Professional School Counselor - Iowa Connections Academy

Connections Academy•Anita, IA

33d•Hybrid

About The Position

Working from your home in Iowa or a hybrid with our main office in Anita, Iowa, the Professional School Counselor will virtually assist students and parents/learning coaches with course selection, and scheduling and will be a key point of contact for student concerns that span multiple subject areas as well as non-academic issues. The Professional School Counselor will become an expert on course and credit requirements and will collaborate with stakeholders to establish and implement counseling processes for IACA students. The Professional School Counselor will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:

Requirements

Must possess, or be willing to acquire conditional licensure through the state of Iowa for any of the following in order to be properly licensed at the elementary and secondary levels: Professional School Counselor (5-12) Secondary School Counselor (5-12)
Excellent communication skills, both oral (verbal and non-verbal) and written
Strong technology skills (especially with Google Suite & Microsoft products)
Perpetual customer-focused lens regarding "all things work"
Ongoing, student-centered analysis of data
Development & implementation of evidence-informed strategies and interventions
Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
A high degree of flexibility
Team player with demonstrated leadership skills
Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment
Unconditional positive regard for all others
Strong skills associated with personal emotional regulation and "EQ: Emotional Quotient"
Willingness to travel on occasion for marketing, professional development, and/or state testing events (may require occasional overnight travel)
Must be able to use a personal electronic device and email address for 2-step authentication

Nice To Haves

High School-level Postsecondary School Counseling experience preferred

Responsibilities

Advise students and families related to academics, career planning, and graduation
Keep abreast of all high school graduation requirements, including special requirements such as completion of a CPR course, and communicate this information to the Director of Student Services and other school Administrators
Assist students and parents with the school course selection process, according to specific state credit and graduation requirements along with student needs and interests. An integral part of this process is assisting students and parents to develop a Four-Year Plan for meeting graduation requirements
Offer guidance to students with issues related to withdrawing from courses, changing schedules, and seeking support as needed, while ensuring that the school's course selection and withdrawal policies are adhered to
Contribute to the development and implementation of a K-12 comprehensive postsecondary exploration and planning annual framework
Help students to research and understand their post-secondary career and educational options
Review student transcripts and the entry of credits into the online transcript system
Follow procedures to ensure that Connections Academy transcripts are accurate and up to date
Work with the Administrative Assistants to obtain school records from the student's previous school (where applicable) and forward student records when appropriate
Refine and develop asynchronous and synchronous referral processes and services for students and families related to social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs
Collaborate with school teams to identify and help families access school and community resources
Participate in the development of crisis prevention and management plans for the school and serve as a key member of the Student Support Team (SST)
Collaborate with the broader Student Services Team to develop and implement practices that help accurately identify students who are "at risk" or "in crisis"; Act as a main point of contact for these students and families, communicating & supporting them regularly
Contribute to and maintain the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) for each student (as assigned)
Partner with IACA Administrative Assistants to implement standard operating procedures and secure complete and accurate records for Connections Academy students
Support families through the school withdrawal process, assisting with data collection regarding withdrawal
Report and refer to critical incidents that jeopardize student well-being as obligated by law, administrative regulations, or ethical standards. Stay abreast of all state regulations relating to incident reporting and documentation
Assist teachers when students enroll mid-semester, making sure that teachers receive guidance on integrating the students into their coursework, and ensuring that previous grades, credits, and evaluations are handled appropriately
Review and monitor that curriculum offerings meet state requirements
Implement special programs such as Advanced Placement support, SAT and ACT Preparation, NCAA preparative and planning support, and college entrance preparation
Understand the requirements for and assist Administration in planning for the administration of all Annual Yearly Progress testing, along with PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams
Assist with student preparation of applications for postsecondary & and vocational education
Educate students and parents about college admissions requirements and financial aid
Support professional development activities for teachers and school staff members
Assume teaching and grading duties as assigned
Collaborate with other stakeholders to plan and implement high school graduation ceremonies
Serve as a Section 504 Coordinator
Other duties as assigned