Bright Star Schools
Counselor Job Description
Job Description: Counselor
Reporting to: School Principal or another administrator as designated by the Principal
Status: Full Time, Exempt, 11-month
Bright Star Schools is a free, publicly funded and open enrollment non-profit organization with nine public charters in urban Los Angeles. Across all of our Bright Star sites, over 90% of our students are eligible for free and reduced lunch.
Our mission is to provide holistic, inclusive support for all students to achieve academic excellence and grow their unique talents so that they find joy in higher education, career, and life. Bright Star students will become leaders who act with integrity and champion equity to enrich our communities and the world. The framework to our success is our core operating principles, which are Integridad, Ubuntu, Kohyang (고향), and Growth.
Our educators join a family that is passionate and committed to developing all students to become well-rounded citizens. We offer small class sizes, comprehensive coordinator support, and numerous collaboration opportunities across the organization and within school sites. We strongly believe in listening to all stakeholders’ voices, and we work to increase teaching practice and effectiveness through our data-driven and feedback-derived professional development.
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Bright Star Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, pregnancy, or veteran status.
Role Summary
Our students and their families must have a designated advocate on campus. This role will be that of a School Counselor, someone who supports students through the lens of academics and social-emotional learning, and assists in communication between students and their teachers, administrators, parents, and prospective supplemental and enrichment programs. The Counselor will be part of all student and family-facing functions for the Bright Star Schools Campus and will ensure the success of their assigned students while they’re at Bright Star.
Basic Components of the Job Description for the Counselor position include (but are not limited to):
Implement the ASCA National Model and counseling best practices.
Build strong relationships with students through mentoring, academic counseling, and social-emotional support.
Lead College and Career Readiness programming and related student supports.
Facilitate restorative justice practices within and beyond the classroom.
Support school culture by co-facilitating morning meetings, assemblies, student activities, and chaperoning events.
Provide student and family services, including parent education sessions, engagement events, community resources, referrals, and targeted family outreach.
What You’ll do
Academic Counseling & Direct Academic Support
Student Mentorship & Counseling
Social-emotional guidance and support
Appropriate identification of student's social and emotional needs
Provide resources and referrals as necessary
Necessary interventions, including individual and small-group and classroom lessons/counseling
Parent Liaison
Other Duties may include
Coordinate Parent Group activities
Develop Parent Education curriculum
Coordinate Student Activities
Supervision of students
Follow Bright Star Schools’ toileting policies and protocols if working with TK and Kinder students
What You’ll Bring
Required:
Master’s degree and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling
An understanding of early childhood education, or child and adolescent development is imperative
Strong oral and written communication skills including advocacy skills; fluency in Spanish and/or Korean highly desired
Ability to connect and build relationships with students and their families (Spanish/Korean required for 85% of our families)
Ability to facilitate connections with students and faculty, and to work with tracking systems (organizational skills required).
Preferred:
Experience working with at-promise youth
A proactive, self-starting, and motivating approach
Familiarity with facilitating Social Emotional Curriculum
Working knowledge of Aeries SIS
Cognitive & Behavioral Competencies
Must be able to analyze written, spoken, visual, and other sensory stimuli
Must have ability to understand and analyze written and spoken English
Must be able to cope effectively with stressful situations and time constraints
Must be able to make sound judgments based on available information
Must be able to engage in frequent student/parent/coworker contact
Must be able to remain calm in emergency situations
Must be able to perform effectively under pressure and tight deadlines
Must be able to maintain accuracy in tasks requiring meticulous attention to detail
Must have flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and work demands
Must be able to logically solve problems
Must be able to provide and follow detailed written and verbal instructions
Must be able to build and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues and students
Must demonstrate strong communication and interpersonal skills
Must demonstrate strong classroom management skills
Must have a passion for teaching and student success
Must demonstrate strong organizational Skills
Working Conditions/Work Environment
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is generally expected to work indoors in typical school and office environments. This position involves:
Occasional exposure to extreme or varying temperatures.
Occasional exposure to outdoor elements such as sun, precipitation and wind or wet/humid surroundings.
Occasional/ exposure to loud noise, fumes, smoke, dust.
