JOB PURPOSE

Thurgood Marshall Academy is currently seeking a College Counselor to help support our students and families with preparing for postsecondary opportunities. The role will report to the Director of College & Alumni Program and work within a team that supports the overall mission of Thurgood Marshall Academy PCHS.

WHO WE ARE

Thurgood Marshall Academy is a college-preparatory, law-themed high school located in the Anacostia neighborhood in southeast Washington, DC—the most under-served community in the District of Columbia. Thurgood Marshall Academy currently serves approximately 400 students in grades 9–12. Thurgood Marshall Academy offers a standards-based, college-preparatory academic program to all of its students. The curriculum strives to help students develop their own voice by teaching them the skills lawyers have—the ability to solve complex problems, think critically and advocate persuasively for themselves and their communities. The instructional program prepares students to master District of Columbia and national standards by balancing standardized test preparation with creative and engaging alternative assessments. Thurgood Marshall Academy received its charter from the PCSB in April 2001, and opened its doors to 86 9th graders in August 2001; it then added a grade each year until it served students in grades 9–12; the school received accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools in 2008. After 16 years of educating students in the city, Thurgood Marshall Academy remains one of the top-performing, open-enrollment high schools in the District of Columbia.

WHAT WE DO

The college counseling office provides a student and family-centered approach to postsecondary planning for ninth through twelfth grades. We facilitate a number of programming and workshops that support the education and management of postsecondary research and application processes. Our office prides itself on ensuring that 100% of our students apply to at least one college, and over 75% enroll within one year after graduation. Our office also provides extensive alumni support to ensure that our graduates are persisting through college at rates above the national average.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree and three to five years experience working with college bound high school students, preferably experience in either college admissions, college or school counseling, or (preferably) experience in both.

The ideal candidate will also:

● Possess excellent time management and writing skills and the capability of managing multiple tasks and projects simultaneously while capturing the big picture and small details

● Take initiative and are able to be self-directed and follow through on tasks to completion

● Be proficient using platforms, such as Maia Learning and Google Suite

● Have a familiarity with and support for our law-themed and college-going mission

● Want to work in an open-enrollment, urban school with mostly first-gen/low-income students

COLLEGE COUNSELOR

● Like and respect young people from the ages of 13-18

● Understand that the work will also require evenings and weekends at various points throughout the school year

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

● Establish relationships with incoming 9th & 10th grade students and families

● Create lesson plans and teach freshman seminar courses during summer prep

● Create an academic plan for each 9th grade student towards their postsecondary success and aspirations

● Conduct learning style inventory for students - establishing what their learning strengths and growth areas are and how it relates to their postsecondary success

● Conduct Socio-emotional learning assessments for students and families

● Conduct and create academic on-track support meetings with students

● Connect students with pre-college and pre-post secondary activities in the summer and during the school year

● Connect 10th grade students with career assessments and community service/internship experiences

● Create postsecondary related activities for 9th and 10th grade advisories

● Conduct postsecondary planning meetings with parents/families for students

● Manage the process and placement for dual enrollment for underclassmen

● Conduct workshops for students and families to support the college/postsecondary process

● Write recommendation letters for underclassmen who are participating in pre-college programs

● Manage the accountability metric for 9th-grade experience outcome at the end of the year

● Support with helping the college application process for upperclassmen - including summer workshops, college essay revision, and campus visits

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Ability to work effectively with administrators, colleagues, and school based staff, students, parents and community. Candidates must be willing to actively pursue professional development opportunities; join all relevant educational organizations for one’s continued growth; discuss with your supervising administrator any particular conditions that could make life at Thurgood Marshall Academy more enjoyable and productive; and, as much as possible, maintain some healthy balance of professional and personal time.

BENEFITS

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

Thurgood Marshall Academy encourages applications from people with diverse backgrounds. Thurgood Marshall Academy is an equal opportunity employer.

Qualified applicants should submit a résumé, cover letter, and a list of references to Hamzat Saba, Director of College & Alumni Programs at Please no phone calls. We provide a competitive salary based on years of experience, education, and we offer competitive benefits.

Please visit our website () to learn more about Thurgood Marshall Academy, and visit our college counseling to learn about our program.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $70,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person