New Mexico Connections Academy is a tuition-free, online school serving students
in grades K–12 throughout Oregon. Connections Academy schools are supported by
Connections Education LLC, which is accredited by Cognia, formerly Cognia,
formerly AdvancED. Oregon Connections Academy is authorized by the Prairie City
School District to serve students throughout Oregon.
New Mexico 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.
Position Summary and Responsibilities
Working from your home in New Mexico, the High School Counselor will assist
students and parents/learning coaches with course selection, scheduling and will
be the initial point of contact for student concerns that span multiple subject
areas as well as non-academic issues. The School Counselor will become an
expert on course and credit requirements and will work with the Manager of
Counseling Services to establish counseling processes for middle and high school
students.
The High School Counselor will be responsible for the successful completion of
the following tasks:
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 student 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 and serve as a key member of the Student Support Team (SST);
Coordinate a team of middle and 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;
Oversee and maintain the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) for each student;
Implement efforts to secure complete and accurate records for 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;
Support professional development activities for teachers and school staff
members;
Assume teaching and grading duties as necessary including teaching middle
school elective courses;
Coordinate high school graduation ceremonies; and
Other duties as assigned.
Requirements
New Mexico service certification in High School Counseling
Strong technology skills (especially with Microsoft Office products)
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
Willingness to travel on occasion for marketing and state testing events (may
require occasional overnight travel)
Must be able to use a personal electronic device and email address for 2-step
authentication