School Counselor - Virginia Connections Academy

School Counselor - Virginia Connections Academy

Virginia Connections Academy is a tuition-free online public school available to students throughout the state, including Shenandoah Valley, Tidewater, and more. Authorized by the Scott County School Division, Virginia Connections Academy is state certified and open to students from all over Virginia.

Position Summary and Responsibilities

Working out of your home in Virginia, the School Counselor will assist students and parents/learning coaches with course selection and scheduling and will be the initial point of contact for student concerns that span multiple subject areas as well as non-academic issues. The School Counselor will become an expert on course and credit requirements and will work with the Manager of Counseling Services to establish counseling processes for middle and high school students.

The School Counselor will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:

• Advising students and families related to academics, career planning and graduation;
• Keeping abreast of all high school graduation requirements, including special requirements such as community service, and communicating this information to the Manager of Counseling and to the principal;
• Assisting 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 helping students and parents develop a Four Year Plan for meeting graduation requirements;
• Advising 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;
• Reviewing student transcripts and the entry of credits into the online transcript system;
• Following procedures to ensure that Connections Academy transcripts are accurate and up-to-date;
• Working with administrative assistants to obtain school records from the student’s previous school (where applicable) and forwarding student records when appropriate;
• Implementing programs for students and families related to interpersonal adjustment issues;
• Working with school teams to identify and help families access school and community resources;
• Participating in the development of crisis prevention and management plans for the school and serving as a key member of the Student Support Team (SST);
• Coordinating a team of middle and high school teachers to help identify students who are “at risk” or “in crisis”;
  Acting as the main point of contact for these students and families, communicating regularly with them;
• Overseeing and maintaining the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) for each student;
• Implementing efforts to secure complete and accurate records for Connections Academy students;
• Supporting families through the school withdrawal process, assisting with data collection regarding withdrawal;
• Reporting and referring critical incidents that jeopardize student well-being as obligated by law, administrative regulations, or ethical standards. Staying abreast of all state regulations relating to incident reporting and documentation;
• Assisting teachers when students enroll mid-semester, making sure that teachers receive guidance on integrating the students into their coursework, and ensuring that previous grades, credits, and evaluations are handled appropriately;
• Communicating with the Curriculum Team to ensure that curriculum offerings meet state requirements;
• Implementing special programs such as Advanced Placement support, SAT and ACT Preparation, and college entrance preparation;
• Understanding the requirements for and assisting the principal to facilitate the administration of all high school testing, including exit exams, PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams;
• Helping students to research and understand their post-secondary career and educational options;
• Assisting with student preparation of applications for college and jobs;
• Educating students and parents about college admissions requirements and financial aid;
• Supporting professional development activities for teachers and school staff members;
• Assuming teaching and grading…