School Counselor - Florida Connections Academy

School Summary

Florida Connections Academy (FCA) is a tuition-free, online public charter school serving students in grades K-12. FCA is authorized by Hillsborough County Public Schools and is governed by an independent Board of Directors. The school is accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, the Northwest Accreditation Commission, and the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), which are accrediting divisions of Cognia.

Position Summary and Responsibilities

Working from your home in Florida, the School Counselor will virtually assist students and parents/learning coaches with course selection, scheduling and will be a point of contact for student concerns that span multiple subject areas as well as non-academic issues.  The School Counselor will work to establish counseling processes for all enrolled students on their caseload.

The School Counselor will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:

• Advise students and families related to academics, career planning and graduation;


• Implement programs for students related to interpersonal adjustment issues, to include individual and small group counseling services;


• Work with school teams to identify and help families access school and community resources;


• Participate in the development of crisis prevention and management plans for the school and serve as a key member of the Student Support Team (SST);


• Implement efforts to secure complete and accurate records for Connections Academy students;


• Report and refer critical incidents that jeopardize student well-being as obligated by law, administrative regulations, or ethical standards.  Stay abreast of all state regulations relating to incident reporting and documentation;


• Assist teachers when students enroll mid-semester, making sure that teachers receive guidance on integrating the students into their coursework, and ensuring that previous grades, credits, and evaluations are handled appropriately;


• Ensure students are receiving appropriate phone calls as required by Connections Academy protocol,


• Provide a comprehensive counseling program that includes college/career and social-emotional learning


• Support professional development activities for teachers and school staff members;


• Serve as Adviser for National Junior Honor Society/National Honor Society


• Other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

• Florida Professional Teacher Certification in Guidance and Counseling


• ESOL Certification or Endorsement required


• Strong knowledge of Florida graduation requirements preferred


• Knowledge of and experience with RtI/MTSS


• Strong technology skills


• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written


• Customer focused approach


• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills


• High degree of flexibility


• Team player with demonstrated leadership skills


• Demonstrated ability to work well in fast-paced environment


• Travel across the state is required for state testing administration and may require overnight stays


• Access to reliable transportation for face-to-face events


• Ability to work some occasional evening hours, as needed to support some families


• Must be able to use a personal electronic device and email address for 2-step authentication

Florida Connections Academy strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.