High School Placement Counselor and Advisor 85% Position

Overview of School

Prospect Sierra is an independent, coed TK–8 school located on two campuses in El Cerrito, California, serving 440 students. Prospect Sierra gives students the tools to build a better world by integrating rigorous academics with a deep understanding of human emotions. Every day our exceptional teachers connect students’ academic experiences to ethics, empathy, and social and emotional intelligence. The result is deeper intellectual engagement, greater self-knowledge, and compassionate relationships. Prospect Sierra students develop courage to become not just great students, but great people.

Overview of Position

This position is for a High School Placement Counselor.  The successful candidate will report to the Middle School Division Head.

Prospect Sierra graduates typically attend high schools throughout the Bay Area, with about a third each enrolling at independent schools, parochial schools, and public schools. The High School Placement Counselor works closely with the 8th-grade team of teachers to ensure adequate academic and social-emotional progress among all of our 8th graders.

Responsibilities of High School Placement Job:

Assist, guide, communicate, and meet with students and families throughout the high school application process, which begins in the spring of 7th grade and continues through the 8th grade year.
Visit local high schools (both public and private) to understand the array of choices available to families.
Be an ambassador for Prospect Sierra with Bay Area high schools and build relationships with private school admission officers.
Manage a Parent Information Evening in the spring for 7th-grade families and the fall for 8th-grade families outlining the high school process and timeline for public and private schools.
Coordinate a Public School Alumni Panel event in the winter for 8th grade families.
Meet with 7th graders as a group in the spring to familiarize students with the role of counselor and answer questions
Schedule, attend, and prepare 8th grade students for high school lunchtime presentations.
Read Prospect Sierra middle school progress reports to get to know students.
Offer a high school application elective, once per week during the fall, focusing on essay writing, interview prep, and test prep.
Guide and support students and families as they prepare for standardized tests, including the HSPT, ISEE, and SSAT.
Be a member of the 8th-grade team and attend team meetings.
Build relationships with students to know and advocate for them.
Write the private school “Principal/Counselor” recommendations.
Support families and recommendation writers to submit application components in a timely fashion.
Provide teachers with an up-to-date list of students applying to schools.
Collaborate with the Dean of Students to co-teach high school lessons in Life Skills 3 times per school year.
Collaborate with Associate Head of Program and Professional Development to gather and analyze placement data from alumni.
Work closely with the Assistant to Head of School to plan 8th grade graduation; work closely with 8th grade team to prepare students for graduation.
Support and train math and humanities teachers to write letters of recommendation.
Serve on the Prospect Sierra Middle School Admissions Committee, reading and evaluating applications.

Responsibilities of Advisor Role:

Lead an 8th-grade advisory – oversee the overall well-being of a group of students, lead daily morning meetings, communicate with families, facilitate student-led conferences
Serve on the 8th grade team and work collaboratively with faculty team members and take on leadership roles on occasion
Supervise advisees during afternoon Study Halls
Attend and support the 8th grade week-long overnight student study trip
Support the division and team with carrying out recess duties and other small tasks.

Required Qualifications

The candidate must have:

Appreciation for and desire to work with middle school students
Commitment to early adolescent education and social/emotional development
Commitment to creating an inclusive community that allows for a multitude of perspectives to be heard and respected
Ability and willingness to work in teams
Ability to effectively communicate and partner with students, families, and staff
A passion to advocate for Prospect Sierra students
Knowledge of the essential role social emotional literacy plays in the workplace and interest in application of SEL within the educational setting
Nuanced understanding of DEI/social justice knowledge from a personal or programmatic perspective
Ability to use and learn how to use various tech platforms such as Google Suite (Google Docs, Sheets, Forms), Slack, Parentsquare, Classkick, etc.
Excellent interpersonal skills
Strong organizational skills
Ability to be flexible and adaptable
The ideal candidate would also have:

Familiarity with the high school admissions and financial aid process
Familiarity with Ravenna, Finalsite, Clarity, and other family-facing enrollment systems
Experience working with high schools
Experience in the high school placement process
Willingness to take on leadership roles as needed

Duties school-wide include:

Participation on other committees as needed and appropriate
Ancillary duties as needed for school-wide operation

Salary

The salary is competitive. Benefits included.

How to Apply

Email a resume, a one-page cover letter, and a list of three references with contact information to: Nathan Tanaka, Middle School Division Head

Email: avisjobs@prospectsierra.org (include “High School Placement Counselor” in the subject line)

Prospect Sierra School is an equal opportunity employer. Our community is diverse in many ways, inclusive of race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender spectrum, age, ability, and more. We welcome and value the same in our faculty and staff.

Tagged as: Middle School