Description
Junipero Serra High School- Catholic College Preparatory in Gardena, California, is considering applications for High School Academic Counselor for 2023/2024 academic school year: Candidates should be team players and able to collaborate easily with colleagues
Primary Functions:
To provide, as a member of the counseling department staff, a comprehensive counseling program for students in grades nine through tenth and specifically provide services to meet the needs of assigned students; consult with teachers, staff and parents to enhance effectiveness in helping students; and to provide support to other high school educational programs.
Major Job Responsibilities:
- The candidate for the Academic Counselor position is required to teach three classes that is related to his/her undergraduate major.
- Implement the high school guidance curriculum through delivery of classroom credits and infusion in content areas;
- Guide individuals and groups of students through the development of educational and career plans;
- Counsel individuals and small groups of students with problems;
- Consult with teachers, staff and parents regarding the developmental needs of students.
- Refer students with problems to appropriate program specialists
- Participate in, coordinate and conduct activities that contribute to the effective operation of the counseling program and school;
- Participate in and facilitate the intervention team process;
- Plan and evaluate the building counseling program; and
- Pursue continuous professional growth.
- Report directly to and assist the Director of Counseling with academic counseling duties
Illustrative Key Duties:
- Implement the high school guidance curriculum: conduct learning activities in classroom settings; consult with and be a resource person to teachers to facilitate infusion of learning activities into the regular education curriculum.
- Guide individuals and groups of students through the development of educational and college readiness plans: provide orientation activities for students new to the school; participate in orientation programs for incoming ninth graders; guide students in updating their high school academic action plans; assist in pre-registration of high school students; interpret standardized test results and information to students, parents, and teachers; guide groups and individual students in application of test results and information to their educational and college plans; guide students through college readiness and other counseling center resources; provide students with educational and summer programs; provide a mechanism for the systematic and efficient dissemination of current, accurate information needed by individual students and parents as they develop their educational and college plans.
- Counsel individuals and small groups of students with problems: conduct structure, goal-oriented counseling sessions in systematic response to identified needs of individuals or groups of students—recurring topics at the high school level may include academic failure, attendance and behavior problems, peer problems, family issues.
- Consult with teachers, staff and parents regarding the academic needs of students: participate in staffing; conduct in-service programs for faculty; conduct or facilitate conferences with teachers, students, and parents; conduct or provide opportunities for parent education programs; assist families with school-related problems; serve as student advocate.
- Refer students with problems to appropriate program specialists: consult with and coordinate with director of counseling, administrators, counselors from the Counseling Partners of Los Angeles (CPLA). Consult with parents regarding referrals to CPLA.
- Participate in, coordinate and conduct activities that contribute to the effective operation of the counseling program and school: facilitate the afterschool tutorial program, interpret group test results to faculty and staff; contribute to the school’s goals for enhancing education in the building; establish effective liaisons with the various instructional departments; serve as an advocate for groups or individual students as decisions are made that will affect those students, with other school staff in the placement of students with learning challenges into the STEP program; participate as a team member in administering the testing programs for Advanced Placement (AP) and PSAT.
- Participate in and facilitate the intervention team process: assume an active role in designing implementing, monitoring, and adjusting educational plans for individual students.
- Plan and evaluate the building counseling program: review the counseling program annually with director of counseling; assist the director of counseling in establishing the counseling department master calendar; document and evaluate guidance learning activities as they are implemented; complete an annual counseling program evaluation.
- Pursue professional growth: attend state and locally sponsored staff development offerings; join associations; read professional journals; attend relevant workshops and conferences sponsored by professional organizations; take post-graduate courses; contribute to professional literature; and conduct training for staff and other counselors.
Organizational Relationships:
The high school level counselor is supervised by the director of academic counseling; works collaboratively with other counselors and counseling staff; and works cooperatively with other school staff.
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree required (preferably with a major in Education or a related field) and experience teaching basic content and academic skills to high school level students
- At least three (3) years teaching experience in related field
- At least one (1) year academic counseling experience in related field
- Good interpersonal skills to establish effective working relationships with students, parents, and school personal
- Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and complete by due dates
- Ability to effectively communicate in oral and written form
- Ability to efficiently operate a personal computer and associated software (Outlook, Word, Excel, MS Office, etc.)
- Must demonstrate sensitivity towards students form diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds
- Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with teenagers and their parents
- Ability to interact in an effective and appropriate manner with diverse populations, the school community and the public
- Ability to maintain files accurately, in paper and in software programs
- Ability to accurately prepare records and reports
- Ability to work independently, handle multiple tasks simultaneously and keep deadlines
- Ability to effectively provide guidance as needed and complete all associated tutor personnel actions in a timely and accurate manner
- Ability to effectively plan and implement program activities
- Ability to be an advocate for students who have learning challenges
- Ability to effectively counsel and advise students
- Ability to coordinate small group activities and cultural trips for students and document their purpose and results
- Ability to monitor student progress and make recommendations
- Ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours
- Ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with students, fellow staff, and other campus personnel
- Ability to gather and analyze data for project reporting
Salary Range:
“$41,494 – $74,717; Compensation commensurate with level of experience, relevant professional certifications, and/or degrees earned.”
TO APPLY:
- Junipero Serra High School is committed to hiring a diverse and multicultural staff. If interested in this job opening, please submit (1) a resume, (2) a statement of interest and philosophy of education (no more than two pages). All materials should be sent electronically.
- Please email both of the above mentioned documents to Mr. Guzman- Principal (jguzman@la-serrahs.org) and Mr. Wissa- Vice principal (nwissa@la-serrahs.org).
Information/Application Contact
Junipero Serra High School (Gardena)
14830 Van Ness Ave.
Gardena, CA 90249
nwissa@la-serrahs.org