KairosPDX is a non-profit organization focused on delivering excellent, equitable education to underserved children, their families and their communities. Our mission is to eliminate the prolific racial achievement and opportunity gaps by cultivating, confident, creative, compassionate, leaders.
We do this through an organizational approach that includes our Learning Academy, Community
Relations, Government Affairs, and Training Academy. Please visit www.kairospdx.org.
Working at KairosPDX
KairosPDX is currently seeking candidates for a full-time, School Counselor position starting Summer 2026. Persons of color and members of other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
KairosPDX launched our flagship program, our Learning Academy, a public charter school sponsored by Portland Public Schools, located on N. Gantenbein Avenue in Portland in 2014. Our educational model is inquiry-based. Our curriculum approach is a culturally-responsive, workshop model that infuses mindfulness, restorative practice, studio art, STEM, music and fitness in our teaching.
KairosPDX launched our Training Academy in 2021. KairosPDX Training Academy is focused on training current leaders across multiple sectors on how to lead in an equity movement that is grounded in transformational change and rooted in a framework of belonging and the neuroscience of love. We provide training and professional development around rehumanization practices and protocols for administrators, educators, early childhood professionals, organizations, and businesses the tools to do the work in equity that KairosPDX puts into practice daily.
The Early Learning Academy, which opened in 2022 as a pilot site for Preschool for All, is designed to affirm and celebrate Black identity in young children and their families. It is grounded in the belief that culturally-specific, early learning experiences expand opportunities for children to actively engage in creating their own lives and to contribute fully to the quality of the world around them. We value the creativity, interests, ideas and questions of the children and adults at our school. We practice listening, observing, inquiring, being attentive, and reflecting together with children and families. We value the role of the arts and sciences as languages for thinking, expressing ideas, communicating who we are, and telling the stories of those we belong to – past and present.
Kairos is Greek for a special moment in time and we believe we are creating this time and space for children and families, making KairosPDX a very special place to work. We are committed to the core values of Respect, Responsibility, Excellence, Honesty, and Service. We value data, reflection, feedback and continuous improvement as we work together on behalf of our children and families. Our expectation is that staff at KairosPDX are invested in our mission and participate in creating structures, developing school culture and communicating our work to families and the larger community. Staff work together to support the whole child – academically, socially, emotionally and culturally, using published curriculum, current research and children’s own interests to build their curriculums. KairosPDX values data, reflection, feedback and continuous improvement as we work together on behalf of our children and families.
Overall Staff Responsibilities:
Share responsibility with a team of colleagues and parents to honor the mission:
- To eliminate the prolific racial achievement and opportunity gaps by cultivating confident, creative and compassionate leaders;
- Practice the values of KairosPDX in professional conduct and daily interactions:
- respect, responsibility, honesty, excellence and service to community
- Incorporate the beliefs of KairosPDX in all approaches and instruction
- Every child is uniquely capable, innately curious and inherently creative,
- Character and agency are essential to achievement and are developed through relationship and service to others,
- A multi- cultural context delivers a strong sense of self and is a requirement for participation in our global society,
- Children must be supported in the context of their families;
- Support multicultural practice, instructional and inquiry based approaches that are:
- Actively anti-racist – confronting bias in all of its forms,
- Education for social justice – acknowledging history and studying the present to make informed decisions regarding a more equitable future,
- Pervasive – Examining practices in all levels of school culture and organization,
- Personal –Beginning with the necessary consideration of self as a cultural being,
- Critical Pedagogy – Pursuing multiple perspectives, anticipating contradictions and challenging assumptions,
- Empowering – Providing children the ego strength to challenge racist societal views,
- Helping children think deeply about themselves and others.
Core Position Responsibilities:
- Support the social- emotional growth of students, staff and families at KairosPDX through:
- Researching and implementing Trauma Informed tools, practices and mindsets;
- Collaborating with classroom teachers to implement strategies and develop school wide “mindful practice”;
- Planning and preparing an environment supporting the non-academic needs of children, staff and families;
- Collaborating regularly with the PPS Sped team on specific instruction and strategies for children on IEPs;
- Developing social- emotional goals for general education children demonstrating particular social-emotional needs;
- Assessing for progress toward student goals, documenting and maintaining records;
- Researching and implementing curriculum aligned with school mission and student needs;
- “Pushing in” to support student needs that manifest in the classroom environment;
- “Pulling out” to practice specific skills;
- Communicating regularly with the student support team to cultivate consistency in our approach to behavior support;
- Documenting student support strategies and outcomes;
- Communicating regularly with staff regarding specific student needs and current social-emotional planning;
- Collaborating with classroom teachers regarding communication with families concerning their child’s social emotional needs; and
- Collaborating with the Family Connections coordinator to serve as a connection point for outside services supporting family systems (ie.Trillium)
- Work with individual students identified as in need of Tier 3 C. I. intervention
- Work with groups of students identified as in need of Tier 2 C.I. intervention
- Collaborate with school leadership to craft mission consistent systems, strategies and language for cultivating behavior support/change through Cultural Identity and mentoring work
- Collaborate with school counselor and behavior support team to identify students in need of tier 2 and tier 3 Cultural Identity (C.I.) intervention
- Ensure the development and implementation of accommodations and student intervention plans (Safety, 504) for identified students and families.
