School Counselor; High School

Immediate School Counselor (High School)

KIPP Public Schools is a national network of tuition‑free public schools educating 120,000 students in grades PreK‑12 across 21 states and Washington, DC. KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools is part of this network, serving more than 3,000 students in four schools in Jacksonville, FL. We create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond.

The School Counselor is a year‑round, certified position that works closely with families, learning specialists, social workers, teachers, and school leaders to enhance the school’s ability to meet its academic mission. Success is measured by positively impacting student attendance, the onboarding experience of new families, student social/emotional well‑being, and ensuring students have the necessary credits and courses to progress and earn their high school diploma.

Counselors also execute at least one school‑based community event per year and create/maintain systems that support their initiatives.

Teacher and student hours vary slightly by school; K‑8 staff: 7:30 am – 4:30 pm (K‑8 students 8:00 am – 3:30 pm). High school staff 6:45 am – 3:45 pm (high school students 7:15 am – 2:30 pm). Wednesday dismissal times differ.

• Prepare students for transition to high school and post‑secondary options.
• Advertise course offerings and advise students in scheduling.
• Support the Assistant School Leader of Operations in scheduling students.
• Complete the course selection process, including updating and editing selections.
• Partner with the KIPP Through College team to plan and coordinate career and college fairs, test‑skill preparation, and other counseling program extensions.
• Assist with 8th‑to‑9th grade matriculation between K‑8 academies and Bold City High School.
• Monitor each student’s assessment requirements, course requirements, and GPA for promotion and graduation.
• Serve as coordinator and LEA for all district MRT meetings.
• Support classroom teachers with guidance as determined by school leadership.
• Provide individual or small‑group counseling, including weekly social and/or emotional interventions.
• Provide timely updates to leadership on student emotional/physical well‑being.
• Support students with challenging behaviors.
• Track school‑wide attendance data and work with families to increase attendance.
• Act as liaison between families and community resources, creating programming or forming partnerships.
• Onboard new families to KIPP in partnership with the operations team.
• Oversee summer and credit recovery programs through FLVS.
• Perform other duties as outlined by school or regional leadership teams.

• Starting salary for a first‑year lead teacher or counselor: $50,000.
• Health benefits including medical, dental, and vision.
• Short‑term and long‑term disability insurance.
• 403(b) retirement program with a company match.
• Individualized coaching and professional development for counselors.
• Compensation and benefits are outlined in an offer and may vary by school year.

• Bachelor’s degree and a relevant master’s degree to meet certification standards.
• Relevant Florida certification or equivalent (Guidance and Counseling Pre‑K–Grade 12).
• At least one year of teaching or school counseling experience with a proven track‑record of high achievement in the classroom.
• Commitment to racial and educational equity.
• Passing a background check, as required by law.

• Two or more years of school‑based high school counseling with evidence of building systems and partnerships.
• Or two or more years of high school teaching experience with a proven track‑record of high achievement in the classroom.

The FLDOE website outlines that a master’s degree is required for this position. If you have questions about Florida certification, please visit www.fldoe.org/edcert and include details about your certification process on your application. If you hold a statement of eligibility or an out‑of‑state certificate, please list that information on your application.

Please…