School Counselor - Alternative Evening High School Program

School Counselor- 2 Positions

The High School-School Counselor provides comprehensive academic, college and career readiness, and social-emotional support to students in grades 6–12. The counselor works collaboratively with students, families, staff, administrators, and community partners to ensure student success, graduation readiness, and post-secondary planning.

Key Responsibilities:

• Academic Planning and Scheduling
• Develop and manage complex student schedules aligned with graduation requirements, promotion criteria, and individualized student needs
• Provide guidance regarding course selection, including Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Enrollment, CTE pathways, NCAA eligibility, and post-secondary readiness pathways
• Monitor student transcripts, credit accumulation, and graduation status
• Assist with master schedule input and support scheduling adjustments throughout the school year
• Support students in credit recovery planning and alternative education placement when necessary

• College and Career Readiness
• Lead college readiness initiatives including college applications, FAFSA support, scholarship opportunities, recommendation letters, and transcript processing
• Provide expertise in Naviance, College Board, Common App, FAFSA systems, and post-secondary planning platforms
• Support SAT/ACT/AP registration processes and College Board reporting requirements
• Coordinate Dual Enrollment opportunities with colleges and universities
• Assist students with career exploration, vocational pathways, military options, and workforce readiness planning
• Facilitate college fairs, career days, financial aid workshops, and senior transition planning

• Student Support Services
• Provide individual and group counseling focused on academic success, attendance, behavior, crisis intervention, conflict resolution, and social-emotional development
• Support students experiencing personal, family, behavioral, attendance, or mental health challenges
• Collaborate with outside agencies, mental health providers, and intervention programs when needed
• Participate in crisis response, threat assessment, suicide risk protocols, and student re-entry planning

• Intervention and Student Success Teams
• Participate in NJTSS (New Jersey Tiered System of Supports) planning, intervention development, and student progress monitoring
• Support intervention planning for students identified as at-risk academically, behaviorally, or socially
• Collaborate with I&RS, attendance teams, child study teams, and intervention committees
• Develop and monitor attendance improvement plans and student support action plans

• 504 Plans and Student Accommodations
• Coordinate and monitor Section 504 plans for eligible students
• Participate in eligibility meetings, parent conferences, and accommodation planning
• Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations regarding student accommodation
• Collaborate with teachers and administration to support implementation of accommodations and intervention strategies

• Family and Community Engagement
• Maintain regular communication with parents/guardians regarding student progress, concerns, and post-secondary planning
• Conduct parent conferences and facilitate family engagement in student success planning
• Connect families with school and community resources when appropriate

• Data Management and Compliance
• Maintain accurate student records, transcripts, cumulative files, and confidential counseling documentation
• Ensure compliance with district, state, and federal regulations regarding student services
• Prepare reports related to graduation audits, scholarship tracking, home instruction, residency concerns, and student placements

• School Leadership and Collaboration
• Serve as an active member of the school counseling department and school leadership teams
• Collaborate with administrators, teachers, CST, nurses, social workers, and external partners
• Support school wide initiatives related to attendance, graduation rates, SEL, student discipline, and school climate
• Participate in professional development aligned with counseling best practices and district goals

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in School Counseling only
• Must have a valid New Jersey School Counselor Certification in hand
• Experience in high school counseling is highly preferred
• Strong knowledge of graduation requirements, scheduling systems, College Board, FAFSA, Naviance, NCAA, Dual Enrollment, and AP programming
• Experience with Section 504 coordination and NJTSS interventions
• Knowledge of HIB, crisis response, attendance law, and student support services
• Strong communication, leadership, organization, and collaboration skills

The ideal candidate is student-centered, highly organized, solutions-oriented, and committed to helping students successfully transition to graduation and beyond.