5th Grade Counselor - Valor Academy Middle School

24-25 Counselor Job Description

Hiring Process:

Step 1: Submit Application

• Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. All applications should be submitted via the “JOIN OUR TEAM” section at www.brightstarschools.org.

Completed application include:

• Resume
• Three professional references
• At least two of the references listed must be a current or former supervisor.
• Two letters of recommendation
• We do not want letters of recommendation to prevent you from applying to our organization, so please

feel free to submit without these if you do not have any current letters of recommendation.

Step 2: Video Interview with Bright Star Schools’ Talent Team

Step 3: School Site Interview with School Site Leadership

Job Description: Counselor

Reporting to: School Principal and/or Assistant Principal

ABOUT US:

Founded in 2003, Bright Star Schools has been serving students, families, and communities in Los Angeles for over 20 years! We currently serve over 3,600 students in 9 schools in the communities of South Los Angeles, Koreatown, and the San Fernando Valley. Our free, charter public schools are joyful, small, and safe communities where each of our students is known and supported to thrive. We welcome all students of all abilities and backgrounds.

We’re looking for outstanding educators to join our team and help provide holistic, inclusive support for all students to achieve academic excellence and grow their unique talents so that they find joy in higher education, career, and life. Guided by our core values of integridad, kohyang, ubuntu, and growth, we’re committed to our students’ and educators’ success.

At Bright Star Schools, we provide a culture of learning and growth for educators, with an emphasis on job-embedded, differentiated professional development, which includes:

• Organization-wide content specific professional development sessions throughout the year
• An instructional coaching program
• A no-cost induction program for new teachers with a preliminary credential (Our two- year induction program allows teachers with preliminary credentials to earn their CA clear credential at no cost to the teacher.)
• Paid planning days
• Professional learning communities at the school site and by grade level or content area.

Overall, our educators receive 200 hours of job-embedded professional development opportunities to support teacher growth and advancing student achievement over the course of each year.

We also offer small class sizes, comprehensive teacher support, a focus on anti-bias and anti-racist school and classroom cultures, and numerous collaboration opportunities across the organization and within school sites.

Educator applicants should be prepared to conduct classes virtually or in-person depending on COVID-19 health guidelines.

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Bright Star Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual

orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, pregnancy, or veteran status.

OVERVIEW

As the Bright Star Schools organization continues to grow in number of overall students, and enrollment at each school site, it is increasingly important that each of its students and their families has a designated advocate on campus. This role will be that of a School Counselor, someone who provides support to students through the lens of social and emotional learning, and assists in the communication between each student and their teachers, administrators, parents, and prospective supplemental and enrichment programs. The Counselor will be part of all student and family facing functions for the Bright Star Schools Campus, and will ensure the success of their assigned students while they’re at Bright Star.

The Counselor Program will focus on core areas:

• Implementation of the ASCA National Model and best practices
• Relationship building and mentoring
• Academic counseling and support
• College and Career Readiness programming and supports
• Social and emotional support
• Community resources and referrals
• Participation in Student Activities i.e. chaperoning
• Co-facilitation of Morning Meetings and school wide assemblies
• Restorative Justice Practices within and outside of the classrooms
• Student and Family Services
• Parent education sessions on social emotional and academic learning
• Parent engagement events
• Provide family resources and referrals for community events
• Outreach to families with needed interventions

JOB DUTIES (may include, but are not limited to the following)

• Academic Counseling & Direct Academic Support
• Weekly check-ins with teachers
• Weekly classroom push-ins for academic and behavioral support
• Student support team meetings
• Social Emotional lessons within and outside of the classroom
• Student Mentorship & Counseling
• Behavioral guidance and support
• Appropriate identification of students social and emotional needs
• Provide resources and referrals as necessary
• Necessary interventions, including individual and small group counseling
• Parent Liaison
• Offer resources and support for family challenges
• Home visits may be conducted as needed to ensure home and school partnerships
• Other Duties may include (based on experience and skill set)
• Coordinate Parent Group activities
• Develop Parent Education curriculum
• Coordinate Student Activities
• Morning, lunch and afternoon supervision of students
• Follow Bright Star Schools’ toileting policies and protocols if working with TK and Kinder students

QUALIFICATIONS

• Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling required
• A deep understanding of early childhood education and child and adolescent development is imperative
• Strong oral and written communication skills including advocacy skills; fluency in Spanish and/or Korean highly desired
• Ability to connect and build relationships with students and their families (Spanish/Korean required for 85% of our families)
• Ability to facilitate connections with students and faculty, and to work with tracking systems (organizational skills required).
• Experience working with at-promise youth
• Proactive, self-starting and motivating approach essential
• Familiarity with facilitating Social Emotional Curriculum
• Working knowledge of Aeries SIS
• College degree required