Academic Counselor, Secondary (9-12)

Position Details

• Reporting Manager : Principal, 9-12
• Status : Salary, Exempt
• Type : Regular, Full-Time (12 Months)
• Program :  Lone Star Virtual Academy (TX)

Overview
Academic Counselors at Stellar Virtual provide students (Grades 9-12) with appropriate learning activities and experiences in college, career, and military readiness and help them fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth and support our “Education with Destination” model that enables students to understand their unique qualities, map their skills and interests to high wage / high demand careers, and develop competencies to function successfully in society. 

• Actively participate in Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) meetings as needed, providing valuable input and support for individualized education plans.
• Foster positive and productive relationships with students, parents, and staff.
• Efficiently organize and manage school support operations, ensuring all student needs are met in a timely manner.
• Conduct regular progress checks on student grades and academic performance, providing timely feedback and support to students.
• Provide frequent communication and responses to incoming requests from parents and students, ensuring clear and helpful services.
• Guide students and parents with questions related to benchmarks, TSIA2, TELPAS, and STAAR State testing, offering expert advice and support.
• Participate in all required meetings, including staff meetings, professional development sessions, and parent-teacher conferences.
• Deal sensitively and fairly with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, promoting inclusivity and respect within the school community.
• Deal sensitively and fairly with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, promoting inclusivity and respect within the school community.
• Proctor in-person state test sites as needed, maintaining test security and integrity.
• Undertake other duties as assigned, contributing to the overall success and efficiency of the school's counseling services.

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience as a school counselor, preferably working with a range of grade levels 9-12 in Texas.
• Proven experience working independently with minimal supervision, including the ability to manage a digital task list and maintain a stable remote (home-office) infrastructure.
• Minimum of 1–2 years of experience using the Google Workspace suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive) in a professional or academic setting.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex ideas via written channels (Email, Google Chat, and Document Comments) with high clarity and low ambiguity.
• Access to a private, secure, high-speed internet connection with a minimum of 25 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload speeds.
• Demonstrated experience in providing individual and group counseling.
• Strong understanding of child and adolescent development.
• Knowledge of academic advising, college and career counseling, and social-emotional learning principles.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a virtual environment.
• Proficiency in using technology for communication, counseling, and record-keeping.
• Empathy, patience, and a genuine commitment to supporting student well-being.
• Residency in the state of Texas is required.

Success Profile

• Student Advocacy & Empathy : Build trust with students and families, responds with care, and proactively supports academic, social, and emotional needs.
• Proactive Problem Solving : Identify student challenges early, takes initiative, and implements timely interventions using data and professional judgment.
• Collaborative Relationship Building : Work effectively with students, families, and staff to coordinate support and ensure student success in a virtual environment.

Education & Certification Requirements

• Master’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university;
• Active School Counseling certification with the State of Texas.

Benefits & Incentives (Full-Time Only)

• Competitive vacation and paid time off plans
• Comprehensive medical (HMO, HDHP, and PPO), dental, and vision plans with varying coverage for employees and their families, with options available in all states, including a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) option.
• 401(k) retirement plan (pre- and post-tax options) with matching contribution up to 3% after one year of employment
• Additional supplemental disability, life, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident, legal aid, and ID theft protection plans
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Two paid closure weeks each year (weeks of July 4 and December 25)
• 11 Company-paid Holidays

Employment "At-Will" Statement :  For W-2 employment, Stellar Virtual is an at-will employer. This means the employee and Stellar Virtual can terminate the employment at any time, with or without cause or notice, as legally permitted. This job description does not guarantee continued employment or a contract. All 1099 status is excluded.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) :  Stellar Virtual is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.