POSITION: Part-Time School Counselor
JOIN OUR TEAM!
At Charter Arts, creativity and community abound! Help us ensure that all of our students have access to a rigorous and engaging learning environment in a creative, inclusive, and collaborative arts high school.
VISION: To develop the next generation of collaborative artists and innovative thinkers who will impact the world with their unique vision and voice.
MISSION: Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts provides a unique environment that fosters a creative, academic approach to learning and a development of talent in the arts. Built upon passion, discipline and a commitment to excellence this integrated educational experience inspires all students to believe in themselves and what they can accomplish.
APPLY: Submit your cover letter, resume, three letters of recommendation, certification and clearances as one PDF document to [email protected]. Resumes will be accepted until the position is filled.
Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts (Charter Arts) is a non-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt corporation founded in 1998. Charter Arts is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider applicants for all positions regardless of race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital, status, veteran status, sexual orientation or any other legally protected status.
Job/Position Specific Requirements:
- PA School Counselor certificate required
- Delivers academic, career and social/emotional support in addition to crisis response services as aligned with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) School Counseling Professional Standards & Competencies, Career Education & Work (CEW) Standards outlined by the PA Department of Education (PDE), the mission statement of Charter Arts and the School Counseling Department of Charter Arts
- Experience with ASCA Standards and Competencies, Restorative Practices, SAP and trauma-informed care, or willingness to be trained
- Experience with Restorative Practices or conflict resolution is a plus
- Ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced environment
- Scrupulous attention to detail required
- Ability to analyze data to ensure continuous improvement
- A belief and understanding that collaboration and community are key elements in arts education
- Ability to be a creative problem solver who is not afraid to ask questions
- Candidates from diverse backgrounds are welcomed and encouraged to apply
- This position is a 12-month part-time position
JOB PURPOSE:
At Charter Arts, we know that relationships come before content and that students are more likely to grow, mature and achieve personal success (i.e., academic, career, social emotional) when they have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with supportive personnel, such as their school counselor. In addition to creating rapport with our students, school counselors build quality relationships with parents and guardians of the students in their respective caseloads. School counselors are expected to create safe spaces where students feel comfortable sharing their voices as equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility are organizational imperatives. Our school counselors maintain these same expectations as they support all students through the delivery of the School Counseling Curriculum Program of Charter Arts. School counselors plan for and facilitate community building through push-in classroom lessons and evening programming for parents and guardians. Additionally, school counselors challenge student thinking in new and innovative ways, while aligning their programming to state, core and artistic standards. The school counselor is an essential partner in the working relationships with their core and artistic colleagues, as well as our special education case managers, school psychologist and school social worker.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Domain 1: Planning & Preparation
- Demonstrates extensive knowledge of students on his or her caseload and provides comprehensive services that are individualized and developmentally appropriate for all students with the use of solution-focused counseling techniques and best practices
- Collaborates with other school counselors in order to review, modify and implement a school counseling program that focuses on the artistic, academic, career and social/emotional development of students
- Demonstrates extensive knowledge of evidence-based and programmatic resources that are available for students at the local, state and national level
- Conducts an annual needs-based assessment to gather meaningful data and collaborate with various stakeholders to analyze data to inform the content and process for effective service delivery and programming
- Individual planning sessions to help students evaluate their own abilities, interests, skills and achievements and goals
- Completes year-round student academic review audits for new and transfer students that will determine new student placement testing
- Holds new student meetings with all new students as an orientation to the school and the School Counseling Department
- Facilitate the course selection process and meet with students to address their individual questions and concerns
- Ensure that all students complete the required elements of Chapter 339 Career & College Readiness Portfolio in Naviance in collaboration with the Seminar Department
- Monitoring student progress through the use of PowerSchool and other technological resources
Domain 2: Environment
- Interacts with students and other members of the School Counseling Department in a highly respectful manner that reflects genuine warmth, care, concern and sensitivity to students individual needs
- Models respect and rapport for colleagues and and promotes programs that are equitable and inclusive for all students
- Has a high degree of engagement with stakeholders, with particular emphasis on students success in order to foster a school climate that promotes a culture for learning, growth and development
