Interim College Academic Counselor

Description

ABOUT ASPIRE

Aspire Public Schools operates a network of high-performing, college preparatory charter schools serving TK-12 scholars in communities across California. Founded in 1998—in an effort to transform the inequitable racial, social, and gender outcomes that our communities persist through—Aspire is one of the largest and most forward-thinking open-enrollment public charter school systems in the nation.

Our purpose is to prepare our scholars for success in college, career, and life. At Aspire, we set a foundation for our scholars to gain knowledge, skills, and power to access and make choices for their families and post-secondary lives. Every day, our community of students, families, teachers and staff comes together to learn, work, and play in an environment grounded in our values of Bienestar (Well-Being), Culture of Belonging, Community Partnership, Agency & Self-Determination, and Joy.

JOB SUMMARY 

The College Academic Counselor oversees the delivery of all academic counseling services in assigned secondary school(s). The College Academic Counselor  implements a comprehensive school counseling program based on an analysis of student data that addresses academic needs for all students through advocacy and collaboration to promote student success, provides preventive services, and responds to identified student needs and also collaborates with SEL Counselors, educators and Site Leadership to support student post-secondary  achievement in congruence with students’ SEL needs . The College Academic Counselor trains The College Advisors in the delivery of guidance curriculum, develops individual student plans and provides school wide system support.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (20 BULLET POINTS) 

• Including but not limited to family activities and programming  (i.e. family workshops) to deliver academic, early college, college, and career counseling services across all grades. 

• Collaborate with school and regional leaders to support the articulation and coherence of student programming to deliver systematic support towards their post-secondary goals.

• Arrange for school-wide opportunities for students and families to visit with college admission, scholarship program, and other community partnership program representatives, through visits to the high school, college/career fairs, field trips, and/or college tours.

• Support and counsel students and families to find post-secondary pathways and enrichment opportunities that are authentic to their identities.

• Provide additional academic, college and career support for students in special population groups, such as undocumented students, transition plans for students with IEPs and 504 plans, multi-language learners, etc in collaboration with various stakeholders.

• Monitor all student academic performance and assist the school administration with appropriate interventions, including support prior to course failure, as well as credit recovery and graduation plans.

• Attend IEP, 504, attendance, MTSS and SST meetings to present graduation pathways, requirements, credit progress, credit recovery needs, in collaboration with key stakeholders.

• Communicate student progress and/or intervention plans to students and families .

• Coordinate, educate, and counsel students on dual-enrollment including applications and enrollment process in college courses.

• Support administration as needed with scheduling students in courses, monitoring the UC course list, standardized testing, and planning credit recovery and summer school.

• Prepare and deliver college, career, and academic advising workshops.

• Prepare and interpret student data to inform differentiated programming. 

Additional:

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and support, the Aspire Public Schools mission, vision, value statements including antiracism, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of ethical behavior 

• Perform other related duties as required and assigned

• *Minimum work days are 196 days, you may be required to work additional days up to 212, which will be paid via stipend.

QUALIFICATIONS

Competencies

• Up to date knowledge of current state and federal laws governing counseling and adherence to those laws. 

• Up to date knowledge of post-secondary program admissions and financial aid requirements and processes. 

• Systematically document complex processes, conversations, etc in clear, easily-understandable formats and language for internal and external reporting.

• Knowledge of various graduation pathways and requirements available to students 

• Knowledge of various college and career readiness tools (i.e Naviance, etc.) 

Minimum educational level

• Bachelor’s degree required. 

• Pupil Personnel Services credential in School Counseling required

Experience required:

• Experience working with parents and families, especially those from under resourced communities 

• Experience working with diverse student populations including first-generation, low-income, etc.

• Knowledgeable of high school graduation, A-G and college admissions requirements

Physical requirements:

• Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces.

• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods.

• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.

• Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.

• Communicating with others to exchange information.

• Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

Work authorization requirements: 

• Clear the Department of Justice background screening

• Authorized to work in the United States

• Provide health (TB) clearance (renewed every four years) 

Compensation: 

Aspire Public Schools is dedicated to our teammate's well-being!  In addition to a competitive base salary that is benchmarked against local districts and charter schools, we offer employees exceptional benefits, including paid time off, 100% core health benefits coverage on select plans, life insurance/long-term disability, participation in a CA state retirement plan, tuition reimbursement plan, and adoption assistance program.

Our salary schedule for this position type, based on years of experience, is $73,653 - $103,371.

Aspire Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Aspire promotes affirmative action for minorities, women, disabled persons, and veterans.