School Counselor - Middle (Immediate & 26-27 SY)

Job Description

Job Description

KIPP Capital Region is a part of a national network of high-performing public Charter Schools committed to creating joyful, academically excellent, and prepared students with the skills, ability, and confidence to pursue their paths to college, career, and beyond.

Located in both Albany and Troy, NY, KIPP Capital Region serves 2,500+ students in grades K-12 across seven schools.  We believe every individual walks through the doors of schools bearing gifts. Talent. Perspective. Drive. Inspiration. So at KIPP Capital Region, we support every student and educator to see those gifts, and then build the skills and confidence they need to thrive.

We are committed to furthering anti-racism, equity, and racial justice in all our efforts, and expect all of our stakeholders to participate in this work so that we can create a future without limits for our students, together.

Position Overview

The School Counselor will assist students in academic achievement, personal or social development, and career exploration so that each student can identify personal goals, strengths, weaknesses, and interests and grow to become well-adjusted, productive, and successful.

Duties/Responsibilities

Socially and Emotionally Support School Community Members

• Provide regular one-on-one counseling or group counseling to students and families.
• Offer crisis intervention to students and families as needed.
• Managing, tracking, and documenting student interactions and counseling schedules.
• Setting goals with students and tracking progress towards those goals.
• Working directly with students to help them successfully work towards high school graduation, college matriculation, and self-sufficiency.
• Collaborating and communicating daily with supervisors, colleagues, and teachers to meet students’ needs.

Demonstrate Commitment to School Culture

• Work collaboratively with your school team and those across KIPP Capital Region.
• Help develop a school-wide culture that best fits the needs of our students, teachers, and families.
• Attend and participate in all staff meetings and communicate openly with staff and school leadership.
• Develop positive rapport with students and families.
• Ensure a safe, positive environment in group and one-on-one counseling sessions.
• Enforce, uphold, and exhibit the school’s values, student management policies, and culture.
• Support the Principals, Deans, and teachers when discipline issues arise.
• Consult with the school’s Student Support Team to develop comprehensive support and interventions for students who are presenting challenging behaviors.

Family Engagement

• Establish and maintain strong communication lines with all parents and share progress consistently.
• Be available for open houses, parent-teacher conferences, and other events involving parents and families.
• Make themself available to students, parents, and other staff members.
• Design and coordinate student engagement, family engagement, and family education activities, including:
• Workshops to educate families and students on specific issues, Professional Development sessions to educate staff, etc.

Maintain a Growth Mindset

• Pursue challenging professional goals each year.
• Willing to offer support and receive constructive feedback from colleagues to create a professional working atmosphere that is conducive to change and improvement.
• Participate in school-wide and individual professional development, including pre-service training over the summer and weekly during the academic year (held during school hours).
• Assesses students' needs, strengths, and weaknesses through various means, including one-on-one assessments, conversations, or interviews; standardized or aptitude testing; small group activities; and observations throughout the school day.
• Collaborates with students to identify career aspirations and academic goals and provides information and answers questions related to college applications and career choices.
• Assists students with academic planning, accountability, and organization.
• Teaches various skills, including social, study, and test-taking skills.
• Counsels students with personal, social, disciplinary, and behavioral issues.
• Collaborates with teachers to identify ways to improve students' achievement and social development.
• Promptly notifies appropriate authorities of any reports or suspicions of crimes, abuse, or neglect.
• Collaborates with other educators, parents, and students to develop, review, renew, and modify Individualized Education Plans or 504 plans for students who qualify.

KIPP Capital Region

• Perform other duties as outlined by the Director of Operations.
• Committed to furthering anti-racism, equity, and racial justice in all our efforts, and expect all our stakeholders to participate in this work so that we can create a future without limits for our students together.
• Complies with all charter, federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including the NYS Department of Education, Department of Health, and NYS Office of Children and Family Services
• Adheres to organization policies and procedures; promotes and supports mission, vision, and values, including developing and participating in internal surveys and data collection for continuous improvement initiatives.

Education and Experience

• MSW or Master’s degree in a counseling-related discipline
• Experience working within a school environment or extensive work with children or young adults
• Experience in therapeutic modalities related to children and families in traditionally underserved communities, including assessment and treatment of trauma.  
• A strong work ethic, extensive knowledge of child and adolescent development, and a documented track record of personal and professional success
• Prior experience working in schools and urban communities is preferred but not required.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule outside of regular business hours.
• Aptitude to create and work within an inclusive environment that honors and supports a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Prolonged periods were spent sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to access and navigate all areas of the school and other facilities as needed.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee needs to read, write, and speak English fluently.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use fingers to type, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance; stoop/bend and reach, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk, hear.
• Dexterity requires writing and operating standard office machines such as computers, printers, copiers, fax machines, phones, and calculators.
• Ability to occasionally lift and move up to 20 pounds.

Work Perks
When you join KIPP Capital Region, you are joining in on our promise to families that their children will enter college and the professional world able to thrive academically due to their literacy, numeracy, and core knowledge in science and social studies. We also promise that our students will develop a passion for learning and the drive necessary to persevere as they climb the mountain to and through college and career. Our graduates will be prepared to return to their community as teachers, leaders, and architects of continued growth in the Capital Region. And while the biggest perk to working at KIPP Capital Region is doing work that makes a lifelong difference in the lives of our students, you'll find that's not the only benefit we offer:

• Generous time-off 
• Industry-leading medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Aggressive employer 403(b) contribution match
• Childcare benefits
• Unparalleled work/life integration
• Casual dress code
• Relocation stipend (conditions apply)
• And so much more! For more information on the benefits of joining KIPP Capital Region, please view our  Employee Benefits Summary .

Learn More:
KIPP Capital Region offers a competitive salary ranging from $57,500 to $63,000 for this exempt role.

Salaries are determined using an equitable compensation scale that accounts for years of experience relevant to the role and longevity within the KIPP network. KIPP Capital Region will evaluate and determine the step/level a new hire will be placed within our grade salary scale at point of hire.

All staff and educators at KIPP Capital Region are committed to anti-racism and inclusion, are part of a close-knit diverse community, and are encouraged to show up authentically, inspiring our children to do the same. Learn more about what it’s like to work at KIPP Capital Region: kippcapital.org/join -our-team/ 

This role is located at KIPP Capital Region schools in Albany, NY.