Southeastern Preparatory Academy (SEPA)
2026–2027 School Year | Orlando, Florida
Southeastern Preparatory Academy is seeking a highly organized, knowledgeable, energetic, and compassionate Guidance Counselor / Dean of Students to serve as a key member of our school leadership team.
This position requires much more than traditional guidance counseling. The successful candidate must have strong, practical knowledge of college readiness, NCAA eligibility, college scholarships, standardized testing, graduation planning, and postsecondary admissions.
Because SEPA serves student-athletes and students from the United States and abroad, experience evaluating international academic records and supporting international students is a significant advantage.
Position Overview
The Guidance Counselor / Dean of Students will provide comprehensive academic, college, career, behavioral, social-emotional, and student-support services.
The individual selected must be able to balance:
- College and career readiness
- NCAA eligibility and student-athlete academic planning
- Scholarships and financial-aid guidance
- SAT, ACT, CLT, PSAT, and other college entrance testing
- Graduation tracking and course planning
- Student discipline and behavioral intervention
- ESE, IEP, and 504 services
- MTSS/RTI intervention systems
- Student wellness and crisis support
The ideal candidate will be firm but compassionate, able to build meaningful relationships while maintaining high standards for academic performance, behavior, responsibility, and accountability.
Essential College Readiness Expertise
Candidates must be knowledgeable and experienced in the following areas:
College Admissions and Academic Planning
- Developing four-year academic and graduation plans
- Advising students on appropriate high school courses
- Reviewing transcripts and monitoring graduation requirements
- Guiding students through college research, applications, essays, and admissions deadlines
- Assisting with Common App and institutional application processes
- Supporting students with college selection and postsecondary planning
- Understanding Advanced Placement, dual enrollment, honors courses, and college-preparatory pathways
- Helping students build competitive academic and extracurricular profiles
NCAA Eligibility and Student-Athlete Support
The candidate must have strong knowledge of:
- NCAA Eligibility Center registration
- NCAA Division I and Division II initial-eligibility requirements
- NCAA core-course requirements
- Approved versus non-approved high school courses
- Core-course GPA calculations
- Amateurism certification
- Transcript submission requirements
- Student-athlete eligibility timelines
- Communication with coaches, families, colleges, and athletic departments
- Supporting international student-athletes through the NCAA eligibility process
Knowledge of NAIA eligibility requirements is also strongly preferred.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
The candidate must be prepared to:
- Identify local, state, national, institutional, academic, and athletic scholarship opportunities
- Maintain and communicate scholarship deadlines
- Assist students with scholarship applications and essays
- Educate families about FAFSA, financial aid, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities
- Provide guidance regarding Florida Bright Futures eligibility and requirements
- Help students understand scholarship renewal and academic-progress expectations
- Coordinate scholarship workshops and financial-aid information sessions
College Entrance Testing and Test Preparation
The candidate should be knowledgeable about:
- SAT, ACT, CLT, PSAT/NMSQT, AP, and college placement testing
- Test registration procedures and deadlines
- Testing accommodations
- Score interpretation and college score-reporting procedures
- Developing schoolwide test-preparation plans
- Providing or coordinating effective test-preparation instruction
- Helping students establish individualized testing timelines and improvement goals
- Analyzing testing data and identifying areas for intervention
Experience coordinating standardized testing is strongly preferred.
