School Counselor | Guidance Counselor

Since its founding in 2010, Challenge Preparatory Charter School (“Challenge Prep”) has provided students and families with a successful K-8 program in Far Rockaway, Queens. Challenge Charter High School (“CCHS”) will offer a unique early college and career and technical education (“CCTE”) program to ensure that students graduate prepared to be successful in the college and/or career pathway of their choice. CCHS will provide an academically rigorous program that integrates content with real-world technical skills found in the following fields: Aviation, Culinary Arts, Health Sciences, and Hospitality. Through strategic collaborations with industry partners, students will have access to personalized academic and social-emotional learning sequences, authentic field experiences, career counseling, and college coursework. It is understood that we are one organization with multiple sites and it is expected that all members of the team collaborate to support all of our scholars.

Understanding the Role

The guidance counselor will report to the principal and/or his/her designee. The focus of the work will be to work with all constituencies of the school community to create an environment of social-emotional support for every student. The guidance counselor will oversee the mandated counseling schedule, program students individually to ensure they are on the appropriate path for future college and/or chosen career success, and work with the dean of culture and internship coordinator to create a solid internship and/or work program for all students. It is understood that we are one organization with multiple sites and it is expected that all members of the team collaborate to support all of our scholars.

Ongoing Specific Responsibilities

Because roles in small schools are varied and complex, serious consideration will be given to applicants who demonstrate in their resume and cover letter experience and/or willingness to commit to the school’s mission and core beliefs and will be responsible to:

• • Counsel students, individually and in groups, regarding academic readiness, discipline-related guidance issues, social and emotional development, substance abuse (if trained), conflict mediation, graduation requirements, and making appropriate referrals
  • Coordinate Youth Development and College and Career Readiness programs by working with teachers, administration, dean of culture, and Internship/CTE Coordinator to include: improvement of student attendance, special programs brought into school, creating Advisory Program curriculum, arranging for college visits, working with families individually to select suitable programs for college admission, assisting with registration for PSAT and SAT, registration and preparation for filing the FAFSA, preparation and mailing of college applications, and assist with the design of student schedules to insure fulfillment of all New York State graduation requirements
  • Collaborate with teachers and school-based support teams on developing and implementing behavior intervention plans to support the academic, social and emotional development of students, and collaborating with the dean of students on disciplinary decisions, understanding student behaviors, knowledge of discipline code and chancellor’s regulations regarding discipline.
  • Facilitate Child Study Team meetings to address teacher recommendations for individual students’ needs
  • Participate in regular faculty development and being involved in collaborating on the school’s guidance program
  • Maintain current student academic records and regularly communicating with students and families students’ academic progress towards meeting graduation requirements
  • Coordinate all aspects of Special Education services including compliance and attend all IEP conferences and meetings
  • Identify and make appropriate referrals to meet and support students’ academic, social, and/or mental health needs
  • Collaborate with internship/CTE coordinator develop and maintain partnerships with participating educational institutions, industry partners, and community-based organizations to support school initiatives including job shadowing, internships, and other academic opportunities

Who We Seek

We will consider candidates who can demonstrate:

• • Evidence of success in forming successful partnerships with community-based organizations and other organizations that offer social and emotional supports to students
  • Experience in creation of RTI program for general education and students with disabilities
  • Evidence of experience in coordinating all aspects of Special Education services including compliance, completion of annual reviews, and the formulation of a Child Study Team
  • Willing to coordinate Youth Development and College and Career Readiness program and ability to collaboratively assist writing curriculum for school-created Advisory program
  • Experience collaborating on an interdisciplinary grade level team with knowledge of both ELL/ESL standards and Special Education compliance requirements

Because we believe that all staff members play an important role in the education of our students, the school will offer opportunities for Guidance Counselors to assist with or participate in activities like:

• • After-school and/or Saturday tutoring, enrichment, sports, arts, and family programs
  • In-house school committees and/or special programs.
  • Inquiry work with teachers and other staff members and collaborative conversation among all staff members.
  • Formulate individualized special needs services for students with disabilities and ESL students
  • Create specialized programs for classes of students that require special services
  • Coordinate IEP teams which will work with all mandates and requirements

For Phase 1 of the process, in addition to the cover letter, resume, and interview, applicants must present three references including, if possible, one from a current supervisor. Other references might include a colleague with whom the applicant has collaborated, and/or a professional organization or staff development representative.

