College Counselor - IDEA Lake Houston College Prep (24-25)

Role Mission: IDEA College Counselors educate students and parents about the benefits of post-secondary education. They are responsible for administering all aspects of the college search and admissions process and ensuring all students are on track for graduation. College counselors also teach college readiness classes, and are added to a College Prep school site when grade 9 is added to a campus.   

What We Offer   

Compensation:    

Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $63,998-$76,797, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for a performance bonus based on team performance and goal attainment.   

Other Benefits:  

We offer a comprehensive benefits plan, covering the majority of the employee premium for the base medical plan and subsidizing the majority of costs for a spouse/domestic partner and children. Some of the special benefits we offer at IDEA include:  

• Paid Family Leave: Eligible staff may receive up to 8 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, based on their tenure with the organization and caregiver designation.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Staff members may apply for up to​ 50% of tuition paid toward a qualifying degree program, up to $5,250 maximum per year subject to manager discretion and budget availability.
• Employer-Paid Mental/Behavioral Health: 5 face-to-face counseling sessions within a year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and other work-life services available at no cost.

Other benefits include dental and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. IDEA may offer a relocation allowance to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.  

What You Bring -- Competencies  

Qualifications:  

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in counseling preferred
• Experience: At least 3 years of experience teaching and/or work in university/college readiness, pathway or success; High School counseling experience preferred
• Certificate: Valid Counseling certificate preferred

Knowledge and Skills:  

• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to adjust and adapt to a multitude of situations in the school environment
• Experience in college admissions is preferable
• Ability to build solid student and family relationships
• Strong command of the English language both verbal and written

What You’ll Do -- Accountabilities   

Matriculation and College Acceptance  

• 100% of graduates matriculate to a College/University
• 25% of students matriculate to Tier I/Tier II College/University
• 50% of students accepted to Tier I/II College/University

Student Achievement  

• 96% students passing all classes (On track to graduate)
• 21 average ACT score

Student Engagement  

• 95% of students attend field lessons
• 75% of high school juniors attend Summer Away Experience
• 100% students complete community service hours
• 90% student persistence
• 93% high school persistence

Responsibilities:   

•        Ensure all students are on-track to graduate from high school 
•        Guide students and parents through the college search, admissions, and financial aid processes 
•        Support teachers in planning college field lessons and scheduling college visits to IDEA 

•        Teach Road To and Through College (RTTC) classes to 9-12th graders 
•        Create the school’s master class schedule and schedule all students 

• Establish and maintain a cooperative working relationship with students and families based on trust, understanding and respect for the communities in which they identify.
• Participate in weekly manager check-ins, grade-level meetings, parent meetings, parent information sessions, before and after-school duties, and school wide meetings and functions
• Engage in summer and year-long district, school and personal learning and development
• Minimum of 40+ hours spent at school per week

We look for Team and Family who embody the following values and characteristics:   

• Believes and is committed to our mission and being an agent of change: that all students are capable of getting to and through college  
• Has demonstrated effective outcomes and results, and wants to be held accountable for them 
• Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly 
• Works with urgency and purpose to drive student outcomes 
• Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change 
• Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization 
• Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships in order to achieve outcomes 
• We believe in education as a profession and hold ourselves to high level of conduct, professionalism and behaviors as models for our colleagues and students 

About IDEA Public Schools   

At IDEA Public Schools, we believe each and every child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school with 150 students to a multi-state network of tuition-free, Pre-K-12 public charter schools.     

IDEA Public Schools boasts national rankings on The Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report’s top high schools lists. IDEA serves over 80,000 college-bound students in 143 schools across Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Ohio, and is on-track to maintain its legacy of sending 100% of its graduates to college.      

When you choose to work at IDEA, you are part of our IDEA Team and Family. You will work alongside team members who set and reach ambitious goals every day, are excited to continue to grow with IDEA, and work relentlessly to make college for all a reality.  

Staff Culture and Belonging  

At IDEA the Staff Culture and Belonging Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members.  Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here!  

To Apply  

Please submit your application online through Jobvite. It’s in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.