High School Counselor (24-25 SY)

Who We Are

Since its founding in 2010, Challenge Preparatory Charter School (Challenge Prep) has provided students and families with a successful academic program in Far Rockaway, Queens. We currently serve over 1200 scholars from Kindergarten to 12th grade across 3 sites. Our school’s mission is to prepare students from the greater Far Rockaway community to excel academically, to demonstrate mastery of the NY State Learning Standards, and to achieve their career aspirations. Challenge cultivates and supports the intellectual, aesthetic, social, emotional, and ethical development of its students and prepares them to be responsible 21st century citizens. To accomplish its mission, Challenge offers a rigorous instructional program in a safe, supportive, technology-infused and data-enriched and social-emotional learning sequence, authentic field experiences, career counseling, and college coursework. It is understood that we are one organization with multiple sites, and it is expected that all members of the team collaborate to support all of our scholars.

The School Counselor will report to the Director of Pupil Personnel Services. The position will be focused on working with all constituencies of the school community to create an environment of social-emotional support for every student. The school counselor will oversee the mandated counseling schedule, and program students individually to ensure they are on the appropriate path for future college or chosen career success, and work with the Dean of Culture and Internship Coordinator to create a solid internship and work program for all students.

Direct Student Services Including:

Instruction: Teaching the school counseling curriculum to students focused through the lens of selected student standards from the ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success.

Appraisal and Advisement- assessing student abilities, interests and achievement to help them make decisions about their future.

Counseling- providing professional assistance and support to a student or small group of students during times of transition, heightened stress, critical change or other situations impeding student success.

Indirect Student Services Including:

Consultation- share strategies supporting student achievement with parents, teachers, other educators and community organizations

Collaboration- work with other educators, parents and the community to support student achievement

Referrals- support for students and families to school or community resources for additional assistance and information

Who We Seek:

• Because roles in small schools are varied and complex, serious consideration will be given to applicants who demonstrate in their resume and cover letter experience and/or willingness to commit to the school’s mission and core beliefs and will be responsible to:
• Counsel students, individually and in groups, regarding academic readiness, discipline-related guidance issues, social and emotional development, substance abuse (if trained), conflict mediation, graduation requirements, and making appropriate referrals
• Coordinate Youth Development and College and Career Readiness programs by working with teachers, administration, dean of culture, and Internship/CTE Coordinator to include:
• Improvement of student attendance, special programs brought into school, supporting the successful implementation of the Advisory Program curriculum, arranging for college visits, working with families individually to select suitable programs for college admission, assisting with registration for PSAT and SAT, registration, and preparation for filing the FAFSA, practice, and mailing of college applications, and assist with the design of student schedules to ensure fulfillment of all New York State graduation requirements
• Collaborate with teachers and school-based support teams on developing and implementing behavior intervention plans to support students' academic, social, and emotional development, and collaborate with the dean of students on disciplinary decisions, understanding student behaviors, knowledge of discipline code, and chancellor's regulations regarding discipline
• Facilitate Child Study Team meetings to address teacher recommendations for individual students’ needs
• Participate in regular faculty development and create a comprehensive school counseling program
• Maintain current student academic records and regularly communicate with students and families about students’ academic progress toward meeting graduation requirements
• Coordinate all aspects of Special Education services including compliance and attend all IEP conferences and meetings
• Identify and make appropriate referrals to meet and support students’ academic, social, and mental health needs
• Collaborate with internship/CTE coordinator to develop and maintain partnerships with participating educational institutions, industry partners, and community-based organizations to support school initiatives including job shadowing, internships, and other academic opportunities