9th Grade School Counselor

The Academy is currently seeking to hire a High School Counselor for Grade 9 for the 2024/2025 school year as well as the 2025/2026 school year.

The Academy of Charter Schools Is…

The Academy of Charter Schools is a public PK-12 school of choice located in Westminster, Colorado. We pair a rigorous, content-rich curriculum with opportunities to explore strengths and passions to achieve the highest standards for all. Our mission is to help all students grow into college ready, exemplary citizens by combining academic mastery with personal empowerment to drive lifelong success. We serve our full community by intentionally developing a school culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Our approach to vertically aligning the full educational experience for our students from youngest to oldest centers around three notions – Prepare, Explore, and Empower – that keep us grounded in The Academy’s mission and vision as we set priorities and make decisions that impact instruction and school culture.

Academy Employees Are…

At The Academy, employees embody our mission, vision, and values every day. They guide and support staff to prepare students for academic mastery by delivering evidence-based curricula; they collaborate with students, staff, and families to design student-centered learning experiences that create opportunities to explore strengths and passions; and they support the implementation of social-emotional skills lessons that empower students to become leaders of their own learning. Academy employees work hard to provide an engaging, inclusive, and joyful learning environment. They embrace relationships and positive communication with a diverse community of students, staff, and families while helping maintain a culture of high expectations for all. Experience in school environments, strong people skills, and ability to work within a team is required.

What Makes a Good Academy Employee?

The Academy is looking for committed leaders who are prepared to perform at a high level in a demanding environment. Some of the characteristics that make for a successful employee at The Academy include:

• A people-first, relationship-focused orientation
• A growth mindset
• A belief that ALL children can achieve at high levels
• A passion for contributing to overall school success by working alongside and supporting others
• A creative, innovative, and caring attitude
• A spirit of openness, trust, and kindness
• A dedication to data-driven practices
• A highly motivated work ethic and willingness to tackle challenges
• Comfort with being flexible
• A sense of humor

At The Academy, we know that diversity makes us stronger and challenges us to think differently every day. The Academy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status or disability.

The online application should include a cover letter and resume.

• Copy of transcripts and three current letters of recommendation are highly recommended but not required with initial application
• Current Colorado teaching credentials required or proof of eligibility required
• Salary range starts at $60,000 plus additional of verified experience
• School year starts August 1, 2024; school year ends June 3, 2025
• 25/26 school years starts July 28, 2025; school year ends July 2, 2026
• Medical Benefits - 100% paid for employees on select plans
• PERA Retirement Benefits
• Responsibility to verify experience rests with employee

Visit our website at www.theacademyk12.org. The Academy’s comprehensive benefits package includes a number of different plans for full-time employees. Refer to Employee Benefits Enrollment Guide for details at https://www.theacademyk12.org/about-us/working-for-us. Information on employee paid leave is also available at this same location.

Summary: This role is a specialized addition to the Counseling Department made possible by the School Counselor Corps Grant. The 9th Grade Counselor provides specialized support to 9th-grade students, ensuring a smooth transition into high school. This role focuses on academic guidance, social-emotional development, and building schedules for 9th-grade students while also teaching sections of the 9th-grade seminar class. The counselor works collaboratively with staff, families, and students to promote academic success, social integration, and personal growth.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must meet the requirements listed below. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Academic and Scheduling Support

• Build schedules for all 9th-grade students, ensuring alignment with academic goals and graduation requirements.
• Monitor grades, attendance, and academic progress, implementing targeted interventions as needed.
• Provide one-on-one academic guidance, helping students develop study skills and personalized success plans.

Social-Emotional and Transition Support

• Support students with social and emotional challenges through individual and group counseling.
• Facilitate the transition from middle school by collaborating with 8th-grade staff and families.
• Teach sections of the 9th-grade seminar class, focusing on study skills, career exploration, and personal development.
• Create and deliver classroom lessons to 8th-grade students about transitioning to high school, including topics on high school life, credits and grades, and adjustment strategies.

Career and Post-Secondary Planning

• Introduce students to college and career pathways and help them develop early post-secondary goals.

Collaboration and Crisis Management

• Work closely with teachers, families, and external agencies to address student needs and provide appropriate support.
• Participate in crisis intervention and management as needed.

Data-Driven Interventions

• Analyze academic and behavioral data to identify at-risk students and develop targeted intervention plans.

Additional Responsibilities

• Promote a safe, inclusive, and equitable school environment.
• Participate in professional development and school-wide initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the principal or designee.

EDUCATION AND RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in School Counseling.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS or CERTIFICATIONS:

• Licensed as a School Counselor through Colorado Department of Education.
• Criminal background check required for hire.

TECHNICAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to support students, families, and staff.
• Proficiency in data analysis and intervention planning.
• Knowledge of academic, social-emotional, and career development frameworks.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain confidentiality.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the principal or designee.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT OPERATING KNOWLEDGE:

• Operating knowledge of and experience with personal computers and peripherals.
• Operating knowledge of information technology systems and any other department specific software and equipment required within one month after entering the position

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS & DIRECTION/GUIDANCE:Reports to: Level Principal or Designee

Direct reports and # of Employee:None
BUDGET AND/OR RESOURCE RESPONSIBILITY:

This job has no direct budgetary responsibilities, but must work closely with Principal in regards to budget impacts.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands, work environment factors and mental functions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.