Secondary School Counselor (Temporary)

Wonderful College Prep Academy is a charter network in California's Central Valley committed to providing a world-class education for all students. The Academy's mission is to graduate students prepared to earn a college degree and to put them on a promising career path for life. We believe this begins with a nurturing, engaging, community-centered school environment where students develop a strong and well-rounded academic foundation. Ultimately, this will prepare generations of leaders in the Central Valley who are critical thinkers and life-long learners. 

All students have access to technology, from hands-on-STEM learning for younger students in a fully equipped "maker's space" to one-to-one school-provided devices for all students. The Academy aims to provide every opportunity for our students that often is not found in public or charter schools, including the ability to graduate from high school with a free associate degree. Through a unique partnership with Bakersfield College, our students enroll in college classes starting in 9th grade and complete all their A-G requirements, in addition to their AS Degree requirements over the course of four years. In addition, all graduates are eligible to earn a four-year renewable college scholarship through the generous support of Lynda and Stewart Resnick. 

We seek thoughtful, inclusive, skilled communicators and creative problem-solvers who value continuous learning and who are excited to serve our students and families. Now is the time to join a team making enduring change within the Central Valley of California and beyond! 

Click here to learn more about the Wonderful Company's other great philanthropic partnerships. 

This role provides school counseling to further the goals of academic achievement, vocational direction, and personal-social development. The counselor contributes to the achievement of these goals in ways that are appropriate and unique to them, given their position and specialized training. The principal goal of the counselor is to provide services that will enable the student to become aware of his own potential by utilizing his own resources as well as those of his environment so that he can maximize his efforts to become a more self-directed, fully functioning individual.

Essential Job Functions:

• Shared Vision: Supports a vision of excellence for all students, with an urgency to maximize every opportunity necessary to achieve ambitious student outcomes
• Classroom Support: As determined by academic and mental health teams, supports learning and emotional growth amongst all students.
• Campus Safety and Supervision: Supports campus supervision as needed to ensure student safety at all times
• Reinforcement Activities: Provides instructional staff to support all students as needed through consultations and collaborations.
• Community Outreach: Demonstrates commitment to the community by communicating regularly with families and attending key community events

• Services Credential in a specialization in Pupil Personnel Services, required
• Credential: Possession of a valid California Teaching Credential, preferred
• Experience: At least 2 years of demonstrated successful K-12 teaching experience as a fully credentialed teacher is preferred.
• Education: Master’s Degree in Counseling or related field from an accredited college or university required.

Skills, Knowledge:

• Works with students who are faced with decisions regarding school adjustment and achievement, the determination of long-range educational planning, the investigation of vocational pursuits, and effective personal-social adjustment.
• Uses various preventive techniques, rather than punitive ones, to help students develop self-discipline. Assists staff and students in finding ways to change students’ behavior that is inconsistent with the goals of the school or the students’ own long-range goals.
• Creates through group counseling and peer counseling a friendly atmosphere in which students may meet together and explore common problems and relationships.
• Serves as a resource to the school’s I.A.P. in evaluating and updating the school’s curriculum.
• Provides input into the curriculum to reflect student abilities and needs.
• Understands and provides curriculum information to students. Schedules students into proper classes after consultation with parent and student, keeping in mind the student’s abilities and needs.
• Inform students about promotion, graduation requirements, college entrance requirements, and entry-level job requirements.
• Interprets standardized test scores to students, their parents, and staff members.
• Arranges for special testing for students and for those students whose behavior and/or progress indicate a need for special diagnosis.
• Disseminates information about and assists students with post-school opportunities.
• Informs students about all available sources of scholarship and financial aid and encourages and assists them in obtaining all financial awards for which they are eligible.
• Assists in providing for smooth transition between schools and levels of schools (elementary to junior high, junior high to high school, high school to college) by providing information regarding registration, program, and orientation.
• Coordinates all information concerning an individual student for use by teachers, other staff members, parents, social welfare workers, probation agencies, and community agencies. Refers students and parents, through the appropriate channels, to either outside agencies or specialized services within the school system.
• Writes letters of recommendation as requested by the student to other institutions or to prospective employers.
• Assist in improving unsatisfactory attendance and tardiness on the part of students by conferring with students and parents.
• Assists in exploring alternative solutions for those students who may not succeed in the regular school program.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

• Environment: Office environment; fast-paced work, constant interruptions.
• Physical requirements: Hearing and speaking to exchange information, make presentations and communicate over the telephone; seeing to read, prepare, and proofread documents and view computer monitors; sitting or standing for extended periods of time; dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment; kneeling, bending at the waist, and reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally, to retrieve and store files and supplies; lifting light objects; ability to go to sites apart from primary office to conduct business.

Pay Range: $94,782.00 - $131,648.94. Final compensation will be dependent upon skills & experience.

Compensation: 

• Wonderful College Prep Academy offers highly competitive compensation, commensurate with experience. 
• Full-time staff benefits include medical coverage, dental, vision, and life insurance at no cost to the employee.  
• For eligible employees, WCPA contributes 19% to CalSTRS. Alternatively, employees may participate in a 403(b) plan with up to 5% employer match (if not receiving CalSTRS contributions).  
• Employees have free access to the Wonderful Wellness Center and gym.  

Quality of Life in the Central Valley: 

Framed by the Sierra Nevada to the east and the Coast Ranges to the west, California's Central Valley is one of the world's most productive agricultural regions and the base of The Wonderful Company's agricultural operations. This vast area enjoys a moderate climate and offers residents a high quality of life, low cost of living, and a host of diverse cultural and recreational activities. From wine tasting and hiking to rafting, fishing, skiing, and surfing -- all within a two-hour drive -- the family-friendly Central Valley has much to offer. 

Wonderful College Prep Academy is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. 

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