High School Counselor - Iowa Connections Academy

About the role

The School Counselor will virtually assist students and parents/learning coaches with course selection, and scheduling and will be a key point of contact for student concerns that span multiple subject areas as well as non-academic issues.

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 completion of a CPR course, and communicates this information to the Director of Student Services and other school Administrators;
• Aids students and parents with the school course selection process, according to specific state credit and graduation requirements along with student needs and interests;
• Offers guidance to students with issues related to withdrawing from courses, changing schedules, and seeking support as needed, while ensuring that the school’s course selection and withdrawal policies are adhered to;
• Contributes to the development and implementation of a K-12 comprehensive postsecondary exploration and planning annual framework;
• Helps students to research and understand their post-secondary career and educational options;
• 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 forward student records when appropriate;
• Refines and develops asynchronous and synchronous referral processes and services for students and families related to social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs;
• Collaborates with school teams to identify and help families access school and community resources;
• Serves as a key member of the Student Support Team (SST) and collaborates with the broader Student Services Team to develop and implement practices that help accurately identify students who are “at risk” or “in crisis”;
• Communicates & supports students and families regularly, contributing to and maintaining the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) for each student (as assigned);
• Partners with IACA Administrative Assistants to implement standard operating procedures and 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 to 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;
• Assists 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;
• Reviews and monitors that curriculum offerings meet state requirements;
• Implements special programs such as Advanced Placement support, SAT and ACT Preparation, NCAA preparative and planning support, and college entrance preparation;
• Assists with student preparation of applications for postsecondary & and vocational education;
• Edits and educates 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 assigned;
• Collaborates with other stakeholders to plan and implement high school graduation ceremonies;
• Serves as a Section 504 Coordinator.

Requirements

• Must possess, or be willing to acquire conditional licensure through the state of Iowa for any of the following in order to be properly licensed at the elementary and secondary levels: Professional School Counselor (5-12), Secondary School Counselor (5-12)
• Excellent communication skills, both oral (verbal and non-verbal) and written
• Strong technology skills (especially with Google Suite & Microsoft products)
• Perpetual customer-focused lens regarding “all things work”
• Ongoing, student-centered analysis of data
• Development & implementation of evidence-informed strategies and interventions
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• A high degree of flexibility
• Team player with demonstrated leadership skills
• Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment
• Unconditional positive regard for all others
• Strong skills associated with personal emotional regulation and “EQ: Emotional Quotient”
• Willingness to travel on occasion for marketing, professional development, and/or state testing events (may require occasional overnight travel)
• Must be able to use a personal electronic device and email address for 2-step authentication