- Manage workflow and perform multiple complex and responsible activities simultaneously with constantly changing priorities and deadlines
- Work with a team of colleagues and families to provide a nurturing and positive climate that encourages student responsibility and intrinsic motivation
- Participate in continuous improvement practices including observation, reflection and collaboration;
- Participate in professional development to facilitate growth of each student, staff member and the organization overall
Additional Responsibilities:
- Attend several KairosPDX staff and family events
- Participate in continuous improvement practices including observations, reflections and collaborations
- Participation in professional development; and
- Perform other related duties as needed and assigned
Required Qualifications:
- At least one- or two-years relevant experience working with children from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds
- Proper TSPC licensure to develop and deliver a comprehensive school counseling program, including current School Counseling Certification issued in the State of Oregon
- Knowledge of counseling theories, models and techniques for individual and group counseling with an emphasis on trauma-informed practice and mindfulness
- Strong communication and organization skills
- Ability to initiate and coordinate school-wide core counseling curriculum and counseling activities
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and demonstrate discretion, initiative and good judgment
- Willingness to learn about and adapt to KairosPDX culture
- Openness to learning and practicing a constructivist approach to teaching and learning
- Commitment to culturally relevant practices
- Commitment to professional reflection and ongoing collaboration
- Share KairosPDX’s stance that excellent public education is a civil right of all children and families
- Possess a passion for helping each child reach his or her social, emotional and academic potential including a commitment to differentiated instruction and ongoing assessment
Knowledge & Skills:
- High tolerance for ambiguity, changing work priorities and deadlines, and a willingness to take on responsibilities and to prioritize work on multiple projects;
- Highly detail-focused and results-oriented;
- Ability to communicate and interact effectively with multiple constituencies including families, parents, staff and students;
- Team-player attitude and strong customer-service orientation;
- Excellent organizational, planning, and implementation skills;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
- Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word;
- Demonstrated initiative, leadership, and tenacity;
- Willingness to learn about and adapt to KairosPDX culture;
- Commitment to culturally relevant practices;
- Commitment to professional reflection and ongoing collaboration;
- Current Food Handlers Card and CPR/First Aid Certificate required (cost paid by applicant);
- Ability to pass a criminal background check.
- Share KairosPDX’s stance that excellent public education is a civil right of all children and families;
- Experience working with diverse populations, specifically people of color; and
- Passion for KairosPDX’s mission.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree; Master’s, preferred;
- Valid TSPC license for the grade level(s) taught;
- Documentation of “Highly Qualified Teacher Status” under the No Child Left Behind Act;
- At least one or two years of experience teaching in an elementary classroom; three to five years of experience preferred;
- At least one or two years relevant experience working with children from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds;
- Demonstrated ability to manage a classroom;
- Training in early education and/or human development, preferred;
- Experience working with children ages 5 to 11, preferred;
- Training and/or experience with at least one special population such as special needs children, Talented and Gifted children, and/or English Language Learners, preferred.
Knowledge & Skills:
- High tolerance for ambiguity, changing work priorities and deadlines, and a willingness to take on responsibilities and to prioritize work on multiple projects;
- Highly detail-focused and results-oriented;
- Ability to communicate and interact effectively with multiple constituencies including families, parents, staff and students;
- Team-player attitude and strong customer-service orientation;
- Excellent organizational, planning, and implementation skills;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
- Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word;
- Demonstrated initiative, leadership, and tenacity;
- Willingness to learn about and adapt to KairosPDX culture;
- Commitment to culturally relevant practices;
- Commitment to professional reflection and ongoing collaboration;
- Current Food Handlers Card and CPR/First Aid Certificate required (cost paid by applicant);
- Ability to pass a criminal background check.
- Ability to adhere to Governors Vaccination Requirements for Teachers and School Staff, note this applies to all KairosPDX non-Instructional staff.
- Share KairosPDX’s stance that excellent public education is a civil right of all children and families;
- Experience working with diverse populations, specifically people of color; and
- Passion for KairosPDX’s mission.
Salary and Benefits:
- Salary Range: Dependent on qualifications, ranging from $58,000- $101,957.
- Benefits include: Up to nine weeks of building closure breaks, paid sick/personal leave days, paid holidays, participation in Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), employer contribution for health insurance, professional development opportunity.
KairosPDX is an equal opportunity employer. KairosPDX will not discriminate against any job application or employee on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, marital status, age, sexual orientation and/or gender identification.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $58,000.00 - $101,957.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Physical Setting:
Experience:
- working with children from diverse backgrounds : 2 years (Required)
- counseling theories with an emphasis on trauma-informed: 2 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- TSPC School Counseling Certification issued Oregon (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Portland, OR 97217 (Required)
Work Location: In person
