College Counselor

The Rock Academy•San Diego, CA

About The Position

As College Counselor at the Rock Academy, you will guide 7-12 students through a comprehensive academic advisement program beginning in the spring of their 7th-grade year and culminating in the college search process during their senior year. The advisement program includes but is not limited to meeting regularly with parents and students to develop a knowledgeable working relationship with them; providing counseling in the course selection and 4-year planning process; working in collaboration with parents, teachers, and administrators to support a student's academic success; helping students research colleges and determine college lists; navigating standardized testing and financial aid processes; and helping each student as they craft authentic and accurate college applications. The college counselor will contribute to all aspects of the program, such as giving presentations, conducting workshops and events, and constantly engaging in professional development to grow their expertise in the field. Serving as a visible and vital member of the High School team, they will be responsible for providing expert guidance while developing meaningful and authentic partnerships with many constituencies, including faculty/staff, students, parents/guardians, and college admissions professionals.

Requirements

Advanced degree of MA or higher (educational administration or counseling)
A minimum of five years of experience in either college counseling, college admissions, or High School administration is required
An unequivocal enthusiasm for working with adolescents and supporting them in all facets of their lives
Ability to communicate effectively with students, parents, faculty, staff, and administrators, including strong writing skills
Strong work ethic, interpersonal skills, and a high level of ethics and integrity
High emotional intelligence
Ability to function and collaborate effectively as part of a team
Possess a high level of accountability and demonstrated ability to simultaneously manage numerous detailed tasks, anticipate and meet deadlines, use time effectively, and problem-solve independently
A committed believer in Jesus Christ-Your life reflects a clear, consistent walk and relationship with Jesus. You are active in your church and display clear evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in your interactions with others. You demonstrate a deep level of integrity that fosters trust. Through an ever-growing Christian walk, you demonstrate composure and embrace new challenges as opportunities. Even through personal struggles in off-campus life, you continue to exhibit a refreshing life walk at school.
A servant leader - you partner well with both other SFC employees and parents. You are a leader who encourages collaboration, embraces various viewpoints, fosters leadership in others, and promotes a culture of trust and compassion. You obtain informal input and feedback on the implications and risks of decisions. You support the US team in fulfilling their responsibilities and fully considering and valuing their positions and recommendations. You encourage employees to challenge assumptions and provide thoughtful responses that foster strong working relationships and mutual respect. You navigate the complex relationships with parents, seeing each parent as a valuable and essential element in building a stronger school.
An expert verbal and written communicator, you can communicate clearly and succinctly in various settings, ensuring your messages are received accurately and have the desired effect. You communicate openly, proactively, and transparently. You strive to "read the room," demonstrate the skill of empathetic listening, and provide candid feedback with a spirit of partnership.
A leader with high emotional intelligence: You are self-aware and seek to learn and refine your skillset. You can recognize your own emotions and regulate them. You can read the emotions of others and respond in a way that honors where the person is to support a positive interaction. You possess the ability to create and maintain strong relationships with students and adults, modeling diplomacy and tact.
A problem-solver and decision-maker - You take expedient action to resolve problems. You seek additional data and involve others as appropriate to identify alternatives and evaluate risks, considering the "downstream impact" of actions, decisions, or solutions on people, processes, systems, and infrastructure. You demonstrate sound judgment that reflects SFC's needs and priorities.
A strategic partner and project manager - You help identify areas of continual growth and offer suggestions for improvement. You lead projects from planning to execution and then to post-execution evaluation. As a project is being prepared, you show skills of decision quality, intellectual horsepower, embracing ambiguity, milestone setting, and effective planning. As a project is executed, you show priority setting, delegation, negotiation, and team-building skills. You are flexible to ever-changing circumstances. After a project is completed, you show the ability to evaluate the results with humility and interpersonal savvy. You demonstrate a willingness and interest to innovate and develop new ways of thinking; you take initiative for the betterment of the school.

Responsibilities

Establish strong relationships with students and parents for college counseling and guidance regarding further academic pursuits
Develop a 4-year plan for each assigned individual, including potential courses to be taken, summer internships, or program opportunities
Get to know each student as an individual to fully support them through their High School experience and be prepared to write an authentic letter of recommendation based on personal knowledge during the college application process
Guide students and their parents/guardians through all aspects of the college selection, application, and admissions process
Assist/train faculty members in writing letters of recommendation
Design programs and workshops for students and families
Conduct outreach and develop relationships with colleges, universities, and other professional organizations
Advise students on academic course selection
Guide students and their parents/guardians through all aspects of the college search and college and financial aid application processes
Work with seniors to create appropriate college application lists
Assist students in scholarship and special opportunity applications
Utilize necessary technology/programs, including Google Suite, FACTS, Naviance, and other college counseling- or education-related software
Support seniors with essay writing and applications
Contribute to program creation, planning, and execution, such as workshops, events, and presentations
Contribute to the writing and crafting of print and online communication resources
Actively pursue professional growth in the field, such as attending and presenting at local, regional, and national conferences
Continually grow familiarity and expertise with colleges and programs by attending rep visits, counselor programs, counselor fly-ins, and visiting campuses
Facilitate programs that bring college admissions officers on campus regularly
As part of the College Counseling team, implement and administer standardized testing for the High School
Contribute to seeking and implementing ways to grow and improve the best practices of the college counseling program
Perform other duties as appropriate