Guidance Counselor

Guidance Counselor

The Guidance Counselor supports the academic, social-emotional, behavioral, college and career readiness, and overall well-being of students in Pre-K through Grade 12. This position provides individual and group counseling services, coordinates student support programs, administers and analyzes student assessments, monitors academic progress and attendance, collaborates with families and staff, and assists students in achieving their educational and post-secondary goals. The Guidance Counselor serves as a key member of the student support team while ensuring compliance with FERPA and applicable educational regulations.

Compensation: $48,000.00 - $50,000.00 per year

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Employee discounts
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Key Responsibilities

• Provide individual and group counseling services to support students' academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and personal development.
• Coordinate and administer NWEA MAP testing, including test setup, scheduling, accommodations, proctoring, make-up testing, data management, and score reporting.
• Analyze assessment data and prepare reports to support instructional planning, intervention strategies, and student achievement goals.
• Meet with students, parents, teachers, and administrators to address academic performance, attendance, behavior, and student well-being.
• Conduct parent conferences and maintain ongoing communication regarding student progress, concerns, and intervention plans.
• Monitor student attendance, academic performance, discipline referrals, and behavioral concerns, and implement appropriate interventions.
• Coordinate Individual Service Plans (ISPs), ERESC services, special education referrals, evaluations, and related documentation.
• Assist students with course selection, graduation requirements, academic planning, college readiness, career exploration, and post-secondary planning.
• Maintain accurate student records, transcripts, GPA calculations, attendance records, and academic documentation.
• Coordinate transcript requests, recommendation letters, senior graduation tracking, and college application support.
• Investigate, document, and follow up on student incidents, safety concerns, behavioral matters, and medical emergencies.
• Collaborate with faculty, administration, and support staff to develop strategies that promote student success and school improvement initiatives.
• Facilitate communication among families, school personnel, outside service providers, and community agencies.
• Support student enrollment, re-enrollment, orientation, and transition processes.
• Assist with crisis intervention, emergency response procedures, student supervision, and school safety initiatives.
• Supervise students during testing sessions, assemblies, lunch periods, study halls, recess, field trips, and school events as assigned.
• Support school-wide programs, parent engagement activities, cultural events, and extracurricular initiatives.
• Utilize student information systems, educational technology platforms, assessment tools, and data management systems to monitor student progress.
• Participate in faculty meetings, professional development activities, and multidisciplinary student support teams.
• Maintain confidentiality of student information and ensure compliance with FERPA, state regulations, and school policies.

Qualifications

• Degree in School Counseling, Guidance Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, Education, or a related field preferred.
• Valid School Counselor certification or eligibility for certification in accordance with applicable state requirements preferred.
• Experience working with students in Pre-K through Grade 12 educational settings preferred.
• Knowledge of academic counseling, social-emotional learning, college and career readiness, and student intervention practices.
• Experience administering and analyzing student assessments, including NWEA MAP or similar assessment programs.
• Understanding of special education processes, ISP development, referral procedures, and student support services.
• Knowledge of high school graduation requirements, college admissions processes, and post-secondary planning.
• Strong ability to analyze student data and develop recommendations for academic improvement.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to build positive relationships with students, families, staff, and community partners.
• Proficiency with student information systems, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and educational technology platforms.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive student information with professionalism and discretion.
• Commitment to supporting diverse student populations and fostering a positive school climate.

About Us

Maarif School is a Pre-K through 12th private school that operates under the auspices of the Maarif Foundation USA. With challenging curricula that meets or exceeds NJ and national standards, we teach all the core subjects in addition to Turkish, Arabic, Islamic studies, and Qur'an. We strive to foster intellectual curiosity and to raise children to be self-reliant, critical thinkers. We place great importance on the Islamic manners, morals and ethics that will help to create justice and equity in our society. Maarif School is a diverse and caring community of learners. We emphasize the social and emotional learning (SEL) of our students and foster balance so that students are not overwhelmed by schoolwork but are held to a high standard of achievement. Our small class sizes and individual attention enable our students to reach their full potential. Through community service, discussions about current events, and electives such as social justice and bioethics, our students are able to learn leadership, compassion, and respect for all. Our college preparatory program has enabled our high school students to earn early college credits through Montclair State University, and to gain acceptance and scholarships to such universities as Penn State, Seton Hall, SUNY, Rutgers, New Jersey Institute of Technology, The College of New Jersey, and Stevens Institute of Technology.