Guidance Counselor

Job Description

Wissahickon Charter School is looking for a Guidance Counselor for our Awbury site for the 2024-25 school year. The Guidance Counselor's primary responsibilities include providing individual and group counseling and crisis intervention across grades K-8. The position also includes helping to manage the high school admissions process and teaching guidance classes. The ideal candidate will have a Master's degree in social work and will have experience working with students in an urban setting.

Key Responsibilities

Counseling

Working with the existing guidance counselor, establish schedules and provide individual, group and IEP-mandated counseling

Work as part of the administrative team to determine trends in students' social and emotional needs across the school

Work collaboratively with the existing guidance counselor, school leaders, teachers, learning specialists, and other staff to support students

Provide crisis prevention/ intervention, including steps related to child abuse, suicide, bullying and homelessness

Support classroom teachers with behavior and emotional concerns of students

Act as a liaison for outside agencies as needed

Participate in student-focused meetings and hearings

Establish and maintain relationships with families through regular communication, updates and opportunities for involvement

Track student data to help inform interventions

Supervise and monitor the Peace Center, our hub for student-led conflict resolution

Possible Additional Duties

High School Application Preparation

Stay abreast of current high school admissions processes

Build and maintain relationships with School District of Philadelphia, charter, private, parochial and alternative high schools and admissions staff

Coordinate and manage all administrative duties related to the high school admissions process, including hosting events for families and students and working with teachers to provide necessary documentation

Teaching

Plan and teach up to 8 guidance classes a week to 5th-8th graders, including content related to high school admissions, career planning, puberty, sexual education, financial literacy and other topics relevant to students' needs

Consistently implement classroom management and grading practices

Overall Professionalism

Exemplify WCS's CARES values (Collaboration, Academic Excellence, Responsibility, Empathy, Self-Reflection) in interactions with all students, families, colleagues and community partners

Seek out and be receptive to feedback from the Middle School Principal, existing guidance counselor, and peers

Participate in all professional development and team planning meetings

Qualifications

Required

Master's degree in a position-related field

All required FBI & PA clearances

Belief that all children can learn and succeed

Belief in WCS's mission and vision

Collaborative work style; including maturity, humility, and a sense of humor

Strong oral and written communication skills with all constituents

High level of personal organization, planning, and follow-through

Flexibility to adjust strategies in order to reach goals

Receptiveness to feedback, positive attitude, and a desire to continuously improve

Willingness to speak openly and honestly about issues of race and equity and to work to dismantle white supremacist culture

Strongly preferred

Master's in Counseling or Social Work

Minimum of 2 years counseling experience in an urban school

Familiarity/experience with Philadelphia high school admissions process

Prior K-8 teaching experience

Compensation:

This is a full time, 10-month position with 100% employer-paid benefits (medical, dental and vision) for the employee and any spouse or dependents.

About Wissahickon Charter School

Wissahickon Charter School's first campus, Fernhill, opened in 2002 and serves 480 K-8 students from across Philadelphia. Our second K-8 campus, Awbury, opened in the fall of 2014. The mission of Wissahickon Charter School (WCS) is to provide a community of learning that stimulates and builds the child's intellectual, social, and character development.

How to Apply

Wissahickon Charter School is committed to hiring a diverse staff and encourages those from traditionally under-represented backgrounds to apply. Wissahickon Charter School does not discriminate in hiring or employment, or in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, or other programs.