Academic Counselor

Academic Counselor (Licensed School Counselor)

Columbia Heights Public Schools is accepting applications for a licensed academic counselor to work at Columbia Heights High School starting August 2026. Internal posting dates: 7/9/26-7/16/26. External posting dates: 7/28/26-until filled.

Questions regarding this position should be directed to Todd Wynne, High School Principal, View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io. Interested applicants should apply online at Interviews will be scheduled at the request of the School District.

Major Responsibilities

The academic counselor will work collaboratively with administrators, teachers, families, and community partners to support students' academic achievement, postsecondary planning, social-emotional development, and overall well-being.

Special Requirements

Appropriately licensed by MDE; MN School Counselor License. Experience working in a multicultural setting and with diverse groups of people preferred. Alternatives to the qualifications as the Superintendent may find appropriate and acceptable will also be considered.

Academic Counseling

Monitor student academic progress and graduation requirements. Help support and collaborate in building a master schedule. Develop individualized graduation plans with students and families. Assist students with course selection, schedule changes, and four-year planning. Identify students who are academically at risk and coordinate interventions. Analyze academic data to improve student achievement and increase graduation rates. Collaborate with teachers and intervention teams to develop support plans for students.

College, Career, and Postsecondary Readiness

Guide students through college, career, military, apprenticeship, and workforce planning. Assist students with college admissions, scholarship opportunities, FAFSA completion, and financial aid resources. Coordinate college representative visits, career exploration opportunities, and career fairs. Support students in exploring Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways. Assist students with letters of recommendation and postsecondary application processes.

Social-Emotional Support

Provide short-term individual and small-group counseling. Assist students experiencing academic, social, emotional, or behavioral concerns. Make referrals to community agencies and mental health resources when appropriate. Support crisis response efforts as part of the school's student support team. Promote resilience, wellness, attendance, and student engagement.

Family and Community Partnerships

Develop strong relationships with families from diverse cultural backgrounds. Communicate regularly with parents and guardians regarding student progress and available resources. Participate in conferences, student support meetings, and family engagement activities. Connect families with community resources that remove barriers to student success.

School Leadership & Collaboration

Serve as an active member of the school's Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), Child Study Team, and Student Support Team. Collaborate with administrators, teachers, special education staff, EL staff, social workers, psychologists, and community partners. Support schoolwide initiatives related to creating a master schedule, attendance, graduation, student engagement, and school climate. Participate in professional learning communities and ongoing professional development.

Physical Requirements

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; work regularly requires standing and speaking or hearing, frequently requires walking, using hands to finger, handle or feel and reaching with hands and arms and occasionally requires sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, pushing or pulling, lifting and repetitive motions; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating machines and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions, exposure to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment and exposure to bodily fluids; work is generally in a loud noise location (e.g. grounds maintenance, heavy traffic).