Post Secondary Advisor

The Aspen School District seeks a Post Secondary Advisor

Position Title: Post Secondary Advisor

Department: Aspen School District

Reports to: Aspen High School Principal

Classification: Certified Full-time Exempt/Salary with CDE Licensure or Classified Full-time Exempt/Salary with no licensure

Contract Period: 9 Month (200 days with some variance depending on the year)

Compensation: 2024-25 Post Secondary Advisor Salary Schedule

ASD offers district-funded employee and dependent health benefits including medical, vision, dental, and life insurance to benefit-eligible employees. Other benefits include (as eligible): paid leave, CO PERA (pension plan) enrollment with district contribution, TSA options, free transportation for employees from Carbondale to Aspen, employee assistance program, wellness program (can be used for highly reduced or free ski pass), and supplemental insurance (i.e. cancer, disability, etc).

Position Summary

The purpose of this position is to assist all high school students in the developmental processes in intellectual, social, and personal growth as well as making informed and individually appropriate social, educational, and vocational choices.     

Position Responsibilities

Post Secondary Advisor Responsibilities:

• Provide one on one Post Secondary counseling to students and parents to include advising on college, career, certification programs and other post secondary paths. Each of the two Post Secondary advisors works with approximately half the senior class (about 65 students) and half the junior class (about 65 students) in an alpha split.
• One on one counseling begins November of junior year, with junior year focused on building a college list and continues through senior year, with senior fall focused on advising on applications and essays and/or career paths. 
• Write counselor recommendation letters for half of the senior class and occasional juniors applying to summer programs.
• Run thrice-weekly application workshops for seniors from September through November.
• Develop and present day and evening information sessions (class specific) for all grade levels and parents, including underclassmen information programs.
• Support the Colorado Western Slope College Fair by: managing/creating 20-30 workshops for the Fair which entails identifying workshop topics, reaching out to college admissions representatives as speakers, and handling all outreach and coordination to ensure workshops run smoothly on the day of the College Fair.
• Collaborate with Aspen Education Foundation, Aspen Family Connections, Aspen Community Foundation, and other organizations as needed, to support programs that benefit our students and families. 
• Create and manage school-day panels/workshops for all students to include, but not limited to career panels; resume writing panels; artist audition and/or portfolio workshops; athlete workshops. Collaborate with other AHS departments as needed.
• Ensure that all programming offers translation services for Spanish-speaking families.
• Organize Aspen High School participation in YouthEntity Career Expo each spring where students meet with local business and organizations to discuss career opportunities
• Organize College Application Case Study program at Aspen High School each spring where 25-30 admissions representatives are invited to our campus to run through a mock application study with our students and parents, followed by a college mini fair.
• Advise on financial aid, FAFSA and scholarships, including organizing FAFSA workshops for students and families.
• Facilitate visits from college admissions representatives, and develop relationships with the reps. 
• Help identify and nominate students for diversity fly-in programs, and help coordinate an annual college tour of Colorado Mountain College for students and their families
• Prepare written communications from the Post Secondary Counseling office for parents and students.
• Participate in professional development to maintain knowledge of industry, including attending NACAC and Super-PAC conferences and college tour visits.
• Cooperate with the Post Secondary counseling office to manage the budget and track expenses.
• Help coordinate/administer the PSAT/NMSQT in October and the School Day SAT/PSAT in April. Administer the June national ACT test at AHS and October national SAT.
• Help coordinate concurrent enrollment with Colorado Mountain College. 
• Attend weekly departmental meetings and coordinate across departments as needed
• Attend and support graduation ceremonies.
• Track admission decisions and statistics, and report/present to Aspen Education Foundation, DAC and School Board as requested.
• Participate in our Experiential Education program each August as a leader/co-leader.
• Other duties as assigned.

 Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of:
• In depth knowledge of colleges and other certification/pathway programs for post secondary success.
• Knowledge of financial aid/FAFSA
• Comfortable counseling students and families using differentiated strategies appropriate to the student and their circumstances and abilities.
• Skilled in active and compassionate listening one on one.
• Ability to:
• Ability to multi-task and stay organized.
• Committed to supporting the mission of Aspen High School and the Aspen School District, and the IB Learner profile.
• Skilled in verbal and written communication, and comfortable presenting in front of large groups.
• Ability to maintain high ethical standards, legal responsibility and confidentiality

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience in college counseling and/or college admissions. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• 5 years experience in college counseling and/or college admissions or Certifiecation in College Counseling
• Masters degree 
• Bilingual Spanish 

Work Environment

• Office environment and reception; exposure to computer screens
• Primary functions may require maintaining the physical condition necessary for sitting for prolonged periods of time; use of a computer keyboard

Essential Physical Requirements

• Physical: Reaching, walking, standing, sitting, typing, talking, stooping, kneeling, seeing, and hearing. Lifting up to 25lbs.

Acknowledgment

The successful candidate will be required to follow any instructions and to perform any other related duties as assigned by the Principal. The Aspen School District reserves the right to update, revise, or change the job description and related duties at any time. 

Updated: April 2025

Salary : $63,036 - $78,361