High School Placement Counselor (Ny)

Who We Are

Excellence Community Schools (ECS) is a charter management, non-profit organization. The mission of the Excellence Community Schools is to prepare young people to compete for admission to and succeed in top public, private, and parochial High Schools by cultivating their intellectual, artistic, social, and emotional, and ethical development through the Bronx Charter School for Excellence (Bronx Excellence) and the Stamford Charter School for Excellence (Stamford Excellence). Our network of schools accomplishes this by offering a challenging and rigorous academic curriculum which at the earliest of grades has an eye towards college preparation. We achieve this in a supportive and caring environment that at all times has high expectations of our students.

Who We Need

We are seeking individuals who are dedicated, ambitious, and committed to student success and education reform. Qualified candidates must demonstrate records of achievement, high degrees of personal responsibility, and the drive to do whatever it takes to ensure that every child achieves academic success. This individual must be committed to excellence, lead by example, and see collaboration as a key component of success.

The Position

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the School Principal and Student Advancement Lead, the High School Placement Counselor maintains overall responsibility for providing program support and managing school-based scholars and alumni relations programming, specifically targeting and supporting the middle school and early alumni community for Bronx Charter Schools for Excellence. The High School Placement Coordinator serves as a point of contact and a direct liaison to the Excellence Community Schools student advancement colleagues and other Excellence Community Schools leaders. In conjunction with Senior Leadership, the High School Placement Coordinator establishes close partnerships with Excellence Community Schools’ teaching staff, parents and guardians, as well as the surrounding public, private, and parochial High School’s admissions officers.

Qualifications

• Experience in High School access and/or success, education, or nonprofit industry.
• Experience teaching or working with 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Quick learner with the ability to inquire and be open to feedback.
• Demonstrated commitment for educational opportunity and equity for underrepresented youth.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.
• Possess strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate and work with multiple stakeholders within and outside of the organization.
• Experience with diverse communities or working collaboratively to engage youth in community-building, social and emotional learning.
• Experience with counseling or supporting families.
• Experience with supporting students with diverse learning styles and needs
• Master’s degree preferred
• Fluency in Spanish is a plus.
• **THIS POSITION REQUIRES YOU TO BE FULLY VACCINATED AND YOU MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF VACCINATION.**

Candidates who do not meet the above requirements will not be considered.

Requirements

Responsibilities

• Develop, cultivate and maintain pipeline relationships with Tri-State/Northeastern area High Schools and admissions representatives.
• Implement the 7th and 8th-grade High School prep curriculum that informs students about the placement opportunities in rigorous independent, charter, parochial, public, day, and boarding schools.

• Assist with planning and teaching 7th and 8th-grade High School Placement class including organizing for career, college, and High School guest speakers.
• Meet with 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade parents as a group and on an individual basis regarding the High School Placement process, including but not limited to: High School options, the application process, test prep, and financial aid.
• Prepare students for various High School admittance exams especially the ISEE, SSAT, TACHS
• Create an ongoing calendar for students and families detailing the admissions process, including open houses, visits by admissions personnel, admissions testing, and deadlines for applications and financial aid.
• Responsible for planning and coordinating Excellence Community Schools’ annual events including but not limited to: Enrichment Night; Career Week; Mock Interview Days, High School Fair, and Summer Immersion College program.
• Nominate and help scholars secure enrichment and arts-related programs.
• Arrange for middle school scholars to visit High Schools and arrange transportation for all open houses, visitation days. and entrance exams.
• Coordinate recommendation letters with teachers.
• Maintain excellent and up-to-date records pertaining to all student application processes, school decisions and financial aid details.
• Implement mock application process and administer benchmark exams.
• Maintain and revise the database of potential placement in High Schools.
• Schedule in-person and virtual meetings with High School admissions representatives.
• Communicate closely and regularly with parents regarding the High School application process via phone, email, text and in-person meetings.
• Communicate closely and regularly with schools regarding student applications via phone, email, and in-person visits.
• Track all student and family contact information and create contact notes for each student and family encounter.
• Provide support to the Student Advancement Team on all initiatives.
• Maintain accurate alumni data collection and inquiry into the school’s database and assist with the dissemination of all documentation and information to 8th-grade students and families in coordination with the Student Advancement Department to track alumni.
• Research and implement summer enrichment opportunities, job and volunteer opportunities for students.
• Assist with tracking and reporting academic progress for 9th & 10th-grade alumni.
• Provide individual support and follow-up as needed to ensure collect enrollment and academic progress for alumni.
• Assist the Senior Director with marketing initiatives for alumni engagement.
• Assist the student advancement team with soliciting feedback from alumni through focus groups and surveys to identify areas for improvement to better prepare our students to succeed in High School and college.
• Complete administrative projects and tasks at the discretion of the Chief of Schools and Innovation.
• Performs other associated duties and projects as assigned.
• Conducts one’s self professionally.

Benefits

Compensation

• Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Salary range - ($65,000-$75,000)
• Health Insurance, dental, vision & 403b Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off/Paid Sick Leave/Parental Leave/FMLA
• Short-term, Long-term Disability benefits and Life Insurance

To learn more about our schools, please visit www.excellencecommunityschools.org and www.stamfordexcellence.org.