About this role
Mission : To assist Christian parents by helping equip students to embrace biblical truth, strive for academic excellence, and model Christ-like leadership to influence their homes, churches and communities for Christ.
Employee Profile:
Spiritually, the employee shall possess characteristics that reflect:
- Acceptance without reservation of the PCA doctrinal beliefs
- A strong clear Christian testimony
- A mature, godly spirit
- A person of faith and prayer
Personally, the employees life shall reflect:
- A lifestyle of biblical integrity
- A spirit of dedication, commitment, flexibility, and responsiveness
- The ability to listen and respond to counsel
- The stewardship of God given gifts
- A strong commitment to team
- The ability to work independently with limited direct supervision
Duties and Responsibilities :
- Assists Director in the implementation and planning of all departmental services and programs
- Counsel students individually in support of academic, social, spiritual and emotional wellness
- Counsel parents/guardians as a partnership in the academic, social, emotional and spiritual growth of their student
- Provide academic advising, including the development of a 4-year academic plan for students in grades 9-12 and incoming students
- Review incoming student files and work with admissions throughout the on-boarding process
- Guide students in searching for and identifying best fit colleges and post-secondary experiences, including gap year and vocational options
- Help students successfully complete applications for colleges, financial aid and scholarships. Review with family scholarship/financial aid offers as needed
- Write recommendations on behalf of students for colleges, technical schools, scholarships, special awards, summer enrichment programs, military service or academies, gap year experiences or missions and other post-secondary pursuits
- Coordinate student use of Scoir and YouScience college and career tools
- Serve as a resource person for the career and gifts exploration
- Test Coordinator for AP, PSAT, PreACT, as assigned.
- Assist in the development and presentation of corporate meetings with parents, students and faculty in partnership with the Director on a semester and annual basis
- Support the goals and implementation of the Life Calling curriculum including presenting in the class
- Coordinate Upperclassmen (grades 11 and 12) Internship program
- Assist Department Administrator with overseeing minimester opportunities coordinated by the Upper School Guidance Office
- Coordinate individual student counseling needs and strategies in partnership with the Upper School Counselor
- Assist with Middle to Upper School transitional and new student orientation programming
- Keep the Upper School Counselor informed of students when interactions with them cause concern as to emotional and mental wellness
- Serve on individualized education program (IEP) or success teams when deemed appropriate
- Develop intentional partnerships with faculty as co-laborers in the growth of students
- Support the goals of institutional colleagues, including admissions and curriculum in particular
- Maintain relevant professional and technical expertise by attending workshops/events, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and participating in professional organizations (NACCAP, ACSI, TACAC, etc)
- Stay abreast of changes/updates in the college admissions process
- Attend College updates in DFW area
- Visit college campuses/counselor fly-ins (travel is nominal)
- Serve as primary liaison with college representatives. Both recruit college representatives to campus and serve as their on-site host
- Guidance website oversight; maintain updated information in myPCA Guidance resources
- Maintain a communication system with students using social media
- Assist Director with other duties as assigned in support of the Guidance Team, Upper School Administration and PCA Leadership
- Participate and present in Award presentations and graduation ceremony
Qualifications
Qualifications:
- Bachelors Degree required; Masters Degree preferred
- A minimum of 2-4 years of direct or related experience preferred
- Demonstrated strong communication skills both written and oral in communications with students, parents, faculty, staff, and college admission and other guidance professionals
- Strong organizational skills, details orientation, and self-initiative
- Ability to multi-task and respond to immediate needs of students as top priority
- Patience in working with a variety of people to service a variety of needs
- An orientation of strict confidentiality
- Ability to nurture and guide students in their faith journey
- Prestonwood Baptist Church member preferred
Physical, Environmental and Mental Requirements
- Regularly standing and walking around the classroom lecturing and monitoring students
- Regularly sitting at the computer requiring repetitive finger motion and manual dexterity
- Close visual acuity required for viewing a computer monitor, preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing and reading
- Hearing ability to perceive sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction
- Talking expressing ideas by means of the spoken word to convey instructions to students, parents and other workers
- Ability to communicate effectively, even in stressful situations
- Primarily inside, classroom environment
- Occasional lifting of 5 to 20 pounds
Subject to frequent interruptions and frequent deadlines