College Counselor

Overview
At Brooklyn Ascend High School (BAHS), we are looking for teachers who are passionate about their academic discipline and personally driven by the academic achievement of their students. Ascend teachers hold exceptionally high intellectual expectations of their students and create a culture of joyful academic discovery in their rooms. Their aim is to ignite intellectual curiosity in their students and build their academic knowledge and confidence in preparation for four-year colleges. They are vigilant in ensuring that all tasks placed before their students are rigorous and, without exception, reflect the school's aspirations of academic excellence.
We are passionate about history teachers who are fired up about their lessons-who want to spend their time discussing, preparing, and immersing themselves in the rich content they teach. We value teachers who truly listen to what students are saying-who create a space for students to think their way through to answers, and who praise their insights and curiosities along the way. We value educators with a hunger for feedback and professional growth, and a dedication to excellence.
Our teachers know that a strong culture that respects and motivates students relies on excellent academic teaching in every room. We believe in restorative practices and teach students to resolve conflicts on their own, understand the impact of their actions, and acknowledge responsibility to the school community. We believe that a true liberal arts education - which fosters and prizes critical thinking and independence of thought-cannot be joined to a no-excuses culture that emphasizes silence and compliance. We prepare students for success in college and in life by fostering agency-our students' confidence that they are in control of their own lives and can act of their own free choices. Discover more about BAHS.
Responsibilities
College readiness teacher responsibilities:
Teaching

• Plan and lead instruction for college seminar classes
• Lead SAT prep instruction
• Utilize formal and informal assessment data to drive instruction and ensure student mastery of standards
• Communicate progress towards four year graduation requirements to families
• Build a motivating and inclusive classroom environment using restorative practices
• Create and maintain strong relationships with students and families
• Ensure that students exit the course with a summer opportunity or plan; a resume; and preparation for college research, interviews, and academic success

Management

• Manage summer opportunity process for all students
• Ensure all summer placement metrics are met by all advisors
• Manage and supervise summer opportunity advisors in their work supporting students with securing summer placements
• Manage and supervise college seminar assistant teacher(s) in their work teaching college seminar

Programming

• Manage, plan, and implement in-house career exploration related events
• Manage the creation and upkeep of the summer program guidebook
• Support summer career fair
• Plan and chaperon college trips
• Support students in applying to summer programs
• Assist with standardized testing administration

Staff and reporting relationships
The college readiness teacher reports to the college and post-secondary success chair.
Qualifications

• Minimum of three years' teaching experience; experience in an urban setting preferred
• Demonstrated experience with SAT preparation, college access and alumni success work, and teaching/tutoring (ELA or Math disciplines) required
• Knowledge of current trends and topics facing higher education institutions affecting students and college retention rates
• Strong ability to develop and maintain positive and strategic relationships with colleges and universities
• Ability to provide assurance and counsel students experiencing the typical challenges associated with the college search process by creating an environment where students feels safe, supported, and challenged
• Passion for higher education accessibility and completion of college for first generation and underserved students
• Understanding and awareness of barriers that underrepresented, low-income, and/or first-generation populations face on their pursuit to a college degree.
• Relentless drive to set and achieve ambitious goals
• Strong collaboration and teamwork skills
• Creative, strategic, and meticulous thinker in assessing and improving current college counseling program and developing new elements to enrich the quality of the program
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Alignment with a restorative approach to discipline, where discipline is approached an opportunity for learning, growth, and community-building
• Trustworthiness and ability to maintain the utmost confidentiality

Diversity at Ascend
Ascend and its schools are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community, both through our hiring practices and our focus on creating a culture and environment where diverse perspectives, ideas, and identities are valued and integrated into our way of working and educating students. Ascend staff represent a wide diversity of racial, socio-economic, gender, religious, and national identities-opening a window to the entire Ascend community on the richness of humanity. We welcome all applicants who share our mission and vision to join us in our deeply consequential work.
Compensation
Initial salary offers for this position range from $60,000-$90,000. Salaries are determined using an equitable compensation scale that accounts for years of experience and levels of attained education.