Academic Counselor

Position Summary: Assists students with decision-making processes relating to academic and personal goal achievement. The role will support 150-200 middle school and high school students.

Reports To: This position will report to the Principal.

Essential Responsibilities

Academic Counseling

• Determine Principal’s list and Honor Roll students for all grade levels after each quarter/semester when grades are finalized and create certificates for award ceremonies.
• Determine Valedictorian and Salutatorian for 8th grade and 12th grade and distribute acknowledgment letters to the students/parents.
• Check grades for all students in 6th-12th grade periodically throughout each quarter to track progress, especially for struggling students.
• Meet with students and their parents with poor academic performance in grades 6th-12th individually to discuss the plan to improve their grades.
• Determine which students need to be on probation based on analysis of their grades and standardized test scores and follow up with parents through letters, email, and meetings.
• Keep track of probation list and working with Admin to have certain students blocked/unblocked from registration for the following school year.
• Coordinate online based credit recovery classes for students who fail IFS courses or need to make up credit hours or want to graduate early.
• Educate students and parents regarding standardized testing such as the PSAT and AP testing in HS.
• Collaborate with Principal to schedule classes and create master schedule from PS-12th grade and meet with high school students regarding their course selection for the next year.
• Conduct course audits for each student in grades 9th-12th to determine which classes are needed for graduation.
• Serve as a liaison on the driver’s education course with Willowbrook High School and setting up a driver’s ed course at IFS with a private company.
• Coordinate the placement exams of students who take summer classes and their course placement thereafter in the appropriate classes.
• Handle requests for students to be promoted in MS or graduate HS early.
• Interview prospective IFS students.
• Review HS students’ transcripts before sending them to colleges.
• Add/edit transcripts, and transfer credits for new students.
• Assess course placement for 8th grade students transferring to public high schools, interact with public school staff regarding student records and standardized testing.
• Recommend transfer courses for hifz students interested in transferring to IFS.
• Coordinate service learning including sharing volunteer opportunities, creating and track forms that include hours volunteered for each student, and inputting hours into RenWeb for record keeping.

College/Career Counseling

• Conducting MS meetings in partnership with the library, tech, English teachers to introduce students to college/career planning and meet with students in 8th through High School.
• Contribute to newsletter on notices for college/career readiness to MS/HS students.
• Use Naviance with students, including Naviance account set-ups for all MS/HS students.
• Meet with 12th grade students in groups and individually during Fall of Senior year, guiding students on every aspect of the college application process from start to finish.
• Correspond with College admission officers regarding individual seniors and their college application.
• Coordinate the Dual-credit program of courses with the dual-credit teachers and College Of DuPage (COD) dual-credit department, sharing student information with COD and setting up time for students to take the necessary placement testing.
• Write letters of recommendations for each senior and complete their school reports for common application and/or sending transcripts via email and mail throughout the year.
• Train teachers on how to write letters of recommendation.
• Research scholarships and sharing important/relevant scholarships with students.
• Conduct College/Career Workshops for parents on preparing for the application process and completing FAFSA.
• Coordinating test-prep services for HS students, such as Practice ACT exams and Prep Classes/Seminars
• Coordinate Career Fair with NHS and bringing in professionals from various fields.
• Coordinate a College Fairs with college representatives, including senior and junior visits.
• Proctor exams (various exams throughout year such as PSAT, AP exam, SAT exams, Semester midterms and finals, WIDA testing with elementary)
• Compile all data for ACT/SAT scores and PSAT and AP scores and create graphs to submit to Director of Curriculum and the Principal.

Qualifications:

• 4 years of experience in Academic Counselor role required.
• Master of Arts in School Counseling required.
• Licensed Professional Counselor required.
• National Certified Counselor required.
• Strong time management and project management skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Positive attitude and desire to be resourceful. Ability to interact effectively with a variety of audiences and individuals.

Schedule

Monday to Friday – 7:30 am to 4:30 pm with a 30–minute scheduled break time.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Master's (Required)

Experience:

• Academic Counseling: 3 years (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Villa Park, IL 60181: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person