School Counselor - Washington

School Summary:

Washington Connections Academy (WACA) is a tuition-free, virtual public school serving students in grades K-12 statewide. WACA has two schools under its umbrella of the shared-services model. It operates in partnerships with the Mary M. Knight School District and Goldendale School District and is under contract with Connections Academy to provide its educational program and other services. Both Washington Connections Academy schools are accredited by Cognia and were recognized as Cognia Schools of Distinction in 2022.

Position Summary:

Accepting applications for the  school year. This position is a remote, full-time position. Applicants may live in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho. The Counselor will manage all students. Through the use of the telephone, Internet, and various curriculum and counseling tools they will consult regularly with caretakers, Learning Coaches, and students to ensure that each student successfully completes their instructional program.

The Counselor works closely with the Manager of Counseling. The Counselor will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:

• Counseling Roles:
• Advise students and families related to academics, career planning and graduation
• Keep abreast of all high school graduation requirements, including special requirements such as community service, and communicate this information to the High School Coordinator and to the principal
• Assist students and parents with the secondary school course selection process according to specific state credit and graduation requirements and student needs and interests. An integral part of this process is assisting students and parents to develop a Four Year Plan for meeting graduation requirements
• Advise students with issues related to dropping courses and changing schedules, seeking support as needed, while ensuring that the school’s course selection and drop policies are adhered to
• Review student transcripts and the entry of credits into the online transcript system
• Follow procedures to ensure that Connections Academy transcripts are accurate and up-to-date
• Work with the administrative assistants to obtain school records from the student’s previous school (where applicable) and forwarding student records when appropriate
• Implement programs for students and families related to interpersonal adjustment issues
• Work with school teams to identify and help families access school and community resources
• Participate in the development of crisis prevention and management plans for the school
• Coordinate a team of high school teachers to help identify students who are “at risk” or “in crisis”;
  Act as the main point of contact for these students and families, communicating regularly with them
• Implement efforts to secure complete and accurate records for Connections Academy students
• Support families through the school withdrawal process, assisting with data collection regarding withdrawal
• Report and refer critical incidents that jeopardize student well-being as obligated by law, administrative regulations, or ethical standards. Stay abreast of all state regulations relating to incident reporting and documentation;
• Understand the requirements for and assist the principal to facilitate the administration of all high school testing, including exit exams, PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams
• Help students to research and understand their post-secondary career and educational options
• Assist with student preparation of applications for college and jobs;
• Educate students and parents about college admissions requirements and financial aid
• Work as part of the IEP team to develop social goals and provide virtual social work services to help the student reach these goals
• Collaborate closely with School Counselor and Director of Special Education; and
• Support professional development activities for teachers and school staff members
• Coordinate high school graduation ceremonies
• Attends regularly scheduled professional development and counselor training meetings
• Monitor progress of students on an ongoing basis and work additionally with students who are struggling
• Contact Roles:
• Communicate regularly with parents/learning coaches on their…