College Counselor 2025

COLLEGE COUNSELOR

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Ewing Marion Kauffman School is a free public charter school serving more than 1200 students in 5^ththrough 12^thgrades. Focused on student achievement and strong character the schools mission is summarized in three words: create college graduates. The school serves a student population of which 87% qualify for free and reduced lunch and 90% identify as students of color. Students are accepted by a lottery that prioritizes the six highest-need zip codes within theand% of students in each graduating class earned at least one acceptance to a college or university we believe this provides true choice and opportunity as students pursue post-secondary goals. More than 70% of our students identify as first in their families to attend college.

The Kauffman School seeks results-driven and culturally responsive educators to join its team we anchor ourselves around four guiding principles about what it means to be culturally responsive educators and create a school with strong student and staff culture:

• Belief and Connection:We show belief in every student through setting and holding them to high expectations while building relationships. We build connections and relationships with each student side by side by providing excellent rigorous content in order to value the individual child. We do not allow differences in identity or our personal biases to cause us to lower expectations because we know that when supported our students can achieve.
• Clear is Kind:We show care through direct and clear communication of our high expectations rather than allowing them to slip through the cracks by assuming they will know how to meet our standards without telling them. We also know that one of our roles is preparing our children for a world as college students/graduates that might play by different rules than they have previously experienced and it is our job to help them understand how to navigate challenge the norms of and dismantle that world.
• Intent and Impact:All of our actions are executed with the purpose and intent to empower every student to reach their full potential. We also believe that as educators we are called to assess the impact of our actions and adjust course if they are not meeting the intent. Positive intent cannot mean we ignore the impact of actions and we believe continually assessing and reassessing practices to ensure they are effective is a critical reflection process to ensure we are being culturally responsive.
• Cultural Context Critical Thinking:We approach rigorous learning as an activity that is responsive to students cultural contexts and pushes them to think critically. We seek opportunities for them to engage with and respond to the world around them - both in their immediate lives and in their broader society - while being pushed intellectually at all times.

Kauffman School is seeking a highly effective College Counselor to join its team of committed educators willing to do whatever it takes for students to succeed. Kauffman School staff believes all students can meet high academic expectations in the right school environment. The College Counselor works to provide a seamless transition from high school to college by providing students and families with the tools resources and opportunities for them to be competitive and ready for the college application and matriculation process.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

College Preparation

• Educate students families and team members about basic requirements to be admissible to college for in-state four-year programs selective four-year programs and two-year programs
• Support students in creating individualized post-secondary plans based on student data and student and family preferences for college options including setting goals for GPA and ACT based on current standings and long term goals
• Ensure that 100% of juniors and seniors sign up for and complete the ACT until they reach their goal
• Counsel each student to identify the right list of reach match and safety schools
• Educate families about the application admissions and enrollment processes. Help families prepare organizationally and emotionally well in-advance
• Work with junior advisors and teachers to develop and implement college preparation curriculum that will teach non-academic skills needed to be successful in college

College Applications and Enrollment

• Create programming differentiated to address the needs of students prepared for in-state four-year programs selective four-year programs and two-year programs
• Support students in collecting and crafting documentation needed for college applications: score reports transcripts personal statements and other supplemental documents as needed
• Work to prepare students eligible for multicultural school visits and scholarships provided through community based organizations (CBOs like Posse Gates and Questbridge) for successful interviews and visits
• Ensure 100% of eligible students apply to KC Scholars and other large scholarships.
• Support teachers and advisors in writing meaningful recommendations for students applying to scholarships where recommendations are needed

Scholarships and Financial Aid

• Educate students and families about the financial aid application process and the range of finances they can expect to encounter with the different schools to which they have applied
• Work with families to ensure all students complete the SAI estimator and are aware of their likely Pell eligibility.

External Stakeholder Management

• Build relationships with admissions officers from in and out-of-state schools to which our students will apply; arrange visits and presentations for those schools oncampus
• Build relationships with admissions officials at state and private universities expecting applications to facilitate completed applications
• Work with colleges with multi-cultural visit programs and with other scholarship programs including Posse Questbridge and Gates to ensure they consider our students
• Continue to maintain relationships with admissions officials and officers to advocate for students through their application processes

Building School Culture:

• Believe deeply in the mission of the Kauffman School and that all children can meet high academic expectations
• Discuss celebrate and reinforce the schools PREP (Perseverance Results Empathy Passion) values
• Implement school-wide behavior management system consistently with all students
• Embrace feedback and constructive criticism in the spirit of constant improvement
• Demonstrate maturity humility professionalism confidence and a strong work ethic inside and outside the classroom

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelors degree required; masters degree preferred
• At least three years of relevant experience working with low-income minority or historically underachieving students (Preferred: experience teaching in an urban high school and/or multicultural admissions experience)
• At least two years of relevant experience coaching and mentoring students on college application matriculation and persistence

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Able to build positive relationships with students families and colleagues
• Commitment to and complete belief in the Kauffman Schools mission to create college graduates as well as in the Schools organizational success

• Personality should project enthusiasm professionalism and a high level of credibility

• Ability to maintain a calm professional demeanor in the face of competing demands and external pressures

• Ability to take feedback well and implement changes immediately

• Ambition and desire to grow and to work both autonomously and collaboratively
• Commitment to getting the job done right and willingness to do whatever it takes to create and maintain an orderly effective school organization
• Acute attention to detail coupled with the ability to think and act strategically
• Demonstrated strong communication and interpersonal skills with students parents colleagues and community members

• Must have a strong personal value system that encompasses high integrity honesty a solid work ethic high professional standards and strong moral character

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The Kauffman School offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with relevant experience and anticipated duties and responsibilities including comprehensive health benefits

TO APPLY

Interested applicants should complete a formal application through the Kauffman School Careers page athttp:// Kauffman School is an Equal Opportunity Employer welcoming people to flourish in an open and inclusive work environment. A diverse pool of candidates is welcomed and encouraged.