Middle School Counselor

Our Mission

Fueled by the belief that talent is ubiquitous, the Academy Group unlocks opportunity for young people from the most

resilient communities to realize their full potential.

Program Model

The Academy Group is a fourteen-year journey that develops students’ core understanding of wealth creation, business,

leadership, and justice topics. We accept rising fourth-grade and tenth-grade students. Their journey begins with

summer and school year programming that includes experiential learning, high school, college, and career awareness.

Also, the students have access to academic acceleration and differentiated enrichment experiences.

The Academy Group Elementary School Counselor Summary:

The Elementary School Counselor is an instrumental member of the Academy team. The counselor provides highly

individualized, small, and large group support to Academy students as they progress from 4th grade through college.

The counselor engages with students, families, school partners, the Academy team, and others to ensure every student

experiences exceptional social, emotional and academic support, and builds the agency and belief to excel in school,

work, and life.

The counselor is assigned a caseload of students and is responsible for executing the Academy advisory structure and

pedagogy and working in close partnership with the Lead Advisor to ensure every Academy student receives the

support necessary to succeed. The counselor reports to the Lead Advisor.

Success will require deep knowledge of advising systems and student development; leadership aptitude and ability to

harness the assets of diverse teammates; consciousness of social justice and systemic inequity; willingness to create and

modify programming based on evidence, new ideas, and individual student needs; incorporating empathy and trauma

informed interventions within programs and structures; and always being authentic.

The Counselor’s approach to the work should reflect the core values and habits of the Academy staff: tireless focus on

excellence, determination in spite of obstacles, impeccable integrity, willingness to work hard, ability to learn from

multiple sources, relentless focus on results, constant reflection and self-awareness, zest, social intelligence, and

pertinacity.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Define and focus the advising program based on the academic, attendance, and socio-emotional data
• Provide direct student services through instruction, appraisal, and advisement, and advising
• Execute highly individualized advising support for a cohort of elementary school students in fourth and fifth grade
  
  

with key goals and adjustments to levers of support, based on evidence of effectiveness and individual student

needs

• Provide support and indirect student services through consultation, collaboration, and referrals.
• Instill a culture of intensive individualized support, rapid response to issues as they arise, and tracking and
  
  

responding to all aspects of student growth and development

• Practice and promote asset-based thinking with students, among staff and families
• Support a culture of academic and personal excellence by working with colleagues to develop and reinforce a
  
  

culture grounded in pertinacity

Additional Shared Accountabilities/duties

• Build agency and belief in Academy students
  
  

Elementary School Advisor Job Description

• Promote individual student success
• Communicate with student, families, and the Academy team regarding student progress
• Coordinate student advising meetings
• Collect and record students’ report card data
  
  

Education and experience requirements of the ideal candidate:

• Bachelor’s degree; Master’s in school counseling or related field preferred
• Minimum of 3 years of advising or school counseling experience
• Successful experience serving African American and Latino students
  
  

Additionally, the Advisor will have a proven track record demonstrating the following capabilities:

• Understanding of current trends and best practices in education and professional school counseling
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent
  
  

interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills

• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with a diverse groups of people
• Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission focus, and autonomous nature
• Knowledge of current community challenges and opportunities relating to the mission of the organization
• Ability to work under dynamic, evolving conditions
  
  

Location

This position will be based in Chicago.

Compensation

The Academy Group offers a competitive salary and comprehensive medical, vision, dental, and 401k package. The

annual salary for this position is up to 80k per year.