High School Counselor

Job Description

Starting Date: Jul 1, 2026

Position Type: Full-time

The 7-12 School Counselor will design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive school counseling program aligned with the Arkansas School Counseling Improvement Act (Act 190), the Arkansas LEARNS Act framework, and the Arkansas ACCESS Act framework. This position places a heavy emphasis on guiding students toward a "Success-Ready" future via intentional college exploration, career pathway navigation, and data-driven academic scheduling. The counselor serves as the primary architect for student master scheduling and graduation progression monitoring.

• Lead the development, annual review, and implementation of digital Student Success Plans for all students in grades 8-12, partnering actively with students, parents, and advisory teachers.
• Guide students through Arkansas Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways, aligning student aptitudes with local high‑demand industry needs and helping them achieve "CTE Completer" status where applicable.
• Assist students with college applications, the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship application, FAFSA completion, institutional scholarships, and military enlistment processes.
• Partner with regional employers and district coordinators to connect junior and senior students to Work‑Based Learning (WBL) opportunities, youth apprenticeships, and industry‑recognized credentialing.

• Manage the student registration, course selection, and schedule adjustment process for grades 7-12, coordinating closely with administration to build a student‑centered master schedule.
• Audit student transcripts regularly to guarantee that every student meets state graduation requirements.
• Identify and place eligible students in advanced courses, including Advanced Placement (AP), Concurrent College Credit enrollment, and honors classes.
• Utilize student data systems to identify academic deficiencies and design intentional interventions to guide struggling students back onto a graduation pathway.

• Assist in writing and updating the district’s Comprehensive School Counseling Plan, ensuring it is posted publicly on the district website by the state’s August 1 deadline annually.
• Adhere strictly to Arkansas Act 190 mandates, ensuring that at least 80% of monthly work hours are spent providing direct and indirect services to students, with no more than 20% allocated to administrative duties.
• Assist with the administration and data interpretation of state‑mandated assessments and career/college aptitude tools.

• Provide short‑term individual and small‑group counseling to address barriers to learning, behavioral challenges, and peer relationships using the state’s G.U.I.D.E. for Life personal competency framework.
• Intervene in crisis situations, performing threat/suicide assessments as required by state law, and provide appropriate referrals to community mental health agencies.

• Education:
  
  Master’s Degree in School Counseling from an institution approved by the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
• Licensure:
  Valid Arkansas Educator License with a Standard School Counselor (K-12) endorsement.
• Background Clearances:
  Satisfactory completion of an FBI non‑criminal, fingerprint‑based background check and clear documentation from the Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry.
• Proficiency with student information databases (e.g., eSchoolPLUS, Triand) and state‑approved online college/career exploration platforms.
• Thorough knowledge of Arkansas requirements and higher education admission processes.
• Strong communication skills for hosting parent workshops, financial aid nights, and community career fairs.