School Counselor, 2023-2024 School Year

School Summary

California Connections Academy is a network of tuition-free public online schools for students in grades K–12. The network of schools is operated by the nonprofit California Online Public Schools and currently includes six schools serving students in 32 counties in California. California Connections Academy schools are accredited by the Schools Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Position Summary and Responsibilities

Working from our Ripon or San Juan Capistrano offices, or from your own home office if located in the North Bay or Central California locations, the School Counselor will virtually assist students and parents/learning coaches with course selection, scheduling and will be the initial point of contact for student concerns that span multiple subject areas as well as non-academic issues. The School Counselor will become an expert on course and credit requirements and will work with the Manager of School Counseling to establish counseling processes for middle and high school students.

The School Counselor will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:

• Assume teaching and grading duties as necessary including teaching elective courses;
• Coordinate a team of middle and high school teachers to help identify students who are “at risk” or “in crisis”; Act as the main point of contact for these students and families, communicating regularly with them;
• Review student transcripts and the entry of credits into the online transcript system;
• Communicate with the Curriculum Team to ensure that curriculum offerings meet state requirements;
• Help students to research and understand their post-secondary career and educational options;
• Assist students and parents with the secondary school course selection process according to specific state credit and graduation requirements and student needs and interests. An integral part of this process is assisting students and parents to develop a Four Year Plan for meeting graduation requirements;
• Support professional development activities for teachers and school staff members;
• Work with school teams to identify and help families access school and community resources;
• Educate students and parents about college admissions requirements and financial aid;
• Keep abreast of all high school graduation requirements, including special requirements such as community service, and communicate this information to the High School Coordinator and to the principal;
• Advise students with issues related to dropping courses and changing schedules, seeking support as needed, while ensuring that the school’s course selection and drop policies are adhered to;
• Implement programs for students and families related to interpersonal adjustment issues;
• Implement efforts to secure complete and accurate records for Connections Academy students;
• Assist teachers when students enroll mid-semester, making sure that teachers receive guidance on integrating the students into their coursework, and ensuring that previous grades, credits, and evaluations are handled appropriately;
• Assist with student preparation of applications for college and jobs;
• Coordinate high school graduation ceremonies;
• Participate in the development of crisis prevention and management plans for the school and serve as a key member of the Student Support Team (SST);
• Report and refer critical incidents that jeopardize student well-being as obligated by law, administrative regulations, or ethical standards. Stay abreast of all state regulations relating to incident reporting and documentation;
• Implement special programs such as Advanced Placement support, SAT and ACT Preparation, and college entrance preparation;
• Oversee and maintain the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) for each student;
• Understand the requirements for and assist the principal to facilitate the administration of all high school testing, including exit exams, PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams;
• Advise students and families related to academics, career planning and graduation;
• Other duties as assigned.
• Work with the administrative assistants to obtain school records from the student’s previous school (where applicable) and forwarding student records when appropriate;
• Support families through the school withdrawal process, assisting with data collection regarding withdrawal;
• Follow procedures to ensure that Connections Academy transcripts are accurate and up-to-date;

Requirements

• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Demonstrated ability to work well in fast-paced environment
• Team player with demonstrated leadership skills
• Strong technology skills (especially with Microsoft Office products)
• Willingness to travel on occasion for marketing and state testing events (may require occasional overnight travel)
• Customer focused approach
• Must reside in the state of California
• High degree of flexibility
• California Counselor certification

California Connections Academy strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

This position ranges from $61,743.50 - $83,038.14 based on relevant education and experience.

Want to know more? Please watch our new On Demand Teacher Information Session and join us for a Q&A session held every other Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. We hope to see you there!