School Summary:

At Connections Academy, helping students maximize their potential and meet the highest performance standards through a uniquely individualized learning program is at the core of our mission. Connections Academy was founded in 2001 to deliver high-quality, highly accountable online education to students in grades K-12. Hallmarks of Connections Academy-supported online schools include personalized learning, an award-winning curriculum and Education Management System (EMS), dedicated state-certified teachers, and a supportive school community. Parents of enrolled students consistently share their satisfaction with Connections Academy: 92% “would recommend the schools to other families” and 95% say the curriculum is “high quality.” In 2017, Connections Academy-supported public schools serve students in 27 states, while the private online school, International Connections Academy meets the online school needs of students worldwide. Recognized for its outstanding curriculum and leadership, Connections Academy is committed to expanding quality education through technology, and helping students achieve both academic and personal success. Connections Academy is part of the global learning company, Pearson, and its Online & Blended Learning group. For more information, visit www.ConnectionsAcademy.com.

Washington Connections Academy (WACA) is a tuition-free, virtual public school serving students in grades K-12 statewide. WACA has two schools under its umbrella of the shared-services model.  It operates in partnerships with the Mary M. Knight School District and Goldendale School District and is under contract with Connections Academy to provide its educational program and other services. Both Washington Connections Academy schools are accredited by Cognia and were recognized as Cognia Schools of Distinction in 2022. 

Position Summary:

This position is a full-time position, typically 40+ hours per week from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm each weekday, working with Washington Connections Academy from your home office in either Washington, Oregon, or Idaho. The Counselor will “virtually” manage all students. Through the use of the telephone, Internet, and various curriculum and counseling tools they will consult regularly with caretakers, Learning Coaches, and students to ensure that each student successfully completes their instructional program.

The Counselor works closely with the Manager of Counseling. The Counselor will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:

Counseling Roles: Advise students and families related to academics, career planning and graduation Keep abreast of all high school graduation requirements, including special requirements such as community service, and communicate this information to the High School Coordinator and to the principal Assist students and parents with the secondary school course selection process according to specific state credit and graduation requirements and student needs and interests.  An integral part of this process is assisting students and parents to develop a Four Year Plan for meeting graduation requirements Advise students with issues related to dropping courses and changing schedules, seeking support as needed, while ensuring that the school’s course selection and drop policies are adhered to Review student transcripts and the entry of credits into the online transcript system Follow procedures to ensure that Connections Academy transcripts are accurate and up-to-date Work with the administrative assistants to obtain school records from the student’s previous school (where applicable) and forwarding student records when appropriate Implement programs for students and families related to interpersonal adjustment issues 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  Coordinate a team of high school teachers to help identify students who are “at risk” or “in crisis”;  Act as the main point of contact for these students and families, communicating regularly with them Implement efforts to secure complete and accurate records for Connections Academy students Support families through the school withdrawal process, assisting with data collection regarding withdrawal 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 Communicate with the Curriculum Team to ensure that curriculum offerings meet state requirements Implement special programs such as Advanced Placement support, SAT and ACT Preparation, and college entrance preparation Understand the requirements for and assist the principal to facilitate the administration of all high school testing, including exit exams, PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams Help students to research and understand their post-secondary career and educational options Assist with student preparation of applications for college and jobs; Educate students and parents about college admissions requirements and financial aid Work as part of the IEP team to develop social goals and provide virtual social work services to help the student reach these goals Collaborate closely with School Counselor and Director of Special Education; and Support professional development activities for teachers and school staff members Assume teaching and grading duties as necessary including teaching high school elective courses Coordinate high school graduation ceremonies Attends regularly scheduled professional development and counselor training meetings Monitor progress of students on an ongoing basis and work additionally with students who are struggling Contact Roles: Communicate regularly with parents/learning coaches on their caseload to ensure that their academic and non-academic counseling needs, child welfare needs, social and emotional concerns, are addressed in a timely and appropriate fashion Collaborate with teachers and learning coaches to ensure, develop and implement program supports for all student Community Roles: Work with school staff to coordinate and attend social activities and relevant field trips for students and families, as required within school policy. When possible, integrate field trips and social activities into the curriculum Devise and implement virtual methods of creating and maintaining a “school community” Participate in the administration of the state testing, including in-person proctoring of WIDA and/or SBAC/WCAS testing at various locations around the state of Washington Participate in student recruiting sessions and other marketing efforts that require staff representation Behind-The-Scenes Roles: Be a collaborative member of IEP and 504 teams, as assigned, sharing course progress insights about students and providing feedback on goals and accommodations; Work collaboratively and often within a professional learning community of grade- or content-level instructional staff to review student progress data related to a team-determined SMART goal, with the goal of the data driving instruction and support, and improving teaching practices Work with Advisory Teachers and Teachers to ensure students and families are receiving appropriate communications, students are making adequate progress, and established goals are being met within WSLP and/or graduation frameworks; Attend and participate in in-person training sessions and team-building activities scheduled throughout the school year and throughout the state of Washington; 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; Take part in all assigned professional development and training, synchronous and asynchronous, including state-required training in SEL and DEI, and actively seek additional opportunities to grow and learn in the role; Complete the duties of an assigned or volunteered-for representative or Career Ladder position that has a school-wide focus (examples include, and are not exclusive to, Attendance Rep, Communication Rep, or Elective Rep);  Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Must have Washington Educational Staff Associate certification as a School Counselor Residence in Washington preferred Team player track record, highly flexible, and with a demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment Demonstrated strong technology skills (especially Microsoft Office and Google Suite products, synchronous classroom programs such as Zoom, third-party educational software such as Nearpod, and data collection and examination tools, including spreadsheets and databases) Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to communicate (listen and speak) effectively and appropriately with staff, students, and families from a wide range of cultural, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds. Excellent attention to detail, with proven time management and organizational skills, especially when working independently Demonstrated ability to work with colleagues to foster and encourage an inclusive work and school environment that is supportive of different groups of individuals, including people of different races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, genders, and sexual orientations. Student- and family-focused approach, with demonstrated ability to create an inclusive and culturally responsive classroom environment that supports and recognizes students of diverse backgrounds and identities.  Ability to travel for one, possibly two, weeks at a time for key school events, including overnight travel (including, but not limited to: back-to-school training, state testing, graduation ceremony, marketing events, and field trips) Must be able to use a personal electronic device and email address for 2-step authentication.

Based on Experience and Education, the salary ranges from $40,000-55,000 

Washington 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. 

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet every one of our qualifications listed. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of this position, please feel free to contact us to discuss your application.

Washington Connections Academy acknowledges that its school operations span the state of Washington and that we have families and staff who live and work on the traditional homelands of Washington's Indigenous Peoples who have lived on these lands since time immemorial. We wish to express deep respect and gratitude for the land itself and to the people whose history and lives are here.