School Counselor

Salary: $85000 - $110000 CalSTRS Retirement Eligible Exempt

Location: Richmond CA (Making Waves Academy Campus)

The Impact Youll Make

You are more than a counselor; you are an advocate a strategist and a lifeline. At Making Waves Academy your work isnt just about sessionsits about interrupting inequity. You will build the emotional architecture that allows our students to thrive in a high-performing environment. You thrive at the intersection of clinical expertise and educational advocacy ensuring every Wave-Maker is seen heard and supported.

What Youll Be Doing

As a critical member of our Student Support Services team you will lead our multi-disciplinary approach to student well-being. From Tier 1 classroom lessons to Tier 3 crisis intervention you own the student experience.

Your day-to-day includes:

• Driving Student Outcomes: Deliver a comprehensive counseling program using MTSS and Restorative Justice frameworks to support students across grades 512.
• Direct Support: Leading short-term individual counseling and targeted group sessions to address immediate mental health and social-emotional needs.
• Crisis Leadership: Acting as the primary responder for students in acute distress ensuring 100% compliance with California mandated reporting and state laws.
• Strategic Collaboration: Serving as a clinical expert in Pre-SST and IEP meetings to help teams draft and meet student goals.
• Data-Driven Advocacy: Managing the Student Support Services database and Non-Cognitive Dashboard to track attendance and behavior trends using data to close equity gaps.

What Were Looking For

You are a high-performing professional who remains calm in crisis mode. You possess the emotional maturity to handle high-stakes dynamics and the technical skill to manage complex administrative requirements like 504s and IEPs.

Youll need to have:

• Bachelors degree in School Counseling Psychology or Social Work.
• Valid California Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in School Counseling (Required).
• 2 years of experience in a 512 school setting.
• The ability to analyze student data to identify and support at-risk subgroups.

Even better if you have:

• A Masters Degree in a related field.
• Deep proficiency in MTSS PBIS and Restorative Justice philosophies.

Why Making Waves Academy

When you join our team you join a movement dedicated to intergenerational change. We support our employees as holistically as we support our students.

• 100% Health Coverage: We cover 100% of most premiums for medical dental and vision for you and your family.
• Work-Life Balance: Enjoy all school holidays and breaks to ensure you have time to recharge.