LISA North Middle/High College Counselor/HS Testing Coordinator

College Counselor Job Description

The College Guidance Counselor is responsible for guiding and supporting students in grades 8th–12th as they plan for college, careers, and academic success. Each counselor is responsible for managing a caseload of 150–200 students in grades 9–12. Responsibilities include the following:

Student Meetings

• Complete all required one-on-one meetings with students:
• • 8th Grade: 1 meeting during the second semester (minimum 20 minutes)
  • 9th Grade: 1 meeting during the second semester (minimum 20 minutes)
  • 10th Grade: 2 meetings per year (minimum 20 minutes each)
  • 11th Grade: 3 meetings per year (minimum 30 minutes each)
  • 12th Grade: 4 meetings per year (minimum 30 minutes each)

Counselors must include a parent or guardian in at least one one-on-one meeting with each senior during the second semester. This meeting can be online or in person. If the meeting is done after 4:15pm, “this can be counted as a home visit” if not “counselor is eligible for extra duty payment”.

Academic and Graduation Support

• Provide academic and college/career guidance to students in grades 8–12.
• Monitor the academic performance of struggling students, especially those at risk of not meeting graduation requirements.
• Ensure seniors are on track for graduation and notify parents about any issues related to graduation requirements or missed tasks.
• Help students course selections during the second semester. Give guidance regarding students' course plans.
• Assist students with their schedules especially during the first two weeks of each semester.

Community Service and Volunteering

• Support students in completing community service hour requirements.
Verify submitted hours and assist students in finding appropriate volunteer opportunities.

College Readiness and CCR Instruction

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  Teach a weekly minimum 1-hour College and Career Readiness (CCR) class to seniors.
• Teach a weekly 2–4 hour College and Career Development class to 8th graders. (The number of classes per week may vary depending on the number of 8th-grade sections at the school.)

• Provide seminar-style advising to 9th–11th grade students by visiting them quarterly for college counseling presentations.
• Assist seniors with college applications, scholarship opportunities, and financial aid (FAFSA, etc.).

College Visits and Presentations

• Invite and coordinate visits from college representatives.
• Organize college presentation events for seniors.
• Plan and attend in-state college visits for grades 9–12.
• • Must be available for day trips within Arkansas. (No extra duty pay is provided for this task. Possible college trips counselors require to organise are: UCA,ATU,UALR,Hendrix,A-State,Hardin, Lyon,UAPB, OBU,Henderson State, UofA Fayetteville etc.)
    

8th Grade Transition Support

• Conduct Student Success Plan (SSP) meetings with 8th grade students and their parents.
• Help plan high school coursework and set academic and college goals.

Parent Engagement

• Communicate with your students’ parents and update them about their child’s academic progress.
• Organize and host parent information nights, including:
• • FAFSA Night
  • Academic Planning Nights for 8th–11th Grade Families
    (No extra duty pay is provided for these events.)

ACT Test and Summer Support

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  Organize and lead up to 5-Saturday ACT Boot Camps for one semester. (Extra duty pay is available.)

• • Encourage students to prepare for the ACT and support efforts to improve the school's overall ACT score average.

• 
  Make phone calls to seniors during the summer to reduce summer melt and support college enrollment.

• • 
    Must be available for a minimum of 1 day during summer. (Extra duty pay is available.)

Student Engagement

• Plan and coordinate events—especially for seniors—to ensure they have a memorable and meaningful high school experience that encourages them to stay connected after graduation. These events may include, but are not limited to, Senior Sunrise, Senior Breakfast, Senior BBQ, Last Day of School celebrations, Seniors downtown walk & Lunch,College Signing Day and Graduation ceremonies. (No extra duty pay is provided for these events.)

School and District Goals

• Contribute to school and district goals, including FAFSA completion, college acceptances, Merit and Distinction graduation rates, ESSA targets, ACT goals and other related objectives.
• Support the school's retention goals by meeting with students and their families to discuss the school's offerings and how they benefit the student.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Data Tracking and Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of student meetings, college applications, scholarships received, and outcomes (acceptances, enrollments, etc.).
• Use data to analyze trends and report on student success metrics (e.g., FAFSA completion, college matriculation rates).

Collaboration with Staff and Faculty

• Work closely with teachers, advisors, and school leadership to support students’ academic and post-secondary planning.
• Provide briefings for faculty about college readiness trends, recommendation writing, and supporting student success.

Letters of Recommendation

• Write personalized letters of recommendation for students applying to colleges, scholarships, summer programs, and internships.

Support for Non-College Pathways

• Guide students interested in alternatives to college, such as vocational training, military enlistment, apprenticeships, or direct-to-work options.
Organize career exploration events or connect students with professionals or alumni in relevant fields. Invite parents, alumni or other community leaders for career talk events.

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Scholarships and Financial Aid Tracking

• Share regular scholarship information and updates with students and families.
Proactively identify students eligible for institutional or private scholarships and support them in the application process.

Technology Tools

• Use college counseling platforms ( Schoolinks) to manage college planning tasks and communication. Use eSchool to access student data, including transcripts, schedules, GPA, rankings, and more.
Help students and families use these platforms effectively.

Alumni Tracking and Engagement

• Assist in tracking post-secondary outcomes for alumni to inform school improvement and demonstrate long-term success.
Partner with the alumni office (if applicable) to involve recent graduates in events or panels.

Professional Expectations and Time Management

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  Counselors must create a weekly schedule in advance (by the prior week) and submit to ensure efficient planning and execution of responsibilities.
  
• Schedules should include major tasks such as student one-on-one meetings and major weekly tasks.