Selection Criteria:

Challenge Charter School will consider candidates who can demonstrate:

• • Willingness to carry out the above duties and responsibilities as well as evidence of successful counseling strategies regarding academic readiness, discipline-related guidance issues, social and emotional development, conflict mediation, crisis intervention, and willingness to offer leadership to staff around these areas
  • Knowledge of and experience with contemporary issues that affect adolescents living in high poverty communities and provide strategies to staff in promoting social and emotional competence throughout the building
  • Commitment to developing professional goals and objectives in collaboration with the administration that will monitor progress and assess effectiveness in enhancing student development and achievement
  • Success in working collaboratively with colleagues, parents/caregivers and partners
  • Ability to retrieve, organize, and report student data using chosen SIS

Minimum Qualifications

• • Licensed and certified Guidance Counselor with satisfactory ratings and attendance
  • Minimum of three (3) years of satisfactory guidance experience preferred
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate, both written and oral, effectively
  • Strong teamwork ethic

Work Year

This is a full-time position which begins in mid-August and goes through the end of June. All staff are expected to attend Confratute, a weeklong summer planning institute in mid-July at the University of Connecticut, which will offer an essential opportunity for staff to be involved in developing the school’s culture and instructional program.

When students enter HCZ Promise Academy Charter Schools, we make a promise to help each and every one get to and through college. Everything we give our students—from world-class instruction and exceptional extracurricular activities to social emotional support and healthy meals—is aimed at fulfilling that promise.

HCZ Promise Academy is seeking a School Guidance Counselor. The Guidance Counselor develops and administers a comprehensive program that promotes and enhances academic, personal, social, and career development for students in their respective grade levels. They help students evaluate their abilities, interests, and talents to develop academic and career goals. The ideal candidate will bring a passion for the mission of HCZ Promise Academy, an understanding and respect for the culture of all residents of Harlem, and experience working in a school setting that fosters a love for children.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct evaluation sessions with the students, using interviews, counseling sessions, interest and aptitude assessment tests, and other methods to evaluate and advise students, guardians, parents, and teachers
• Counsel individuals to help them understand and overcome personal, social, and/or behavioral problems affecting their educational, physical, social and/or emotional situation
• Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at school or at home
• Help students prepare for their transition to the next grade level
• Consult with and serve as a resource for students, guardians, parents, and teachers regarding the developmental needs of students, including determining priorities for students and their resource needs
• Collaborate with school staff and administrators to ensure that students are academically on grade level
• Facilitate the integration of the guidance curriculum in the educational curricula
• Complete written reports as needed or as requested by Principal
• Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations
• Participate in the evaluation and revision of the school guidance program
• Attend meetings, conferences, and in-service trainings to keep abreast of best practices and professional trends
• Identify cases of domestic abuse or other family problems and encourage students, guardians or parents to seek additional assistance from HCZ staff and/or outside professionals
• Provide special services that teach students how to handle conflicts in their environment
• Conduct follow-up interviews with counselors to determine if their needs have been met
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualification, Skills and Knowledge Requirements

• Master’s degree in school counseling or related field
• 3+ years experience as a School Guidance Counselor
• A passion for the mission of the Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy Charter Schools
• Must have strong organizational and communication skills, verbal and written
• Ability to work with parents, students, faculty, support staff, external government representatives, as well as school community groups
• Understanding of different student maturity levels
• Ability to help students gain awareness of their interests and abilities and to help them manage their behavior and thinking processes
• Understanding of test construction and ability to interpret educational test data
• Knowledge of grade test targets
• Ability to evaluate a student transcripts
• Ability to plan, organize, and implement meetings involving a variety of topics and personnel