Student Life Counselor/Youth Development Educator

Reports to: Director of Student Life

Start Date: August 1, 2023

About SEED:

The mission of SEED Schools is to provide students with a rigorous, college preparatory, boarding school model that prepares them for success in college and careers.

The SEED School of Los Angeles County (SEED LA) opened Fall of 2022 as California’s first urban public college preparatory boarding school, and the fourth SEED school in the nation. Building a ninth-grade cohort each year, SEED LA will empower roughly 400 students in Grades 9-12 to achieve their full potential through our 24-hour learning environment. Our partnership with LA Metro provides a unique opportunity for students to advance their skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) while engaging in hands-on learning in the transportation field.

Our innovative model integrates a rigorous academic program with a nurturing boarding program that develops the whole child. This boarding school model provides a comprehensive solution to the challenges facing urban youth and serves as a prototype for expansion nationwide. All SEED students live on campus between Sunday evenings and Friday afternoons. Our model has proven successful: over 90 percent of SEED graduates have been accepted to four-year colleges and universities throughout the country and over 60 percent remain enrolled in college or have already earned college degrees.

The success of the SEED model has been showcased in media outlets and publications such as 60 Minutes, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and in the documentary film, Waiting for Superman. President Barack Obama has hailed SEED as “a true success story.

More information can be found on the school’s website: www.seedschoolla.org

Position Overview:

The SEED School of Los Angeles is seeking a Student Life Counselor / Youth Development Educator to join the student life team. In this role, the counselor’s primary responsibility will be to serve as the principal direct caregiver for students within an assigned dorm and to act as the primary advocate for the students in their care. The Student Life Counselor / Youth Development Educator will also create, establish and maintain a productive and interactive environment within the residence halls. In addition, this position is responsible for monitoring and supervising students during the main hours of the Student Life Program.

Serve as Student Life Counselor / Youth Development Educator helping to build and implement the SEED LA culture - establishing routines and structures to prepare students for college completion and beyond.

• Provide a structured learning environment during Student Life Programming
• Display appropriate role modeling
• Develop relevant programming to meet the needs of students
• Utilize active listening, pro-active teaching, corrective teaching, and self-awareness
• Make decisions based on the best interest of students
• Teach and model appropriate study skills (management of information, materials, and time)
• Actively listen to students’ thoughts, feelings, concerns, and problems and counseling when appropriate
• Manage student behavior in the house, residence hall, SEED community, and public
• Attend to students’ personal safety by being aware of student location, being aware of and attentive to warning signs of emotional distress, and supporting overall campus supervision
• Nurture each student entrusted to your care consistent with guidelines outlined in the Student Life Program
• Manage and maintain the house/residence halls
• Effectively utilize appropriate skills to prevent and/or de-escalate intense situations while maintaining the dignity and respect of the student
• Communicate with families regarding student’s progress, accomplishments, growth areas, and concerns about the student
• Build and foster positive relationships with students
• Planning and leading students on educational and/or recreational trips and/or activities and facilitating clubs and activities
• Provide opportunities for students to practice/demonstrate learned skills including manners, conflict resolution, cooperation and teamwork and teaching developmentally appropriate decision-making and critical thinking strategies
• Support and assist with homework students
• Teach social, self-help, lifelong learning, and basic life skills and facilitates student leisure and recreational activities
• Oversee and/or provide structure and expectations for residence hall routines
• Communicate with teachers on a weekly basis

Requirements

A commitment to SEED LA’s mission and belief that with the right resources, any child can attend college and achieve their dreams

• Bachelors’ Degree or equivalent, from an accredited university in social sciences or related fields.
• Experience working with diverse student populations in an urban setting
• A commitment to SEED’s core values of: COMPASSION, GRATITUDE, GROWTH, INTEGRITY, PERSEVERANCE, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY
• Superior written and oral communication and presentation skills
• Possess an entrepreneurial spirit to be able to create and implement routines and rituals to ensure student achievement
• 1-2 years direct experience in adolescent development, residential/boarding education, teaching, or related fields.

Please Note the Shift Hours for this position

The typical shift is from 3 pm - 12 am

Benefits

Employee Benefits

Compensation will be commensurate with candidate experience and expertise. The salary range for this opportunity is $25 - $28/hr. The benefits package also includes paid sick leave, holiday pay, a generous 403b retirement plan in addition to health, dental, vision, and life insurance.

SEED LA requires that all team members be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for the safety of our students, family, and staff. Regardless of your current vaccination status, our team can advise you on how to fulfill this important requirement so that you can start the position in a timely manner.

The SEED School of Los Angeles County (SEED LA) is committed to the letter and spirit of equality. It is compliant with all federal and state Equal Employment Opportunity Laws. SEED LA does not discriminate in hiring and employment, nor in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and other programs.