About Job

Kauffman School

Ewing Marion Kauffman School - Kansas City, Missouri

Job Details

Job ID:5309719
Application Deadline:Posted until filled
Posted:Today

Starting Date:Immediately

Job Description

COLLEGE COUNSELOR

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Ewing Marion Kauffman School is a free, public charter school serving more than 1,200 students in 5th through 12th grades. Focused on student achievement and strong character, the school’s mission is summarized in three words: create college graduates. The school serves a student population of which 87% qualify for free and reduced lunch and 90% identify as students of color. Students are accepted by a lottery that prioritizes the six highest-need zip codes within the district. In 2019, 2020 and 2021, 100% of students in each graduating class earned at least one acceptance to a college or university – we believe this provides true choice and opportunity as students pursue post-secondary goals. More than 70% of our students identify as first in their families to attend college.

The Kauffman School seeks results-driven and culturally responsive educators to join its team – we anchor ourselves around four guiding principles about what it means to be culturally responsive educators and create a school with strong student and staff culture:

Belief and Connection: We show belief in every student through setting and holding them to high expectations while building relationships. We build connections and relationships with each student side by side by providing excellent rigorous content in order to value the individual child. We do not allow differences in identity or our personal biases to cause us to lower expectations because we know that when supported, our students can achieve.
Clear is Kind: We show care through direct and clear communication of our high expectations rather than allowing them to ‘slip through the cracks’ by assuming they will know how to meet our standards without telling them. We also know that one of our roles is preparing our children for a world as college students/graduates that might play by different “rules” than they have previously experienced and it is our job to help them understand how to navigate, challenge the norms of, and dismantle that world.
Intent and Impact: All of our actions are executed with the purpose and intent to empower every student to reach their full potential. We also believe that as educators, we are called to assess the impact of our actions and adjust course if they are not meeting the intent. Positive intent cannot mean we ignore the impact of actions and we believe continually assessing and reassessing practices to ensure they are effective is a critical reflection process to ensure we are being culturally responsive.
Cultural Context + Critical Thinking: We approach rigorous learning as an activity that is responsive to students’ cultural contexts and pushes them to think critically. We seek opportunities for them to engage with and respond to the world around them - both in their immediate lives and in their broader society - while being pushed intellectually at all times.

Kauffman School is seeking a highly effective College Counselor to join its team of committed educators willing to do “whatever it takes” for students to succeed. Kauffman School staff believes all students can meet high academic expectations in the right school environment. The College Counselor works to provide a seamless transition from high school to college by providing students and families with the tools, resources and opportunities for them to be competitive and ready for the college application and matriculation process.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

College Preparation

Educate students, families, and team members about basic requirements to be admissible to college for in-state four-year programs, selective four-year programs, and two-year programs
Support students in creating individualized post-secondary plans based on student data and student and family preferences for college options, including setting goals for GPA and ACT based on current standings and long term goals
Ensure that 100% of juniors and seniors sign up for and complete the ACT until they reach their goal
Counsel each student to identify the right list of reach, match and safety schools
Educate families about the application, admissions and enrollment processes. Help families prepare organizationally and emotionally well in-advance
Work with junior advisors and teachers to develop and implement college preparation curriculum that will teach non-academic skills needed to be successful in college

College Applications and Enrollment

Create programming differentiated to address the needs of students prepared for in-state four-year programs, selective four-year programs, and two-year programs
Support students in collecting and crafting documentation needed for college applications: score reports, transcripts, personal statements and other supplemental documents as needed
Work to prepare students eligible for multicultural school visits and scholarships provided through community based organizations (CBOs like Posse, Gates, and Questbridge) for successful interviews and visits
Ensure 100% of eligible students apply to KC Scholars and other large scholarships.
Support teachers and advisors in writing meaningful recommendations for students applying to scholarships where recommendations are needed

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Educate students and families about the financial aid application process and the range of finances they can expect to encounter with the different schools to which they have applied
Work with families to ensure all students complete the SAI estimator and are aware of their likely Pell eligibility.

External Stakeholder Management

Build relationships with admissions officers from in and out-of-state schools to which our students will apply; arrange visits and presentations for those schools on campus
Build relationships with admissions officials at state and private universities expecting applications to facilitate completed applications
Work with colleges with multi-cultural visit programs and with other scholarship programs, including Posse, Questbridge, and Gates to ensure they consider our students
Continue to maintain relationships with admissions officials and officers to advocate for students through their application processes

Building School Culture:

Believe deeply in the mission of the Kauffman School and that all children can meet high academic expectations
Discuss, celebrate, and reinforce the school’s PREP (Perseverance, Results, Empathy, Passion) values
Implement school-wide behavior management system consistently with all students
Embrace feedback and constructive criticism in the spirit of constant improvement
Demonstrate maturity, humility, professionalism, confidence, and a strong work ethic inside and outside the classroom

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred
At least three years of relevant experience working with low-income, minority, or historically underachieving students (Preferred: experience teaching in an urban high school and/or multicultural admissions experience)
At least two years of relevant experience coaching and mentoring students on college application, matriculation and persistence

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Able to build positive relationships with students, families and colleagues
Commitment to and complete belief in the Kauffman School’s mission to create college graduates as well as in the School’s organizational success

Personality should project enthusiasm, professionalism and a high level of credibility

Ability to maintain a calm, professional demeanor in the face of competing demands and external pressures

Ability to take feedback well and implement changes immediately

Ambition and desire to grow and to work both autonomously and collaboratively
Commitment to getting the job done right and willingness to do whatever it takes to create and maintain an orderly, effective school organization
Acute attention to detail coupled with the ability to think and act strategically
Demonstrated strong communication and interpersonal skills with students, parents, colleagues and community members

Must have a strong personal value system that encompasses high integrity, honesty, a solid work ethic, high professional standards and strong moral character

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The Kauffman School offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with relevant experience and anticipated duties and responsibilities, including comprehensive health benefits

TO APPLY

Interested applicants should complete a formal application through the Kauffman School Careers page at http://www.kauffmanschool.org/

The Kauffman School is an Equal Opportunity Employer, welcoming people to flourish in an open and inclusive work environment. A diverse pool of candidates is welcomed and encouraged.

Position Type:Full-Time

Job Requirements

Bachelor degree preferred.
Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Contact Information

London Koehn , Manager of Talent

Ewing Marion Kauffman School

Phone: 816-764-2395

Email: lkoehn@kauffmanschool.org

The content you submit, offer, contribute, attach, post, or display (each a “Submission”) will be viewed by other users of the service who may or may not be accurately representing who they are or who they represent. Do not include any sensitive data in your submissions. Any submission or any use or reliance on any content or materials posted via the service or obtained by you through the use of the service is at your own risk. “Sensitive data” for purposes of this section means social security or other government-issued identification numbers, medical or health information, account security information, individual financial account information, credit/debit/gift or other payment card information, account passwords, individual credit and income information or any other sensitive personal data as defined under applicable laws.