College and Career Counselor

Job Description

The ACHS College & Career Counselor manages the ACHS College & Career Center which provides students with individualized and small group support with postsecondary planning. The College & Career Counselor ensures that students have access to information and opportunities to engage with two-and-four year colleges, military branches, gap-year programs, and area career training programs as well as employers. The College & Career Counselor also provides postsecondary planning programming to families and ACHS staff to increase knowledge of options and practices. The College & Career Counselor collaborates with the entire ACHS school counseling team to provide a comprehensive school counseling program in alignment with the American School Counselor Association national model.

This position reports to the Director of School Counseling (High School).

Qualifications

Education: Master's Degree in School Counseling required.

Certificates & Licenses: Virginia educational license with an endorsement in school counseling or its equivalent from another state

Experience:

• At least 3-5 years experience as a high school level school counselor. Years of experience in college admissions or other career services may be substituted for some of the required years of high school counseling experience.
• Possesses knowledge and experience with providing services that align with comprehensive school counseling programs.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of academic and career planning best practices.
• Demonstrated knowledge of postsecondary opportunities including college, career, military, and gap-year programs.
• Knowledge of the financial aid application process as well as scholarships.
• Demonstrated leadership experience to work effectively with students, teachers, administrators, families, and community members.

Key Competencies:

• Performs duties in a highly positive and collaborative level with all school counseling staff members, and all community partnerships and organizations such as the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria, Northern Virginia Community College, and Alexandria Workforce Development
• Able to engage individuals, groups, and classrooms of students in order to provide postsecondary planning information
• Performs such other tasks and assumes such other responsibilities as may be required for the purpose of ensuring an efficient, positive, and effective work environment.

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities

• Provides individual and small group support and advisement to students in order for them to access and develop postsecondary plans that reflect a variety of opportunities
• Partners with teachers and instructional leaders to provide college and career lessons to classrooms of students as assigned
• Assist the Director with the management, oversight, and support to all school counselors regarding the college admissions and post-secondary planning process
• Aligns postsecondary programs with the vision of the school counseling program as it relates to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model, Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) status, and the National Association for College Admissions Counseling's (NACAC) Guide to Ethical Practice in College Admissions.
• Establishes a school-wide calendar of events of college and career learning opportunities which facilitate programs for students, community, and family members related to all postsecondary pathways and processes; Programs may include by not be limited to strictly school instructional hours and require some night, weekend, and summer presence
• Works with instructional leaders to provide teachers with proper support related to college admissions, training on Naviance, and the technicalities of counselors' college admissions responsibilities
• Works closely with the Director for state-required reports related to postsecondary pursuits of seniors and Naviance reporting data and ensures thorough accuracy of all responsible reports
• Contributes to the division and school's mission and goals related to anti-racism, equity, postsecondary preparation, and comprehensive school counseling program development.
• Continuously uses research-based, innovative, creative, and data-driven practices to effectively implement services and monitor progress towards program goals, and evaluate program progress.
• Completes other duties as assigned by the Director.

Clearances:

• Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance.
• Tuberculosis Skin Test.

Public Health Compliance

• Proof of COVID vaccination. Exemptions for religious/medical will be reviewed.
• Must follow safety and health protocols.

WP

Primary Location:
ACHS King Street Campus
Salary Range:
Teachers and Other Licensed Staff Salary Scale (http://www.acps.k12.va.us/hr/compensation/)
Shift Type:
Full-Time