High School Counselor - Arkansas Connections Academy

Position Summary

Working from the office in Bentonville, Arkansas, the High School Counselor will virtually assist students and parents/learning coaches with course selection, scheduling, and will be the initial point of contact for student concerns that span multiple subject areas as well as non-academic issues. The High School Counselor will become an expert on course and credit requirements and will work with the Manager of Counseling Services to establish counseling processes for middle and high school students.

Responsibilities

• Advises students and families related to academics, career planning, and graduation;
• Keeps abreast of all high school graduation requirements, including special requirements such as community service, and communicates this information to the High School Coordinator and to the principal;
• Aids students and parents with the secondary school course selection process according to specific state credit and graduation requirements and student needs and interests. An integral part of this process is assisting students and parents to develop a Four Year Plan for meeting graduation requirements;
• Advices students with issues related to dropping courses and changing schedules, seeking support as needed, while ensuring that the school’s course selection and drop policies are adhered to;
• Reviews student transcripts and the entry of credits into the online transcript system;
• Follows procedures to ensure that Connections Academy transcripts are accurate and up-to-date;
• Works with the administrative assistants to obtain school records from the student’s previous school (where applicable) and forwards student records when appropriate;
• Implements programs for students and families related to interpersonal adjustment issues;
• Works with school teams to identify and help families access school and community resources;
• Participates in the development of crisis prevention and management plans for the school and serves as a key member of the Student Support Team (SST);
• Coordinates a team of middle and high school teachers to help identify students who are “at risk” or “in crisis”; Acts as the main point of contact for these students and families, communicating regularly with them;
• Oversees and maintains the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) for each student;
• Implements efforts to secure complete and accurate records for Connections Academy students;
• Supports families through the school withdrawal process, assisting with data collection regarding withdrawal;
• Reports and refers critical incidents that jeopardize student well-being as obligated by law, administrative regulations, or ethical standards. Stays abreast of all state regulations relating to incident reporting and documentation;
• Aids teachers when students enroll mid-semester, making sure that teachers receive guidance on integrating the students into their coursework, and ensures that previous grades, credits, and evaluations are handled appropriately;
• Communicates with the Curriculum Team to ensure that curriculum offerings meet state requirements;
• Implements special programs such as Advanced Placement support, SAT and ACT Preparation, and college entrance preparation;
• Understands the requirements for and assists the principal to facilitate the administration of all high school testing, including exit exams, PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams;
• Helps students to research and understand their post-secondary career and educational options;
• Aids with student preparation of applications for college and jobs;
• Edits students and parents about college admissions requirements and financial aid;
• Supports professional development activities for teachers and school staff members;
• Assumes teaching and grading duties as necessary including teaching middle school elective courses;
• Captures high school graduation ceremonies;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Resides within the state of Arkansas or lives 300 miles from Bentonville, AR;
• American Association of School Counselors (AASC) certification in School Counseling;
• Strong technology skills (especially with Microsoft Office products);
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written;
• Customer-focused approach;
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills;
• High degree of flexibility;
• Team player with demonstrated leadership skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work well in fast-paced environment;
• Willingness to travel on occasion for marketing and state testing events (may require occasional overnight travel);
• Must be able to use a personal electronic device and an email address for two-step authentication.