Manager of School Counseling - Florida Connections Academy

About the School

Florida Connections Academy (FCA) is a tuition-free, online public charter school serving students in grades K-12 statewide. FCA is authorized by Hillsborough County Public Schools and governed by an independent Board of Directors. The school is accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, the Northwest Accreditation Commission, and the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), divisions of Cognia.

About the Role

The Manager of School Counseling will work remotely within the state of Florida in conjunction with the school’s leadership team to ensure each student successfully completes their instructional program. This role provides direction to staff and assists students and parents with graduation requirements, course selection, scheduling, post-secondary planning, and crisis intervention.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the academic success of individual students by utilizing all levels of academic support and maintaining communication with parents to address individual needs.
• Lead, supervise, and support a team of school counselors across K-12 grade levels, providing coaching, mentoring, and performance evaluations.
• Provide assistance to families needing additional support to prevent unnecessary withdrawals and encourage participation.
• Handle student problems escalated by parents and teachers.
• Develop, plan, and implement counseling programs related to academic, career planning, and graduation.
• Oversee and maintain the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) of each student.
• Keep abreast of high school graduation requirements, including special requirements like community service, and communicate this information to leadership.
• Plan and supervise the secondary school course selection process according to state credit and graduation requirements.
• Assist students and parents in developing a Four-Year Plan for meeting graduation requirements.
• Counsel students on issues related to dropping courses and changing schedules.
• Supervise the review of student transcripts and entry of credits into the online transcript system.
• Develop procedures to ensure transcripts are accurate and up-to-date.
• Counsel families through the school withdrawal process, including data collection.
• Develop and implement counseling programs addressing interpersonal adjustment issues.
• Design and implement crisis prevention and management plans for the school and lead the School-Based Threat Management Team.
• Report and refer critical incidents that jeopardize student well-being as required by law or ethical standards.
• Identify and maintain an up-to-date list of school and community resources for families and staff.
• Regularly review the status of secondary school students regarding attendance, participation, and performance.
• Assist teachers with mid-semester student enrollments, ensuring proper integration into coursework and handling of previous grades and credits.
• Research, develop, and implement special programs such as Advanced Placement support, SAT/ACT preparation, dual enrollment, and college entrance preparation.
• Coordinate a team to identify students who are at risk or in crisis.
• Provide state testing support, including logistics for scheduling, tracking participation, and contracting testing facilities.
• Perform all other assigned duties.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of school counseling and management/leadership experience.
• Florida Professional Teacher Certification in School Counseling.
• ESOL Endorsement or Certification preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Florida graduation requirements and school accountability framework.
• Technologically proficient, especially with Microsoft Office and Google products.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Customer-focused approach.
• High degree of flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced virtual environment.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team-based setting.
• Travel across the state is required for state testing administration, which may include overnight travel.
• Ability to work and manage a team remotely.
• Willingness to work occasional evening hours to support students and families.
• Must be able to use a personal electronic device and email address for two-step authentication.