High School Guidance Counselor

Durham Charter is seeking an outstanding individual to be part of the State of North Carolina’s first charter school to open its doors to students. Located in a historic building in the West End neighborhood of downtown Durham, Durham Charter is an independent charter school, founded 26 years ago by members of the Durham community. Durham Charter serves approximately 600 students from across the county in grades K-9, the vast majority of who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch.

Our school is led by a dynamic and proven leadership team. We look for driven individuals who seek to transform the school while preserving its history and connection to the Durham community. We believe that race, income, or zip code does not determine destiny, and we are seeking an individual who wants to be part of this unique opportunity.

The Early College Liaison Guidance Counselor is responsible for the development, implementation and support of the Guidance and Early College Program at Durham Charter School. Under the direction of the Principal, this position is responsible for providing a proactive, values-based developmental guidance program to encourage all students to maximize personal growth and development. The Early College Liaison and Guidance Counselor is responsible for building student, family and staff understanding of the Guidance and Early College Program to ensure equitable participation. Working together with Durham Tech and Durham Charter School personnel, the Early College Liaison and Guidance Counselor will maintain and develop collaborations, including support mechanisms, that serve to better prepare students for college and careers and support their progress and success.

50% Responsible for the development, implementation and support of the Early College Program

• Collaborating with High School and Durham Tech personnel, maintain knowledge and implement guidelines and criteria related to the students’ eligibility for enrollment in the Early College Program.
• In meetings twice a year, collaborate with Durham Tech and DCS personnel to review, evaluate and revise as needed guidelines and criteria related to Early College Program. Revise MOU as needed.
• Develop, coordinate, and/or execute online and print marketing and promotion strategies intended to raise awareness and understanding of the Early College program among staff, students, families, and community members.
• Coordinate all activities related to Early College Program participation including, but not limited to four-year plan development, orientation, application, registration, advising, support services (tutoring, counseling), book purchases, transportation schedule, course withdrawal, and the submission of final course grades to High School administrators in a timely fashion.
• Collaborate with identified Durham Tech personnel to develop individualized four year plans.
• Understand the master schedule process and work side-by-side with the principal to schedule students’ High School coursework to meet the needs of identified college pathway.
• Collaborate weekly with the Durham Tech College Liaison, faculty and High School staff or as needed to ensure academic and social success for students.
• Create goggle classroom for Early College Program participants and schedule weekly meetings to review progress and provide services as needed.
• Schedule meetings with parents of Early College Program participants to keep them informed.
• Create and implement student achievement recognition for students’ success in college courses.
• Create and maintain student files, which include updated contact information, registration materials, student transcripts, state test results, and signed copies of student contracts (i.e., knowledge and agreement of student expectations and responsibilities in the successful completion of coursework, and in classroom behavior and participation) for evaluation and reporting purposes.
• Attend meetings and events, engage in professional development, serve on committees as needed, and create presentations to report out on student achievement.

50% The function of this position will be to serve as a counselor at Durham Charter School High School

• Develop and implement a values-based, culturally competent comprehensive counseling program that includes short-range as well as long-range goals, including individual/group multiyear plans.
• Assist with the development of a college going culture by facilitating such activities as college visits, career fairs, and guest speakers.
• Create goggle classroom to teach guidance curriculum.
• Develop and coordinate a continuing evaluation of guidance program and make changes based on findings.
• Maintain confidentiality with student information (meetings and records), while adhering to confidentiality laws.
• Assist students in evaluating their values, interests and skills through the interpretation of results of career guidance lessons, individual standardized test scores and other pertinent data and work with students to develop and update academic and career plans.
• Work with teachers and other staff members to familiarize them with the general range of services offered by the guidance department and to improve the educational prospects of individual students being counseled.
• Work with faculty, staff, and family regarding student attitude, attendance, progress, and performance.
• Inform teachers and parents of special services available for students.
• Establish an effective working relationship with outside services and make appropriate referrals for services.
• Provide information and/or professional development to teachers, administrators, and other school staff.
• Keep abreast of current trends in counseling, guidance, student/school legal issues, dual enrollment.
• Record and monitor credit accrued toward fulfilling High School graduation requirements.
• Provide counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.
• Assist students in dealing with family, interpersonal, and educational issues.
• Recognize overt indicators of student distress/abuse and take appropriate intervention, referral, actions.
• Provide crisis intervention services, including follow-up services as appropriate.
• Provide interventions for at-risk students and those with special learning and behavioral needs.
• Supervise the preparation and processing of college, scholarship, financial aid and employment applications.
• Assist with career technical education (CTE) pathways and help with guidance and information for students seeking a future other than college.
• Meet with representatives of career technical education post-secondary schools and the military services to discuss their programs and requirements and arrange meetings with students.
• Actively develop and seek partnerships with higher education and other organizations.
• Recommend to the principal and supervises work experience programs.
• Conduct a personal assessment periodically to determine professional development needs.
• Support school improvement initiatives by active participation in school activities, services, and programs.
• Performs other assigned duties as deemed necessary to fulfill the role of High School counselor by the principal.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in counseling related field and two years of experience in guidance counseling and college access field.
• North Carolina Driver’s License and the ability to drive between school sites, Durham Technical Community College and sites as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in counseling and 1 year of experience as Guidance Counselor and 2 years of experience as College Liaison in an early college High School or community college setting.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrate ability to work with students from diverse cultural, economic, and ability backgrounds.
• Evidence of strong interpersonal skills, organizational skills and effective oral and written communication/public relations skills.
• Excellent problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to work independently and within a team.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Excellent classroom management skills.
• Ability to make presentations and large audiences.
• Ability to think creatively and put ideas into action.
• Ability to work with data to conduct program evaluation.
• Excellent computer skills as evidenced by experience with Microsoft Office and Google Classroom and other presentations tools.

Physical Job Requirements:

• The position involves responding to changing technology
• Extended periods of standing when teaching and sitting during meetings and deskwork
• Repetitive motion keyboarding activities for classroom preparation or grading
• Extended periods of speaking and/or voice projection
• May lift equipment or supplies up to 25 lbs.

Mental Job Requirements:

The position requires:

• prioritizing work duties, organizing classroom settings, and taking the initiative to explore new activities and ideas to enhance student learning
• conflict resolution and the need to effectively present information to peers, students, parents, and colleagues.
• communicating unit/lesson objectives and content.
• Ability to respond to concerns or requests from parents and community members in a timely manner.

Working Conditions:

• Duties are generally performed in a typical classroom/school setting, which typically includes moderate noise from students, computers, and other work-related equipment.
• Work may also be performed where there are minimal environmental hazards and risks.
• Employees may be exposed occasionally to disagreeable conditions involving human/student/parental contact
• Work is occasionally performed outdoors in a variety of weather conditions
• Work may involve travel between buildings, within the building, and in the work area
• Work will occasionally require additional time in the evenings or non-school days for staff development training or attendance.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: In person