International Academic Knowledge
Experience with international students and academic records is a major advantage, including:
- Reviewing international transcripts and report cards
- Understanding international grading systems and course structures
- Assisting with international credit evaluation and course placement
- Creating graduation plans for students transferring from other countries
- Supporting international students as they transition into the American educational system
- Understanding the academic needs of F-1 students
- Coordinating with credential-evaluation agencies when necessary
- Assisting international student-athletes with college and NCAA preparation
Guidance and Student Counseling Responsibilities
- Develop individualized academic, behavioral, social, and emotional support plans
- Provide individual and group counseling
- Help students establish academic, personal, and postsecondary goals
- Teach self-advocacy, responsibility, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills
- Provide academic advising and course-selection support
- Communicate student progress and concerns to families
- Maintain confidential and accurate counseling records
Dean of Students and Discipline Responsibilities
- Lead student discipline and behavioral-intervention systems
- Apply school policies consistently and fairly
- Implement progressive and restorative disciplinary practices
- Conduct student conferences and behavioral investigations
- Support conflict resolution and behavior-management strategies
- Communicate with parents regarding disciplinary concerns
- Maintain accurate disciplinary records and documentation
- Promote a school culture based on respect, accountability, leadership, and personal responsibility
ESE and Student Support Services
- Coordinate and monitor IEPs, 504 Plans, accommodations, and progress monitoring
- Help ensure compliance with applicable student-support requirements
- Collaborate with teachers to implement accommodations
- Support students with diverse academic and learning needs
- Maintain accurate documentation and confidential student records
- Coordinate meetings with teachers, families, and service providers
MTSS and Intervention Responsibilities
- Lead MTSS/RTI processes for students requiring Tier 2 or Tier 3 support
- Analyze academic, attendance, behavioral, and testing data
- Identify students requiring intervention
- Develop and monitor intervention plans
- Facilitate meetings with teachers, administrators, students, and families
- Document student progress and adjust interventions when necessary
Crisis and Mental Health Support
- Provide immediate crisis intervention when necessary
- Support students experiencing emotional, behavioral, or mental-health challenges
- Follow school safety and mandatory-reporting procedures
- Coordinate with parents, community agencies, child-welfare organizations, and outside providers
- Help protect student safety, privacy, and emotional well-being
Collaboration and School Leadership
- Work closely with the principal, faculty, coaches, parents, and school leadership
- Communicate clearly and professionally with families
- Partner with teachers to improve academic achievement, engagement, and student behavior
- Conduct college-readiness, NCAA, scholarship, and financial-aid workshops
- Support schoolwide testing and academic initiatives
- Promote cultural understanding and inclusion
- Participate in professional development and school events
- Contribute to a structured, welcoming, and college-focused school culture
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in school counseling, educational leadership, psychology, social work, exceptional student education, education, or a related field
- Demonstrated knowledge of college admissions and readiness planning
- Strong knowledge of NCAA eligibility and student-athlete academic requirements
- Knowledge of scholarships, financial aid, and Florida Bright Futures
- Knowledge of SAT, ACT, CLT, PSAT, and college entrance testing
- Experience with transcript review, graduation tracking, and academic course planning
- Strong organizational, communication, documentation, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to balance student support with firm and consistent accountability
- Ability to work effectively with students, parents, teachers, coaches, and administrators
Preferred Qualifications
- School counseling certification or relevant professional credential
- Experience serving as a guidance counselor, college counselor, dean, or student-support leader
- Experience with NCAA and NAIA eligibility processes
- Experience coordinating standardized testing and test-preparation programs
- Experience with ESE, IEP, 504, and MTSS/RTI systems
- Experience evaluating international transcripts and academic credentials
- Experience working with international students and student-athletes
- Previous classroom teaching experience
Ideal Candidate
We are seeking someone who is:
- Strong, confident, and solution-oriented
- Firm, fair, approachable, and compassionate
- Highly organized and attentive to deadlines
- An expert in college readiness and student-athlete eligibility
- Knowledgeable about scholarships and financial aid
- Capable of leading college test-preparation initiatives
- Skilled in transcript evaluation and graduation planning
- Experienced in conflict resolution and behavioral management
- An excellent communicator with students, families, faculty, and coaches
- Passionate about helping students gain admission to college and secure scholarship opportunities
This position requires a leader who can nurture, guide, motivate, and advocate for students while holding them accountable for their academic progress, conduct, and future goals.
Benefits
- Paid time off
- Opportunity to serve in a growing college-preparatory and athletic school community
- Meaningful leadership role supporting domestic and international students
Work Location: In person
School Year: 2026–2027
To Apply
Please submit a résumé and cover letter explaining your experience with:
- College admissions and readiness
- NCAA eligibility
- Scholarships and financial aid
- SAT/ACT/CLT preparation
- Transcript evaluation and graduation planning
- International students or international academic records, if applicable
Send application materials to:
Roselita Victor, Principal
[email protected]
SEPA — Where Academic Excellence Meets Athletic Achievement
Pay: $50,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
