School Counselor - Arkansas Connections Academy

Connections Academy•Bentonville, AR

16h•Onsite

About The Position

Arkansas Connections Academy (ARCA) is a tuition-free, virtual public charter school serving students in grades K-12 statewide. ARCA is authorized by the Arkansas Charter Authorizing Panel and the State Board of Education, and is governed by an independent Board of Directors. The school contracts with Connections Education to provide its educational program and other services. Connections Academy, a division of Connections Education, is accredited by AdvancED. Arkansas Connections Academy strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. Position Summary and Responsibilities: Working from the office in Bentonville, Arkansas, the High School Counselor will assist students and parents/learning coaches with course selection, scheduling and will be the initial point of contact for student concerns that span multiple subject areas as well as non-academic issues. The High School Counselor will become an expert on course and credit requirements and will work with the Manager of Counseling Services to establish counseling processes for middle and high school students. The High School Counselor will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:

Requirements

Must reside within the state of Arkansas or live 300 miles from Bentonville, AR
Arkansas certification in School Counseling
Strong technology skills (especially with Microsoft Office products)
Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
Customer focused approach
Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
High degree of flexibility
Team player with demonstrated leadership skills
Demonstrated ability to work well in fast-paced environment
Willingness to travel on occasion for marketing and state testing events (may require occasional overnight travel)
Must be able to use a personal electronic device and an email address for two-step authentication.

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 community service, and communicate this information to the High School Coordinator and to the principal
Assist students and parents with the secondary school course selection process according to specific state credit and graduation requirements and 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
Advise students with issues related to dropping courses and changing schedules, seeking support as needed, while ensuring that the school’s course selection and drop policies are adhered to
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 forwarding student records when appropriate
Implement programs for students and families related to interpersonal adjustment issues
Work 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)
Coordinate a team of middle and high school teachers to help identify students who are “at risk” or “in crisis”
Act as the main point of contact for these students and families, communicating regularly with them
Oversee and maintain the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) for each student
Implement efforts to 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 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
Communicate with the Curriculum Team to ensure that curriculum offerings meet state requirements
Implement special programs such as Advanced Placement support, SAT and ACT Preparation, and college entrance preparation
Understand the requirements for and assist the principal to facilitate the administration of all high school testing, including exit exams, PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams
Help students to research and understand their post-secondary career and educational options
Assist with student preparation of applications for college and jobs
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 necessary including teaching middle school elective courses
Coordinate high school graduation ceremonies
Other duties as assigned.