Middle School Counselor - Georgia Connections Academy

Position Summary

Working from our office in Duluth, Georgia, or from your home in Georgia, 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. All GACA staff must be able to participate in monthly in‑person activities, including but not limited to:

• School and department meetings
• Student engagement opportunities
• Required training/development
• School‑level events, such as state testing and graduation

The High School Counselor will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:

• Assist students and families with successful transition into the program
• Work with a diversity of students with special needs, including students with Section 504 plans
• Follow up with students and families to ensure that they are staying on track and fulfilling the requirements of our school
• Build relationships with students and families through email, phone calls, and in person when necessary
• Proactively troubleshoot and problem‑solve student and family issues and understand the proper channels of communication
• Work with school teams to identify and help families access school and community resources
• Advise students and families related to academics, early college and career planning
• Assist students and parents with the school course selection process according to specific state credit requirements, postsecondary plans and student needs and interests
• 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
• Implement programs for students and families related to interpersonal adjustment issues
• Participate in the development of crisis prevention and management plans for the school and serve as a key member of a multidisciplinary support team
• 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
• And other duties as assigned

• Support high‑quality synchronous instruction and asynchronous resources aligned to GACA curriculum and state standards
• Support differentiated Tier 1 instruction and collaborate within the MTSS/RTI model to plan and deliver Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions
• Collaborate effectively with teachers and support staff to ensure all student accommodations are implemented with fidelity and aligned to individualized learning needs
• Use assessment data to support student learning needs and instruction, monitor progress, and adjust strategies to ensure growth
• Maintain deep knowledge of assigned courses and general awareness of K–12 curriculum pathways

• Build strong, positive relationships with students and families to support academic success and engagement
• Support parent conferences and Personal Learning Plans, and communicate regularly regarding progress, attendance, and needs
• Support students with alternate lessons, assessments, and targeted instructional strategies to meet individualized learning goals

• Support formative and summative assessments, including monthly progress monitoring, CFAs, and EOCs where applicable
• Participate in all required Georgia state standardized assessments in‑person and virtual sessions, including Georgia Milestones, ACCESS, Georgia Alternative Assessment, etc., in addition to End‑of‑Pathway, benchmarks, CFAs, and diagnostic assessments
• Maintain accurate records of attendance, communication logs, academic progress, and intervention documentation

• Work collaboratively within the Professional Learning Community to monitor data, plan instruction,…