Director Of Academic Counseling

Director of Academic Counseling

Purpose: Position is responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and monitoring the district's school academic counseling program. Position conducts staff development; supervises and mentors school counselors and graduation coaches; and ensures the effective utilization of staff and resources.

Reports to: Chief Student Support Officer

Primary Job Responsibilities:

• Establish a comprehensive school counseling system that is based on data, the fidelity of implementation, continuous improvement, grounded in MTSS, and produces results reports that are grounded in appropriate and measurable process, perception, and outcome data.

• Lead, coach and develop all counseling staff including academic counselors and graduation coaches.

• Lead the design and implementation of developmentally appropriate classroom and school-wide guidance curriculum activities focused on emotional intelligence and behaviors all students need for postsecondary readiness and personal success.

• Lead efforts to focus all K-12 staff on the goal of graduating students who are enrolled, enlisted, or employed.

• Collaborate with applicable staff to ensure that all students are engaged in career awareness, exploration, and readiness activities.

• Support high school leaders in developing strategies to evaluate and respond to cohort graduation rate, dropout rate, and enrolled, enlisted, or employed metrics.

• Facilitate the scholarship process to include marketing scholarship opportunities, measuring scholarships received across Rowan-Salisbury schools, and seeking additional opportunities for all students.

• Collaborate with the district athletic director to facilitate processes needed for student athletes to participate in a collegiate athletics program.

• Collaborate with families/teachers/administrators/community to develop strategies that lead to student success.

• Coordinate with the district data manager to ensure alignment of data processes and student records

• Lead training of School Administrators in the use of the NC School Counselor Evaluation Instrument.

• Support the policies and procedures related to the maintenance, storage, and access of all active and archived student records.

• Coordinate school counseling compliance with federal, state, and local regulations by studying existing and new requirements and overseeing and enforcing school-wide adherence to requirements.

• Participate in committees and advisory groups across partnering city agencies, community groups, coalitions, etc. relevant to to promote the efforts of the RSS counseling program, coordinate efforts, and achieve goals.

• Facilitate a strong relationship with institutions of higher education within Rowan County (Rowan Cabarrus Community College, Livingstone College, and Catawba College) and outside of Rowan County.

• Provide strategic input in facilitating effective decision-making regarding student success.

• Work closely with others to create and deliver meaningful reports, data visualizations, and other materials as necessary for all counseling needs

• Provide support during school crises and emergency situations.

• Prepare and monitor the assigned program's budget.

• Participate in annual training to stay current on laws, policies, and procedures regarding student wellness.

• Attend school board meetings as necessary.

• Represent the district in matters of student wellbeing through involvement with local, state, and national organizations.

• Perform other work as required.

Qualifications:

• Five+ years successful experience in providing academic counseling in an educational setting.

• Master's Degree in applicable field; or any like combination of education and experience.

• Licensed in School Counseling.

• Licensed in School Administration (preferred).

• Ability to lead, coach and mentor others.

• Ability to lead well through difficulty and crisis.

• Strong initiative and ability to anticipate issues proactively.

• Professional and strong verbal and written communication skills as well as interpersonal skills.

• Discreet, able to handle confidential and proprietary information appropriately.

Physical Requirements:

• Requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force

• Regularly requires sitting, speaking, or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions

• Occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling with hands and arms, pushing, or pulling and lifting

• Requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating machines and observing general surroundings and activities

• Ability to work in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic)

Term of Employment: 12 months

Salary: Central Office Leadership Scale - Director III