43.COLLEGE & CAREER COUNSELOR.001

This is a 1.0 FTE position assigned to a comprehensive high school that requires a Master’s degree in school counseling.  The college and career counselor provides counseling and other supports to students to evaluate their skills, abilities, and post-secondary interests through review and interpretation of academic records, administration of interest inventories, providing college and career information, and assessing career goals.  The college and career counselor helps students with decision-making skills, which could lead to increased academic achievement, personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.  The college and career counselor assists with college and career application procedures, searches, selections, resume writing, and scholarship searches/applications/selections.

The college and career counselor receives general supervision from the high school principal and/or the Director of Counseling Services.  

Responsibilities: 

• Good knowledge of career education, career assessment  instruments, programs, and practices.
• Good knowledge of the application processes for post-secondary educational institutions, including applications for financial aid and scholarships.
• Good knowledge of job application, resume writing and interview procedures.
• Good knowledge of the community, its organizations, and its businesses.
• Ability to interpret information from tests, academic records, student career interests, and career goals.
• Ability to gain and retain the confidence and cooperation of students, professional staff, parents, employers, college representatives, and community business leaders.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to provide counseling to students regarding academic, college and career planning.
• Ability to use a variety of programs such as Word, Excel, Naviance, Powerpoint, Outlook and Student Information systems
• Ability to collect and use data relevant to job tasks.

Experience: 

• Provide student and parent workshops on topics related to college and career education and development of life skills.
• Work with area businesses who hire teens and provide follow-up on employment opportunities.
• Assist in the administration of standardized tests, including college entrance exams as needed.
• Provide leadership in the administration of career interest inventories
• Provide counseling to students to promote good decision making skills related to college and career interests and required academic preparation
• Maintain a current file of scholarship opportunities available to students; publish a monthly scholarship newsletter; and provide information concerning selective scholarship application procedures.
• Provide information on internship and mentorship contacts and employment counseling.
• Collaborate with the Arlington Career Center and the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education.
• Counsel students concerning application writing and interviewing techniques.
• Assist students and parents with applications for financial aid.
• May coordinate career day exhibitions, career week activities, etc.
• Develop and maintains an electronic college/post-secondary information library and a career education curriculum information library.
• Maintain current listings for part- and full-time job openings and disseminates this information.
• Develop effective relationships with numerous local businesses and organizations in the community to encourage employment of youth.
• Arrange school visits from post-secondary educational institutions and military representatives.  
• Assist with the Arlington Public Schools College Night Program.
• Develop senior statistics; responsible for administering the annual Senior Survey
• Assist students in securing work permits
• Perform other grade level focused counseling activities as required or assigned. ​
• Assist with responsibilities associated with AP testing, accommodations and Dual Enrollment assessments.
• Assists with and monitors Naviance tasks related to college and career counseling.
• Participates in district and site-based professional learning and is a regular member of the counseling team within the school.
• Coordinates with the Minority Achievement Coordinator and other Student Services staff to provide college and career supports for students.

Qualifications: 

• Must have or be eligible for Virginia licensure in Counseling.
• Master's Degree in school counseling with knowledge and experience in career education.
• The college and career counselor  meets frequently with students, instructional staff, support staff, parents of
  students, and college and career counselors  from other schools. The college and career counselor also hosts college representatives and represents APS to colleges through visits, phone calls, emails and other contact.
• Dual endorsement in English as a Second Language and/or Special Education, or in any other content area, is preferred but not required.

Salary:

•  Salary will be based on the FY2025-26 salary schedule