers the cost of hiring a Pathway Coach and utilizing a computer software called Naviance. The software provides students with college planning and career assessment tools.

Wood said the next three years can help the school board decide if the schools can effectively use and pay for a Pathway Coach and Naviance.

“But the Pathway Coach is again that position where we want to establish that relationship,” Wood said. “Someone is checking on them on a very regular basis to help them map out their plan.”

The grant funding will also pay for a full-time response to intervention (RTI) coordinator.

The Cumberland County School Board approved the grant endeavors at the last regular meeting.