Postsecondary Counselor

Celebrating 25 years as an anchor institution in the North Lawndale Community, North Lawndale College Prep (NLCP) is doubling down on its mission to not only empower students with the tools needed to successfully make it to and through college but to also become transformational leaders.

NLCP is a co-ed charter network serving approximately 600 students in grades 9-12. Our scholars – the majority of whom are low income – choose NLCP for its culturally responsive and rigorous academic model. Students know when they enroll at NLCP they are entering into a robust web of support and an uplifting community.

At the heart of NLCP's strong community is our commitment to five core employee values that guide the work we do and prepare us to serve students in transformational ways: trustworthiness, timeliness, teamwork, transparency, and trauma-informed. We believe that centering these values and continually growing and improving how they are practiced helps staff members build a safe and supportive environment for both students and fellow staff.

BENEFITS AND PERKS

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• $50K Life Insurance
• Short-Term Disability (Employer Paid)
• Long-Term Disability (Employer Paid)
• Accident Insurance (Employer Paid)
• Voluntary LifeLock Identity Theft Protection
• Additional Voluntary Benefits (Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness)
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Paid Time Off
• Stipend

Position Summary (Full Time Postsecondary Counselo

r)This position will report to the Director of School Counseling and Postsecondary Advising. It requires a strong knowledge of counseling theory and practice, including the most recent American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Program

s.As the Postsecondary Counselor, your role is to cultivate a positive and supportive environment that promotes college readiness, engagement, and success among students in your assigned cohorts. You will work closely with students, parents, teachers, and administrators to develop programs and initiatives that foster a college-going culture within the school communit

y.You will assist students in developing an understanding of themselves, fostering positive relationships, facilitating academic growth, and supporting them in becoming self-directed. Additionally, you will track student progress through data-informed systems in three key areas: Academic Planning, Personal/Social Planning, and College and Career Planning, to monitor the progress of every studen

t.

Responsibilit

ies:College Readiness Progr

• ams:Design, coordinate, and implement college readiness programs to support students in their journey toward higher educat
• ion.Develop advisory curriculum, workshops, and seminars on college exploration, admissions processes, financial aid, and scholarsh
• ips.Collaborate with teachers to integrate college-focused activities into the curriculum, such as research projects and college essay writ
• ing.Create an advisory program rubric and provide feedback to advis

ors.School and Community Collaborat

• ion:Collaborate with school administrators, teachers, and parents to align efforts in fostering a postsecondary culture within the broader commun
• ity.Partner with community organizations, businesses, and higher education institutions to provide additional resources and opportunities for stude
• nts.Participate in school events, parent meetings, and community outreach programs to promote the postsecondary culture initiat

ive.Student Engagem

• ent:Lead school-wide efforts in the development of best practices for student engagem
• ent.Champion continuous improvement of network-wide, role-specific student engagement effo
• rts.In collaboration with the MTSS Coordinator, implement protocols for supporting students struggling with disengagement and trua
• ncy.Develop supports for reentry of students experiencing long-term absenteeism in collaboration with the MTSS Coordina
• tor.Ensure hallways and physical spaces are engaging, student-friendly, and joy
• ful.Design student supports tailored to special populations, including but not limited to transfer students and diverse learn

ers.Individualized Student Supp

• ort:Conduct assessments to identify students' interests, strengths, and areas for improvement, leading to postsecondary goal developm
• ent.In collaboration with the MTSS Coordinator, develop and implement intervention plans based on attendance, grades, and behav
• ior.Collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators to create strategies for student succ
• ess.Use available data to program and place all students into academically appropriate and rigorous classes that will prepare them to meet all graduation requireme
• nts.Monitor and evaluate students' academic progress, proactively addressing any concerns or challenges they may f
• ace.Provide guidance on college and career readiness, including selecting appropriate classes and preparing for standardized tests (e.g., A

CT).College and Career Advis

• ing:Conduct individual and group sessions to help students explore postsecondary education and career opti
• ons.Assist students in researching and identifying suitable colleges, universities, vocational programs, and scholarsh
• ips.Support students in the college application process, including essay writing, resume building, and submitting required documentat
• ion.Ensure students are making adequate progress toward graduation requirements, including completion of the FAFSA before graduat
• ing.Organize college fairs, visits, and information sessions to expose students to various postsecondary opportunit

ies.

Require

• ments:Bachelor's degree in education, counseling, or a related field (Master's degree prefe
• rred).Certified school counselor with 3 years of experience, with experience in a high school setting, preferably in college counseling, admissions, or related
• roles.Proven track record of leadership in K-12 education and postsecondary adv
• ising.Expertise in implementing the ASCA National Model (
• 2012).Knowledge of college admissions processes, financial aid, scholarships, and career pat
• hways.Familiarity with college readiness programs, resources, and best prac
• tices.Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to connect with students, parents, and community me
• mbers.Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail for managing multiple programs and e
• vents.Proficiency in using technology and online platforms for college research, applications, and communic
• ation.Reliable transport
• ation.Ability to work evenings and weekends as n

eeded.As a condition of employment with North Lawndale College Prep, candidates must be authorized to work in th

e U.S.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of th

e job.