- Uses routines and procedures to help school counselors and their department operate effectively and efficiently to ensure completion of all responsibilities and functioning
- Responds to student behavior and needs in subtle, proactive, preventative and respectful ways, while holding students accountable
Domain 3: Service Delivery/System
- Communication that results in building community and trust in school counseling services
- Asks questions and uses high-quality discussion techniques that ensures adequate time for students to think, respond and engage in personal development, reflection and continuous improvement; invites students to self-reflect on their own self-growth and progress
- develops goals and criteria for students to determine whether or not personal goals are met or progress has been made, in conjunction with students, parents, teachers, administrators and school faculty
- Supports students with postsecondary planning through individual student meetings and large-group student classroom push-ins
- Actively solicits and provides feedback from various stakeholders to inform continuous improvement efforts and is flexible in providing services to students, as necessary, making adjustments when needed
- Delivers and collects senior exit/graduation surveys through Naviance, Google Forms or other survey programs
- Proctors career-related standardized tests (i.e., PSAT, AP Exams)
- Provides expert postsecondary presentations to students and parents and guardians regarding the college and career search and application process, scholarship opportunities and financial aid webinars
- Participates on the Student Support Team (SST) to maximize support for students utilizing internal resources (e.g., Title I, ChildFind) in order to identify students needing additional Tier 2 and 3 supports
- Collaborates with the school social worker to provide students and families with referral services (e.g., outpatient therapeutic services) and to identify homeless and displaced students (i.e., McKinney-Vento Act)
- Assist the school social worker and school psychologist in screening at risk students that may result in further risk assessment and monitoring, and school safety plans
- Assists school administration in peer conflict resolution, crisis response and parent-teacher conferences
- Monitors and assists students with special needs (i.e., IEPs, Chapter 15/Section 504 Service Agreements)
- Communicates out-of-school medical and mental health hospitalizations with the School Counseling Department, attendance coordinator, administrators, nurse and Special Education Department; coordinates work collection for students on extended absences or temporary medical excusals with parents and guardians, teachers, special education case managers and external educational liaisons
- Monitor student mental and physical health needs by working with the 504 Coordinator in planning and implementing 504 accommodations and ensures communicating student 504 needs to teachers and families
- Serves as a student advocate
Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities
- Reflects on practice by demonstrating and recommending new and improved strategies, processes and procedures to improve services and outcomes for students
- Uses an approach to record keeping that is accurate, systematic and comprehensive
- Establishes home-to-school and school-to-home partnerships that enhances student achievement
- Seeks professional development opportunities that benefit themselves, the School Counseling Department and the school at large
- Proactively focuses on providing suggestions and solutions to improve the department, organization and support for all students schoolwide
- Works as an effective team member with all school personnel and closely collaborates with the Special Education Department and school administration to ensure support for all students, as necessary
- Serves as an academic reviewer during Charter Arts’ annual audition process
- Updates necessary school personnel (i.e., school administration, Chair of the School Counseling Department, school psychologist, school social worker, attendance coordinator, nurse) regarding student issues, conflicts, concerns that involve, but are not limited to, teaching staff, academic integrity, schoolwide health and safety, and parents and guardians
- Works with school counselors, school social worker, school psychologist, nurse and administrators when Safe2Say reports are made
- Serves as a member of the Student Assistance Program (SAP) team–will be SAP trained, if necessary
- Other duties as assigned
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and ability required.
- Master’s degree in School Counseling from an accredited institution
- Ability to establish and maintain positive, cooperative and effective working relationships with others
- Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
- Ability to follow written and verbal directions using correct grammar, sentence structure and spelling
- Ability to interpret, analyze and problem-solve both written and verbal communications
- Ability to use computers and other technology, including Student Information Systems (i.e., PowerSchool)
- Must have and maintain high expectations for self and all students and team members
- Demonstrates creativity and leadership
- Ability to multitask and work in a fast paced environment
- Ability to problem solve and prioritize emergent situations
- Knowledge and implementation of relevant technology
- Must appropriately handle confidential information
- Perform all other related work delegated or required to accomplish the objectives of the total school counseling program
Physical Qualifications
This list covers the most significant essential and marginal functions but does not exclude other occasional responsibilities and accountabilities, the inclusion of which would be in conformity with the major purpose of this job:
- Ability to operate office and classroom equipment
- Ability to sit, walk and stand, and drive
- Ability to lift objects of weight from 15 to 30 pounds
Work Location: In person
