School Guidance Counselor (SY24-25, High School)

Location

Springfield, MA | United States

Job description

What You’ll Do

As a School Guidance Counselor at Veritas Prep High School, you’ll partner with teachers, leaders, and staff to ensure all of our students have the support they need to achieve, grow, and thrive in high school, college, and beyond! You’ll prepare students at each grade level for college, career and life readiness, provide college and career readiness counseling services, develop and facilitate small skill-building groups, and work with students to explore career and college pathways.

You’ll also

• Create and implement systems for student course and future planning, registration, transcripting, degree audits, transfers, eligibility, etc.
• Cultivate relationships with college partners and connect students to appropriate resources for academic and social emotional success
• Build and cultivate relationships with local businesses and other organizations to develop internship, shadowing, and other career exploration opportunities for students
• Support the Early College team and the ongoing college exploration and application process for students attending college after graduation
• Utilize career explorations assessments and tools to help students identify their interests and choose their pathway
• Plan and execute special events, guests, and experiences that help student explore college, career and life pathways
• Analyze student data to identify needs and challenges and provide resources and support
• Engage in learning about racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in education
• Collaborate with the Operations and Academic teams to leverage PowerSchool and other tools to track and report on attendance and grades and build systems and practices for timely and effective reporting formats and processes
• Collaborate with the Academics team to develop and continually refine academic policies with a focus on equity and removing barriers to accessing college and careers
• Lead the student course review and selection process and collaborate with the Operations and Academic teams to ensure all students are effectively scheduled in a timely and efficient manner
• Collaborate with the Early College team to continue the development and support teacher implementation of the Seminar course
• Develop Counseling Department systems and practices that anticipate our growth and emphasize smart innovation

• Facilitate student intake meetings and semester planning meetings,
• Lead implementation and use of the Naviance Course Planner
• Collaborate with Early College Liaisons to support individual students
• Plan and lead college tours, rep visits, and college fairs
• Manage and perform degree/credit audits
• Support family communication strategies
• Lead and provide support around College Board/Assessments
• Collaborate with middle school counselors to develop an effective guidance sequence for middle school students
• Manage independent studies

Requirements

What You'll Need (Qualifications)

• An unwavering belief that all students can achieve amazing things
• A passion for continuous growth as a counselor
• One to two years of school guidance counseling experience at the secondary level
• Proficiency in Spanish (preferred)
• A dedication to fighting racism in our educational institutions and in daily life and knowledge of the history of race and racism, as well as the systems of oppression our students face
• Degree in social work, school guidance counseling, or a related field
• Deep understanding of best practices in college and career readiness counseling
• Appropriate license issued by Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Work or Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health Professionals OR be eligible for a MA School Adjustment Counselor/School Social Worker license
• Current authorization to work in the United States – a candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment

Veritas Prep is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or qualified job applicants on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran or military status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, or any other status or condition protected by applicable law. This policy extends to, but is not limited to, recruitment, selection, compensation, benefits, promotion, training, and termination.

Benefits

About Veritas Prep

Veritas Prep is a public, tuition-free school in Springfield that prepares students in grades 5 through 12 to compete, achieve, and succeed in college and beyond. Veritas Prep accelerates every student’s path to college and career by helping them set a strong academic foundation in middle school and guaranteeing access to college classes and college prep support in our wall-to-wall early-college high school.

At Veritas Prep, we are not only breaking down barriers to college access but also providing the tools students need to persist through college and prepare for a successful career. Our middle school program has been serving students in Springfield since 2012 and is one of the top middle schools in Springfield. Our scholars are supported by skilled, dedicated, and diverse teachers and are challenged to achieve at high levels academically, socially, and emotionally, setting them up for success as they enter our high school.

Our early-college high school program, in partnership with STCC and Worcester State University, prepares students to earn high-impact college degrees, saving students up to two years’ time in college and thousands of dollars. Students can earn up to an associate degree for free, and the general studies associate degree from STCC means students enter as JUNIORS at any Massachusetts public college or university after high school graduation.

Students at Veritas Prep benefit from high academic standards and robust support, an exceptional learning environment, a diverse staff of high-quality educators, a strong commitment to social/emotional and practical skill development, and an inclusive, anti-racist community that values the identities and backgrounds of all students.

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