FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports to: Assistant Head of School
Date Available: July 2024
Department: Head of School
FTE: 0.5
Job Summary and Scope of Responsibility
As a school with a long track record of successfully placing graduates in Chicago's most sought-after high schools, Bernard Zell deeply values the transition graduates make when enrolling in 9th grade. Leaving a school that has been home for 10- plus years not only carries the opportunity for students to experience more diverse learning communities, but also to navigate a new environment by confidently leaning on the self-advocacy, leadership, and community-building skills they developed at Bernard Zell.
The mission of the High School Counseling program is rooted in a holistic ethos; to support students and families from a perspective that values the intellectual, social, and emotional development of graduating students and to help them transition into a high school that is the best fit based on their abilities and interests.
We are seeking an experienced educator who will serve as our Director of High School Counseling. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills (both written and oral), value collaboration, and have the ability to foster warm and professional relationships with students, families, educators, and admissions counselors throughout the Chicagoland area.
Ideal candidates will be able to teach or perform other responsibilities at Bernard Zell to turn this into a 1.0 FTE role.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Oversee the entire transition process to high school for our 8th-grade students and families (identifying potential high schools, application and interview processes, counseling students & families, navigating the decision making process, applying for principal discretion, etc.)
- Foster relationships with directors of admissions and other administrative leaders at CPS and Independent high schools in the Chicagoland area and promote Bernard Zell as a school with a strong curriculum and well-prepared graduates
- Maintain confidentiality about students and their progress through the high school admissions process
- Meet individually with all 7th and 8th-grade families beginning in the winter of their 7th-grade year to begin to educate them on the various high school options and guide them in their search
- Be available to all BZ families and provide communication and consultation about how to navigate the High School admissions process and discuss questions, including working with the BZ admissions office
- Interface with our Assistant Head of School, Director of Student Services and Head of Middle School as part of the process
- Provide annual calendars to all 7th and 8th-grade parents of the admission and testing events throughout the year
- To support the high school preparation process including test pre, test administration and application process (as appropriate)
- Set up opportunities for families to meet with prospective high schools during the admissions season
- Provide data to the Assistant Head of School for presentation to the community, Administrative Council and Board of Trustees
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree required, graduate degree preferred
- Experience with middle school-aged children and an understanding of adolescent development
- Experience in positive and effective communication with middle school parents
- Experience with the high school admissions process is strongly preferred
- Knowledge of Chicagoland high schools is strongly preferred
- Ability to build relationships and network with other schools
- Capable of helping students and families manage the range of emotions that come with the high school admissions process
- Proficiency with educational technologies including Google Apps, Zoom, Chromebook and stuent information systems
Travel Requirements: Regular local travel may be required
Other Important Information and Benefits
- All prospective employees must be able to clear a background check
- Work is generally performed onsite
- The general workday is 7:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. but must be flexible to attend and host school-related events and meetings beyond normal working hours. Hours for this role would be customized to meet the FTE allotment
- Full-time employee benefits include employer-subsidized medical, dental, life and disability (short and long-term) insurances, 403b retirement plan, parking or public transportation, daily (kosher) breakfast and lunch, as well as optional insurances. Sick and flex (personal) days subject to length of tenure