Academic Counselor

University of Texas at Austin

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The University of Texas at Austin’s High School (UTHS) Special Purpose District provides programs and services to help high school students, teachers and families across Texas and the world. UTHS strives to help and assist students as they move along their educational pathways. As a proud member of the College of Education at the University of Texas at Austin, UTHS works to fill “gaps” in the Texas educational landscape and thrives in the service to others. This position requires fingerprinting and successful completion of a background check. Purpose: Collaborate with school faculty and staff, students, parents, and community to plan, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program for the UTHS Online High School Diploma Programs. Counsel students to fully develop each student’s academic, career, personal, and social abilities and address the needs of special populations’ students.

Requirements

Master’s degree in guidance counseling and valid Texas counseling certificate or current enrollment in a counseling certification or degree program.
Three years of teaching experience at the secondary level.
Knowledge of counseling procedures, student appraisal, and college, career, and military readiness development.
Knowledge of state and federal policies regarding testing and provision of G/T, 504, and special education services.
Extensive knowledge of personal graduation planning process and Texas graduation requirements.
Advanced technology skills including ability to schedule students and maintain student records in the Skyward SIS and use of other platforms such as Canvas LMS, Adobe Connect, and spreadsheet documents.
Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to instruct students and guide their behavior.
Ability to establish systems and communicate in a variety of environments, including webinars, website information, phone, email, written, in-person, and social media.
Ability to present information in one-on-one, small group, and large group situations to students, parents, and district staff.
Strong collaborative skills and professionalism when working with all stakeholders.
Demonstrated knowledge of college, career, and military readiness (CCMR) pathways.

Nice To Haves

More than three years of teaching experience at the secondary level.
Experience teaching high school students.
Degree beyond the master's level, such as Ed. S., Ph.D., or Ed. D.
Active Texas Certification for mid-management, principal, or superintendent.
Experience working as a counselor in a Texas public high school.
Experience providing student guidance, study support, state testing, and support with G/T, 504, and special education services.
Experience working with the Skyward SIS, Canvas LMS, or Adobe Connect.
Experience presenting to students and stakeholders.
Experience with professional written communication including newsletters and professional documents.
Experience presenting at conferences.
Experience working as a lead counselor in a Texas public high school.
Experience and certification to teach a high school core subject
Bilingual (Spanish)
Familiarity with: Texas Graduation Requirements (Foundation & Endorsements)
NCAA eligibility, financial aid, and college admissions processes
Experience using data dashboards or early warning systems to improve retention and persistence.

Responsibilities

Guide students in planning academic coursework aligned with Texas graduation requirements.
Monitor student progress toward graduation and recommend interventions to support on-time completion.
Review transcripts and determine student eligibility for graduation requirements and diploma completion.
Assist with graduation planning and ceremony preparation.
Plan and facilitate academic awards and recognition.
Plan, develop, and facilitate new student transition plan.
Provide guidance on college, career, military, and postsecondary readiness opportunities.
Share resources related to college applications, SAT/ACT timelines, financial aid, and career pathways.
Assist students in developing long-term academic and career goals based on interests, strengths, and data.
Support development of Four-Year Plans and CCMR readiness pathways.
Facilitate ongoing communication with students, parents, and staff regarding registration, enrollment, graduation requirements, course offerings, testing, and academic support.
Communicate information through webinars, newsletters, email, phone, websites, and guidance documents.
Consult and collaborate with students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community stakeholders to address student needs and develop support plans.
Provide families with current information and resources related to academic planning, CCMR readiness, college and career planning, and available support services.
Coordinate study skills support, advisory activities, tutoring resources, and referrals to community programs and services.
Support effective communication between families, teachers, specialists, and administrators.
Offer individual and group counseling related to academic planning, decision-making, and personal adjustment needs.
Deliver a developmental guidance curriculum in a virtual format addressing: Academic success skills, Career exploration, Social-emotional development.
Provide responsive counseling services for students experiencing academic, behavioral, or personal challenges.
Identify and support students in crisis and coordinate appropriate interventions and referrals.
Maintain accurate, confidential, and timely student records in compliance with state and university requirements.
Manage student data, transcripts, schedules, test scores, and cumulative records using available campus systems (i.e., Skyward SIS, Box, and spreadsheets).
Obtain, interpret, and communicate student assessment and academic performance data.
Monitor and support College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) indicators for high school students.
Participate in top ten percent ranking processes and state reporting requirements.
Coordinate support services through systematic monitoring of student progress and individual student needs.
Assist with implementation of state testing, G/T, 504, and special education services.
Collaborate with curriculum and administrative teams to support campus and district improvement goals.
Participate in data reporting, course planning, marketing, and collaborative activities supporting UTHS programs and services.
Assist in the implementation and evaluation of the school’s comprehensive counseling program.
Use campus and student data to identify needs and prioritize services.
Participate in campus improvement planning and decision-making processes.
Provide consultation and professional development to staff on student needs.
Collaborate with community agencies and higher education institutions.
Maintain compliance with TEA, FERPA, University of Texas, and local policies.
Support virtual learning success through engagement monitoring and intervention systems.

Benefits

Salaries that are highly competitive with the local ISD
Eligibility for annual merit-based permanent salary increases
Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
Paid sick time, and holidays
Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with employer matching funds
Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities
Tuition assistance
Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card