Professional School Counselor

We have the following opening for the 2025-2026 school year:

Pleasant Valley High School

• Professional School Counselor

• Must hold a Master’s degree in Counseling with a valid Iowa teaching license (or Iowa Professional Service License) including the Work Experience Endorsement 234 or Multi-Occupations Endorsement 305 (or be willing to obtain)

Position Summary:
The Service Learning & Career Coordinator is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing programs that provide students with real-world learning experiences through service learning, career exploration, and work-based learning opportunities. This role ensures that students engage in meaningful service projects, internships, apprenticeships, and career-focused learning experiences that enhance academic growth and benefit the community. The coordinator collaborates with students, staff, families, businesses, and community organizations to support student development, track progress, and ensure compliance with district and state requirements.

Reports To:
Director of Secondary Education and High School Administration

Job Goal:
To create, oversee, and sustain high-quality experiential learning opportunities that connect classroom instruction with real-world applications, ensuring students fulfill both service-learning and career-readiness requirements before graduation.

Qualifications & Experience

Required:

• Master’s degree in Counseling, with a valid Iowa teaching license (or Professional Service License) with the Work Experience Endorsement 234 or Multi-Occupations Endorsement 305 (or be willing to obtain)
• Minimum 3 years of experience in education, program coordination, career counseling, or community engagement.
• Strong understanding of service-learning principles and career readiness programs.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage experiential learning programs.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Proficiency in data tracking, reporting systems, and program evaluation.

Preferred:

• Experience with Perkins reporting, concurrent enrollment, and state career education requirements.
• Experience developing industry partnerships and managing work-based learning programs.

Working Conditions:

• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed for events and community engagement.
• Local travel required for partnership development and program coordination.
• Position involves both office-based work and on-site engagement with community partners.
• Must be able to lift, carry, push, or pull 20-50 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10 lbs. constantly.
• Must be able to stoop, kneel, reach, talk, and hear frequently and remain mobile throughout the workday.

Key Responsibilities

Program Development & Oversight

• Develop and implement procedures for both service-learning and work-based learning programs, ensuring all students meet district and state requirements.
• Establish and manage a high school Service Learning & Career Center that serves as a hub for career exploration and service-learning opportunities.
• Maintain and update program guidelines, policies, and expectations.
• Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness, making data-driven improvements.

Student Support & Engagement

• Guide students in selecting and completing service-learning projects, internships, quality pre apprenticeships, apprenticeships, and other experiential learning opportunities.
• Provide career counseling, work-based learning support, and guidance on post-secondary pathways.
• Assist students with concurrent enrollment decision-making and financial aid (FAFSA) completion.
• Organize and execute mock interviews for 10th-grade students, including recruiting businesses, preparing materials, and providing interview skills training.
• Conduct training sessions for students on service-learning expectations, career readiness, and professional skills.
• Present service-learning and career readiness requirements to students in Grades 8-12.

Community Partnerships & Outreach

• Identify, establish, and maintain partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and community groups to develop both service-learning and work-based learning opportunities.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the district and community partners, ensuring alignment between educational goals and industry needs.
• Develop and maintain a network of business and non-profit contacts to support student engagement in service and career experiences.
• Coordinate high school volunteers for district and community events, including the 6th-grade campout and the Quad City School Supply Drive.

Tracking & Accountability

• Develop and maintain a database for tracking student participation in service-learning and work-based learning experiences.
• Monitor and report student progress toward meeting service-learning graduation requirements and career readiness benchmarks.
• Review and approve student service-learning projects and work-based experiences to ensure they meet district and state criteria.
• Collaborate in the preparation of  required reports, including but not limited to the District Career and Academic Plan, Perkins application, and Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment.
• Maintain and update the Service Learning website with relevant resources, opportunities, and program updates.

Collaboration & Curriculum Integration

• Support  teachers to incorporate work-based learning opportunities into the curriculum.
• Support faculty in embedding career exploration into existing courses.
• When required, facilitate professional development for staff related to work-based learning best practices.

Event Planning & Special Initiatives

• Coordinate student participation in early-out volunteer events and community service projects.
• Organize, manage, and/or coordinate career fairs, apprenticeship showcases, and service-learning exhibitions, and other career exploration opportunities for students (job shadows, site visits and tours of area businesses, etc.). 
• Develop and maintain consistent communication with local employers and nonprofit organizations regarding volunteer and work-based learning opportunities.
• Represent the district at regional and state meetings related to experiential learning, service learning, and career education.

Evaluation:

Performance will be evaluated by the High School Administration.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The district will provide equal opportunity to employees and applicants for employment in accordance with applicable equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, directives and regulations of federal, state and local governing bodies. The district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity, and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and personnel practices. Opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment includes hiring, placement, promotion, transfer or demotion, recruitment, advertising or solicitation for employment, treatment during employment, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, and layoff or termination. The school district will take affirmative action in major job categories where women, men, minorities and persons with disabilities are underrepresented. Employees will support and comply with the district’s established equal employment opportunity and affirmative action policies. Employees will be given notice of this policy annually.