High School Lead Guidance Counselor (Immediate Start)

Job Description

High School Lead Guidance Counselor

Position Reports to: Principal, Scholars High School

Manages: Counseling Team

Core Relationships with: High School Assistant Principal; Lead Social Worker & Social Work Team, OST College Access Coordinator; College Success Team

Start Date: Immediate

Hours: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm + some out of school time responsibilities

Compensation: The salary range for this role is $77,000 - $93,000.(We believe in compensating staff members fairly in relation to each other. We take into consideration qualifications, credentials, years of experience, and one's impact on behalf of the organization - internal and external equity is taken seriously. East Harlem Tutorial Program also offers a comprehensive benefits package.)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Who We Are

East Harlem Tutorial Program (EHTP) began in 1958 as a children's reading group and has since grown into a multi-site after-school program for traditional public school students and a network of public charter schools focused on significantly increasing the college graduation rate in East Harlem. We are on track to serve at least 25% of East Harlem students by 2025, with enrollment for this year at approximately 2200 students in our schools and after school programs. In 2020, 99% of our seniors were accepted to college, and our current scholars in college are on-track to graduate at eight times the national average of their peers.

At EHTP we also aim to serve as an agent of change and thoughtfully contribute to the national fight for racial equity. Through our organization-wide commitment to anti-racism work, we prepare our scholars to effect change, challenge the status quo, and thrive in the world around them. As staff members, we face our own racial identities and conscious and unconscious biases. With this in mind, all of our professional development, curriculum, organizational materials, and processes are designed with a goal of racial justice. Read our racial equity statement here.

We ground all of our work in racial equity, in our core values, and in our four guiding pursuits: the Revolutionary Pursuit of Love, the Radical Pursuit of Knowledge, the Responsive Pursuit of Healing, and in the Relentless Pursuit of Results. These pursuits inform and are reflected in our current four key strategic priorities: to increase high-impact, high-quality academic curriculum, programming content, staff capacity, and coaching; to embrace and advance our use of technology; to deepen our embodiment of ethical and equitable radical humanity; and to efficiently operationalize teaching, learning, community, and care.

About The Opportunity

We are looking for a Lead Guidance Counselor who will work with our Network Postsecondary Team and East Harlem Scholars High School community to create and sustain the school's college and career pathway program for grades 9 through 12. As the Lead Guidance Counselor, you will develop graduation and postsecondary placement goals in partnership with the High School Leadership Team and the Postsecondary Success Team, and you will oversee the College Access Counselor (11th-12th) and Readiness Teacher (9th-10th) and their respective workstreams. You will split a caseload of seniors with the Access Counselor, including co-facilitation of seminars, individual counseling, and family engagement workshops. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who is passionate about equitable access to postsecondary education, and who is able to create, communicate, and execute a school-wide plan that supports our scholars in building the skills, strength of character, and emotional well-being to apply to and attend their best-fit institution post-high school.

Areas of Leadership

Postsecondary Expansion + Management

• Serve as primary liaison between college admission counselors and all Network Access Work (Out-of-School Time & Scholars Academies) and support team members with communication strategies
• Serve as liaison between East Harlem Scholars Academies, East Harlem Tutorial Program, and postsecondary professional learning communities such College Access Consortium of NY, New York State Association for College Admissions Counseling, etc.

Postsecondary Planning + Program Operations

• Develop weekly post-secondary access programming designed to provide cohort-based counseling to scholars at East Harlem Scholars High School
  • Directly manage caseload of 50 seniors (advising caseload and lesson facilitation during senior seminar)
• Counsel EHSA students on admissions to two- and four-year public and private universities as well as career and technical/workforce programs
• Create and maintain EHSA HS college profile
• Manage postsecondary application student information system SCOIR
• Provide advisement in all aspects of financial aid process including scholarships and opportunity programs
• Collect, maintain, and utilize data to inform program choices and to support team members in achieving ambitious college access goals
• Collaborate with all members of the counseling team to plan and execute special events, workshops, and presentations on postsecondary exploration (i.e. college night, FAFSA workshops, college tours, info sessions)
  • Oversee planning of 3 local college trips per year
  • Oversee annual 2 college and career fairs or events for 9th-12th graders
• Support in the transition of seniors to EHTP's College Success Program
• Build postsecondary-going culture at EHSA

Academic Advising

• Analyze data related to student achievement, attendance, behavior, and other factors to identify trends and inform decision-making.
• Conduct transcript audits in relation to NYS graduation requirements
• Help students plan their academic schedules, select appropriate courses, and set educational goals based on their interests, abilities, graduation pathway, & postsecondary interests.

SEL Support

• Provide individual and group counseling to students dealing with personal issues such as mental health concerns, family problems, or peer conflicts.
• Support students during times of crisis, such as dealing with trauma, grief, or emergencies within the school community.
• In collaboration with the Director of School Culture & Family Engagement, develop and implement school-wide programming aimed at promoting student success, such as anti-bullying initiatives, substance abuse prevention programs, and character education.
• In collaboration with the Director of School Culture & Family Engagement, collaborate with teachers, administrators, parents, and community organizations to support the overall well-being of students and enhance the school environment.
• Advocate for the needs of students within the school system and help to ensure that all students have access to the resources and support they need to succeed.

What Qualifies You

Please note that many do not meet 100% of the desired qualifications. If much of this describes you, we encourage you to still apply.

• You have a Masters degree in School Counseling and valid permanent NYS guidance counselor certification
• You have 4-5 years experience developing and facilitating workshops and classes for students, staff, and caregivers
• You have professional experience in school counseling, college access and success programs, or related fields
• You have knowledge of the postsecondary discernment process, with specific knowledge of CUNY/SUNY/NYS Opportunity Programs preferred
• You have knowledge of NY State high school graduation requirements, including requirements for a Regents diploma and the CDOS Pathway
• You are familiar with PowerSchool, Scoir, MaiaLearning, or other college guidance management systems to track and report on key metrics
• You have a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities of working with First Generation, Black, Brown, and/or economically-vulnerable college-bound students and caregivers
• You have strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
• You have experience working in and enjoy a fast-moving, and entrepreneurial environment
• You hold yourself to high professional and ethical standards
• You are bilingual in Spanish (preferred but not required)

Thank you in advance for submitting an application at East Harlem Scholars Academies.