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job.
Prolonged sitting/standing.
Frequent walking
Must be able to occasionally/frequently lift, carry push, and/or pull objects of not more than 20 pounds.
Must be able to frequently bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, climb, crawl, and/or squat
Frequent reaching and twisting, including reaching above shoulder height
Manual dexterity, and finger/wrist and hand repetitions are needed; frequent repetitive motion; frequent writing and typing; frequent grasping, holding and reaching.
Frequent computer use, including use of keyboard and mouse.
Speaking and hearing are essential to the communication needs of the position; constant hearing and speaking in person and on the phone, via remote video teleconferencing platforms.
Must be able to be physically present at the worksite and occasionally travel for meetings or conferences.
What We Offer:
Salary: BSS salary is based on experience.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Benefits: Health, dental, vision, CalSTRS retirement matching, life insurance, short-term disability, optional 403b plan, sick and vacation paid time off, and holidays.
Please note:
Effective January 1, 2025: Under Education Code section 44939.5, you must provide a complete list of all prior employment with any school district, county office of education, charter school, or state special school, including part-time and substitute roles. You can provide your complete prior employment history within the work experience section of the application. Failure to disclose this information may be considered dishonesty in the hiring process or during employment.
What You’ll do
Academic Counseling & Direct Academic Support
Student Mentorship & Counseling
Social-emotional guidance and support
Appropriate identification of student's social and emotional needs
Provide resources and referrals as necessary
Necessary interventions, including individual and small-group and classroom lessons/counseling
Parent Liaison
Other Duties may include
Coordinate Parent Group activities
Develop Parent Education curriculum
Coordinate Student Activities
Supervision of students
Follow Bright Star Schools’ toileting policies and protocols if working with TK and Kinder students
What You’ll Bring
Required:
Master’s degree and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling
An understanding of early childhood education, or child and adolescent development is imperative
Strong oral and written communication skills including advocacy skills; fluency in Spanish and/or Korean highly desired
Ability to connect and build relationships with students and their families (Spanish/Korean required for 85% of our families)
Ability to facilitate connections with students and faculty, and to work with tracking systems (organizational skills required).
Preferred:
Experience working with at-promise youth
A proactive, self-starting, and motivating approach
Familiarity with facilitating Social Emotional Curriculum
Working knowledge of Aeries SIS
Cognitive & Behavioral Competencies
Must be able to analyze written, spoken, visual, and other sensory stimuli
Must have ability to understand and analyze written and spoken English
Must be able to cope effectively with stressful situations and time constraints
Must be able to make sound judgments based on available information
Must be able to engage in frequent student/parent/coworker contact
Must be able to remain calm in emergency situations
Must be able to perform effectively under pressure and tight deadlines
Must be able to maintain accuracy in tasks requiring meticulous attention to detail
Must have flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and work demands
Must be able to logically solve problems
Must be able to provide and follow detailed written and verbal instructions
Must be able to build and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues and students
Must demonstrate strong communication and interpersonal skills
Must demonstrate strong classroom management skills
Must have a passion for teaching and student success
Must demonstrate strong organizational Skills
Working Conditions/Work Environment
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is generally expected to work indoors in typical school and office environments. This position involves:
Occasional exposure to extreme or varying temperatures.
Occasional exposure to outdoor elements such as sun, precipitation and wind or wet/humid surroundings.
Occasional/ exposure to loud noise, fumes, smoke, dust.
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job.
Prolonged sitting/standing.
Frequent walking
Must be able to occasionally/frequently lift, carry push, and/or pull objects of not more than 20 pounds.
Must be able to frequently bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, climb, crawl, and/or squat
Frequent reaching and twisting, including reaching above shoulder height
Manual dexterity, and finger/wrist and hand repetitions are needed; frequent repetitive motion; frequent writing and typing; frequent grasping, holding and reaching.
Frequent computer use, including use of keyboard and mouse.
Speaking and hearing are essential to the communication needs of the position; constant hearing and speaking in person and on the phone, via remote video teleconferencing platforms.
Must be able to be physically present at the worksite and occasionally travel for meetings or conferences.
