Assistant Manager of School Counseling - Florida Connections Academy

School Summary

Florida Connections Academy (FCA) is a tuition-free, online public charter school serving students in grades K-12. FCA is authorized by Hillsborough County Public Schools and is governed by an independent Board of Directors. The school is accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, the Northwest Accreditation Commission, and the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), which are accrediting divisions of Cognia.

Position Summary and Responsibilities

Working remotely within the state of Florida, the Assistant Manager of School Counseling will work in conjunction with the Manager of School Counseling and the School’s Leadership Team to help students, ensuring that each child successfully completes his/her instructional program. The Assistant Manager of School Counseling will virtually 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 Assistant Manager of School Counseling will become an expert on course and credit requirements and will work to establish counseling processes for middle and high school students.

The Assistant Manager of School Counseling will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:

• 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 a SAT and ACT Support, and college entrance support;
• Understand the requirements for high school testing, including graduation requirements, CLT, PSAT, SAT, ACT.
• 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;
• Participate in high school graduation ceremonies; and
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years school counseling and management/leadership experience.
• Florida Professional Teacher Certification in School Counseling.
• ESOL Endorsement or Certification preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Florida graduation requirements and school accountability framework.
• Technologically proficient (especially with Microsoft Office and Google products).
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Customer focused approach.
• High degree of flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced virtual environment.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team-based setting.
• Travel across the state is required for state testing administration, which may include overnight travel.
• Ability to work and manage a team remotely.
• Willingness to work some occasional evening hours as needed to support students and families.
• Must be able to use a personal electronic device and email address for two-step authentication.

Florida 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.