Academic Counselor

Job Description

Job Description

Academic Counselor

The Piney Woods School | Piney Woods, Mississippi
Full-Time | Student Success & Academic Support

The Piney Woods School seeks a dedicated, student-centered, and mission-driven Academic Counselor to support the academic achievement, college readiness, personal development, and overall success of our students.

This position is ideal for an individual who is passionate about helping students navigate their educational journey while promoting academic excellence, personal responsibility, social-emotional wellbeing, and college and career preparedness. The successful candidate will work closely with students, families, faculty, administrators, and community partners to ensure that students are equipped to thrive academically and personally.

Founded in 1909, The Piney Woods School is the nation’s largest historically African American independent college preparatory boarding school. Located near Jackson, Mississippi, the School is committed to developing the head, heart, and hands of every student through rigorous academics, leadership development, service, and experiential learning.

The Academic Counselor serves as a key member of the student support team and is responsible for providing academic advising, college and career guidance, student success coaching, social-emotional support, and intervention services.

The Academic Counselor works collaboratively with students, faculty, residential staff, parents, and administrators to promote student achievement, retention, graduation readiness, and successful post-secondary outcomes.

This position plays an integral role in helping students develop the skills, habits, resilience, and mindset necessary for lifelong success.

• Monitor and support student academic progress and achievement.
• Maintain accurate student academic records and graduation tracking systems.
• Review transcripts and ensure students remain on track toward graduation requirements.
• Develop and implement academic intervention strategies for students experiencing academic challenges.
• Collaborate with teachers, administrators, and residential staff to identify and address barriers to student success.
• Assist students in setting academic goals and developing individualized success plans.
• Promote student accountability, time management, study skills, and organizational effectiveness.

• Advise students regarding college admissions, financial aid, scholarships, career exploration, and post-secondary planning.
• Coordinate and facilitate college and career readiness programming.
• Assist students with college applications, essays, testing requirements, and admissions processes.
• Maintain relationships with colleges, universities, scholarship organizations, and workforce development partners.
• Coordinate college visits, career exploration opportunities, and informational workshops.

• Promote student wellness, resilience, self-advocacy, and positive decision-making.
• Provide short-term counseling, coaching, and support for academic and personal concerns.
• Assist students in developing social-emotional competencies and healthy coping strategies.
• Foster a growth mindset culture that encourages perseverance, responsibility, and continuous improvement.
• Make appropriate referrals to school personnel, families, and community agencies when additional support services are needed.

• Serve as a liaison between the School, families, and community stakeholders.
• Develop collaborative partnerships with parents and guardians to support student success.
• Communicate regularly with families regarding student progress, concerns, and support strategies.
• Coordinate community resources and external support services to address student needs.
• Engage community organizations, educational institutions, and service providers to enhance student opportunities.

• Facilitate educational groups and workshops related to:
  • Academic success skills
  • College readiness
  • Career planning
  • Character development
  • Leadership development
  • Drug and alcohol prevention
  • Social-emotional learning
  • Conflict resolution and healthy decision-making
• Coordinate student success initiatives and support programs that contribute to positive educational outcomes.

• Coordinate and administer standardized testing programs including:
  • ACT
  • SAT
  • MAP Growth Assessments
  • Other institutional assessments as assigned
• Collect, analyze, evaluate, and report student achievement and program performance data.
• Monitor trends in student performance and recommend interventions and support strategies.
• Prepare reports and presentations regarding student outcomes and program effectiveness.

• Collaborate with faculty, residential staff, and administrators to develop student-centered support systems.
• Facilitate professional development and training related to student success, social-emotional learning, and academic interventions.
• Serve on school committees and participate in school-wide initiatives.
• Support and advance the mission, vision, and values of The Piney Woods School.
• Participate in school events, faculty meetings, professional development activities, Parents’ Day, Founder’s Day, Commencement, and other institutional programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned by school leadership.

• Bachelor’s degree in Counseling, Education, Psychology, Social Work, Student Affairs, Human Development, or a related field.
• Minimum of two years of experience working with adolescents in educational, youth development, counseling, residential, or student support settings.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Commitment to student success and educational equity.

• Master’s degree in School Counseling, Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, Educational Leadership, or a related field.
• Licensed School Counselor or eligibility for school counseling licensure preferred.
• Experience in a secondary school, boarding school, college preparatory, or residential educational environment.
• Experience with college counseling, academic advising, graduation planning, and standardized testing coordination.
• Knowledge of student information systems, college admissions platforms, and educational data systems.

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Knowledge of adolescent development and student success strategies
• Strong counseling, advising, and coaching skills
• Understanding of college admissions and career readiness processes
• Ability to analyze academic and student performance data
• Strong presentation, facilitation, and public speaking skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to build productive relationships with students, families, faculty, and community partners
• Strong organizational and time management abilities
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and student-centered practices

The Piney Woods School provides a unique opportunity to work within a historic, mission-driven boarding school environment where educators and student support professionals have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on students' lives.

Our team is committed to fostering academic excellence, leadership development, character formation, and transformational educational experiences that prepare students for success in college, career, and life.

Qualified applicants should submit:

• Letter of Interest / Cover Letter
• Resume
• Three Professional References
• Copies of applicable certifications, licenses, and transcripts

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The Piney Woods School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and seeks candidates who are committed to supporting the mission, values, and educational goals of the School.

Position: Academic Counselor
Employment Status: Full-Time
Work Location: On Campus – Piney Woods, Mississippi
Reports To: Principal / Chief School Officer (or designee)