Director of College & Career Counseling (25-26)

Company Description

***Job Status: Please note that this is a general posting for current and potential future opportunities. At this time, there may or may not be a vacancy. We are collecting applications on a rolling basis and encourage you to apply. Your application will be reviewed and considered for any opportunity that matches your skills and experience. Please be aware that you may not receive communication regarding next steps until an aligned opportunity becomes available. We appreciate your interest in the role and KIPP Texas.***

KIPP Texas Public Schools is a network of 59 public charter, open-enrollment, pre-k-12 schools educating nearly 34,000 students across Austin, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. Together with families and communities, our mission is to create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose —college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more fair world.

Founded in Houston in 1994 and operating as KIPP Texas since 2018, we are looking to hire a diverse team of dynamic, collaborative, and dedicated individuals with an unyielding belief that every child will succeed. KIPP Texas is a team and family with an unwavering commitment to creating classrooms, offices, and communities rooted in belongingness, academic success and joy.

KIPP Texas is part of the national KIPP network of 255 college-preparatory public charter schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Nationwide, KIPP students complete four-year college at a rate of 36 percent, comparable to the national average for all students.

Job Description

The Director of College & Career Counseling is responsible for developing and managing a college and career counseling program and team that will ensure that every student deepens their knowledge about themselves and their top careers of highest aspiration, and builds and executes a strong plan that will allow them to make the best postsecondary choice. The Director of College & Career Counseling is responsible for building relationships with the school leadership team, national organizations and college/ universities that will lead to resources for students. It is the ultimate goal of the college & career counseling department, through guidance and education, to ensure that all graduates have the ability to maintain success in their academic, professional and personal lives. Finally, the Director of College Counseling is charged with keeping the college & career counseling program woven into all aspects of KIPP high school campus to ensure that the program does not work in isolation from the school’s mission.

This role is an ideal opportunity for a highly motivated, collaborative, results-driven and service minded leader with a passion for supporting students in building and succeeding in their postsecondary plan for their career of highest aspiration. We are looking for a leader who can see the bigger picture, coach and develop our counselors and manage the day to day operations.

Duties and Essential Job Functions:
● Manage, Develop and Lead the College & Career Department at a KIPP HS
○ Coach and support the College & Career Instructors through curriculum assessment, classroom observation, as well as goal setting and progress monitoring
○ Support and facilitate college and career personal development for teachers and staff
○ Track student college and career data, monitor progress, and execute on strategic upgrades
○ Lead college and career programming and exposure
○ Develop effective processes to support College & Career Instructors in regards to students finalizing and executing on strong post-secondary plans, including but not limited to, postsecondary and financial aid applications, and registering for standardized tests in a classroom setting
○ Develop an inclusive, solution-focused and growth-mindset team culture

● Collaborate with the KIPP Forward team and other stakeholders to track and report data for support Postsecondary Access
○ Maintain consistent “Progress of Students” communication with key stakeholders including: KIPP Foundation, KIPP Forward team, School and regional leadership, along with students and families
○ Establish relationships and collaborate with external stakeholders (postsecondary institutions, career partners, scholarship organizations, etc.) to support students’ success
○ Progress monitor all KIPP Forward postsecondary prep, application and matriculation goals
○ Manage and maintain consistent communication flow to key stakeholders, teammates and families (including recurring meetings with SPED team, Registrar/Dean of Academic Progress, Testing Coordin