Elementary School Counselor

TITLE: School Counselor

REPORTS TO: Vice Principal & Director of Student Support Services

JOB FUNCTION: The School Counselor will be responsible for the following functions: school counseling services, character education, parent/family support, attendance and truancy intervention services, multi-tiered student support, one-to-one and group counseling, and certain external learning trips. The School Counselor will also play a significant role in shaping and sustaining the school’s distinctive culture and ensuring that the scholars internalize the school’s values and aspirations for academic excellence and global citizenship. He or she will also assist in providing cultural leadership to Urban Academy employees to oversee the implementation of certain aspects of school-wide systems and procedures as outlined in the Student / Parent Handbook.

The School Counselor will be a key member of the Urban Academy’s leadership team with responsibility for the following key functional areas:

Planning, Leadership & Management

• Serve as the point of contact for all student counseling needs
• Designing and executing new student orientation
• Ensuring that parents and families have access to resources to support their family in the following areas: health & wellness, education, workforce development, parenting skills
• Participate as a key member of certain Board of Trustees committees to help set organizational strategy
• Ensure substantial professional development opportunities for self and school staff
• Spearhead the constant improvement of processes and communication between parents and the Urban Academy
• Represent the Urban Academy as needed to resolve student issues with external parties, including parents/guardians, social service providers, and at times, school districts.

General Student Affairs

• Works with appropriate staff to ensure the accurate compilation of truancy and attendance reports and records.
• Work with teachers to coordinate external learning opportunities (field trips) to further support student exposure to educational and social adventures outside of the school building.
• Ensure that Urban Academy scholars meet high expectations for attendance and that families are informed and appropriately reminded, when necessary, of the school’s attendance policy.
• Researches, develops, and implements programs to improve student attendance and discipline.

Counseling Services

• Leads the schoolwide Character Education program
• Works in collaboration with Senior Administration to develop a counseling budget.
• Administers the coordination and conducts certain parent/teacher conferences related to attendance and discipline.
• Communicates daily with students, parents, and teachers regarding attendance and discipline matters.
• Ensure that student records relating to counseling services are organized and maintained in an efficient manner
• Develop an operational understanding of and coordinate with outside support agencies for student services.
• Reinforce and ensure that counseling services are providing one-on-one and group sessions for certain students based on certain code of conduct violations and other student needs

Student Services

• Ensure that Student Affairs reinforces and maintains the school’s culture of high academic and behavioral achievement by utilizing the Urban Academy learning philosophy that discipline is an opportunity for learning, growth, and community-building
• Works closely with the Dean of Culture and Student Success Advisor and teachers to ensure a successful student advisory program
• Supervises one Student Success Advisor

Behavioral Support Services

• Assists staff with behavior management plans for students with chronic discipline problems
• Regularly monitor and measure the impact of the school's relaxation and calmness program

Parent Engagement & Support

• Assist with school-wide and event supervision
• Design and implement community meetings and celebrations to help build a culture of joyfulness and inclusion with our parents and the Greater Pittsburgh community
• Work with parents, families, and caregivers to build and maintain strong relationships throughout the school year

SKILLS AND TRAITS

The School Counselor must demonstrate:

• Strong leadership and team-building skills
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Insistence on academic excellence and rigor at all times
• Alignment with the education philosophy and core beliefs of the Urban Academy
• A philosophy that discipline is an opportunity for learning, growth, and community-building
• Superb organizational, self-management, feedback, and engagement in a process of self-improvement
• Passion and commitment to urban education and our ultimate goal of closing the achievement gap

ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

• Serve as a member of the Urban Academy Administration Team
• Present at board meetings and interact with Board Members as needed
• Help develop short and long-term strategies for the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

Data-driven mindset

5 years teaching experience

Knowledge/experience with computers is required

3 years’ experience in management

Advanced organizational leadership skills

Excellent written, oral, and client-facing communication skills

Such alternatives to the above as the Board may deem appropriate and acceptable

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

To work as a School Counselor at Urban, an individual must be student-focused, possess a Master’s degree in School Counseling or a related field, and have an Elementary and Secondary School Counselor (PK-12) certification.

URBAN ACADEMY STATEMENT

Urban Academy will be a POWER model for urban primary education and provide an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, cultural energy, and broad educational access.

SALARY

Salary starting at $65,000 annually, negotiable commensurate with experience.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person