Pharos Academy Charter School is a K-12 urban public education institution that prepares Bronx students for success in college and the innovation economy.

Academic Success Counselor Vision

The Academic Success Counselor is responsible for ensuring students graduate on time from high school by providing comprehensive guidance, mentoring, outreach, and support services. Using intrusive advising and a data-driven approach, the Academic Success Counselors will take a proactive approach and try to anticipate issues and roadblocks that can prevent scholars from being successful. It is the expectation that the ASC monitors, tracks, communicates, and creates action plans around cohort performance. Academic Success Counselors manage a caseload of approximately 120 students to monitor the progress towards high school completion.

Key Responsibilities

1. Uses all relevant data to identify student who are at-risk of falling behind or dropping out of high school. Meet with at-risk scholars and create individualized success plans (Quarterly).
2. Monitors students' grades and attendance weekly through student information system and reports data to advisors and parents. Constantly assessing student progress (Attendance, Behavior, Grades and communicating results to your manager, families, and students.
3. Implements appropriate preventative measures and interventions for students and families to ensure student success.
4. Counsels each student through a combination of individual and small group meetings around academics, school attendance, behavior, post-secondary, and workforce opportunities.
5. Communicates regularly with parent(s)/guardian(s), to discuss academic progress, programs, obstacles and needed efforts by students and parents; should include face-to-face contact, phone, email, semester newsletter, and other as needed communication opportunities.
6. Tracks the progress of individual and subpopulations of students as they progress toward graduation.
7. Create and maintain the academic programs (Students Schedules) for the students in their cohorts in full compliance with New York State graduation requirements and that are aligned with the student’s interests and learning profile. This includes the updating of student records each semester.
8. Assist students in the process of solving school-related problems (academic, personal/social, career).
9. Communicate regularly with Advisors and grade teams as needed to meet the needs of the students in their grade.
10. Create lists of students for standardized testing (number of students who need to re-take Regents, etc.) in a timely manner and disseminate results to families as needed
11. In consult with Special Education and AIS staff, facilitate the placement of academically struggling students in academic support programs
12. Support each 8th grade and transfer student’s transition to the school by working to collect consent forms, auditing transcripts, confirming enrollments, meeting and orienting families, and communicating the school’s values. 
13. Ensure school adheres to the Academic Policy guidelines at all times and routinely audits students’ grades, credits, and programs.
14. Work in conjunction with Director of College and Career Pathways to identify postsecondary plan for students.
15. Ensure progress reports are updated and mailed/ electronically sent to all families.
16. Coordinate the High School parent teacher (student- led) conferences.  

Key Outcomes

1. 90% of students on caseload meet yearly credit accumulation goals (10 credits).
2. 100% of students receive group counseling.
3. 100% of all at-risk students have comprehensive plans with wrap-around services.
4. 100% of all SPED and ESL students have comprehensive plans with wrap-around services.
5. 90% of parents, when surveyed, agree or strongly agree that they were sufficiently informed about their child’s progress throughout the school year.
6. 90% of students, when surveyed, agree or strongly agree that they understand the requirements to graduate from high school.

The Academic Success Counselor Qualities:

1. Be relentless and a barrier-remover.
2. Be data-driven with a laser focus on sub-populations.
3. Be relentlessly committed to the mission of preparing every student for college and post-secondary success.
4. 4.Be a culture carrier and work well with parents and teacher advisors.

1. Certified as a NYS School Counselor, or working towards certification.
2. Bachelor's Degree in School Counseling from an accredited college or university; Master's Degree preferred.
3. Bilingual/Spanish speaker required.

Pharos Academy is committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for all teachers and staff members. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.