ABOUT US
Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools (www.freedomprep.org) comprise a high-performing PreK-12 charter school network in Memphis, TN. Our mission is to prepare all students in grades K-12 to excel in college and in life. We accomplish our mission through providing a highly structured, academically rigorous environment where students master core subjects, develop advanced academic skills, and demonstrate the school’s core values of: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Excellence, and Community.
Freedom Preparatory Academy was established in August of 2009 with a class of nearly 100 6th graders. We now serve nearly 1,800 students in grades PreK-12. In 2019, as we celebrate our 10th year of providing a quality education for students in low-income/underserved communities, we are proud to see our students exceed local and state averages in Math and local averages in English language arts. We have received numerous awards year after year for being one of the top schools for growth in the city and state of TN. In 2018, 100% of our 2nd graduating class were accepted to four-year colleges and universities!
We have three core beliefs that drive our mission: Every child deserves the right to a high-quality public education, a foundation in character development is essential, and direct exposure to an array of opportunities and experiences provides each child with the self-confidence and social knowledge to compete globally.
JOB TITLE: FPA High School College Counselor ACCOUNTABILITY: Head of School/ Director of College Success
POSITION OVERVIEW: The College Department at Freedom Preparatory Academy High School is responsible for the development of students’ academic habits and character, placement in summer programs, ACT preparation and administration, the college application process, matriculation to college and alumni support. Using a caseload model, each college counselor will support a group of students beginning with teaching the Collegiate Skills course and culminating in alumni support. It is the ultimate goal of the College Counseling Team that all FPA high school students maintain success in their academic, professional, and personal lives and graduate from college. The College Counselor will report to the Director of College Success/Head of School. The College Counselor’s responsibilities include: TEACHING COLLEGIATE SKILLS COURSE - Teach Collegiate Skills course, including writing lesson plans, upholding school culture expectations and maintaining a grade book BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS & FAMILIES - Plan and lead workshops for parents on key topics (financial aid planning, application timelines, etc.) related to both summer programs and college admissions process - Write and manage the collection of letters of recommendations for seniors, including providing professional development and coaching for the Letter of Recommendation writing process for all teachers
SUMMER PROGRAMS PLACEMENT - Support and guide all 9-11th grade students and families through each step of the summer programs placement and application process including but not limited to: application essays, financial aid paperwork, interview preparation and execution, and financial aid support COLLEGE & ALUMNI COUNSELING - Support and guide all 12 th grade students through each step of the college and financial aid application process - Provide one-on- one college counseling to a caseload of seniors through the admissions and matriculation cycle including, but not limited to: creating a college list, writing and revising the personal statement, advising on financial aid, and making final matriculation decisions - Support 12 th grade students through college matriculation - Provide alumni support: monthly check-ins with all first year college students, degree progress counseling, campus visits, FAFSA renewal, etc. COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT - Contact and meet with campus admissions representatives to build positive relationships and market FPA applicants - Research the academic and social environments at the various colleges students are considering for summer programs and college matriculation in an effort to recommend suitable matches - Develop and maintain a robust network of college admissions and summer program professionals through regular communication and high school visits from colleges and universities that best support first generation, low- income college students - Recruit and retain summer partnerships, annually, to secure guaranteed spots in both pre-college and internship experiences COLLEGE DEPARTMENT TEAM MEMBER - Assist with the administration of the ACT/PSAT assessments - Attend and plan overnight college trips for students - Assist with specific projects and areas as determined by the Director of College Success (based on expertise and skills of college counselor)
- Attend professional conferences and visit universities to develop knowledge about various schools - Maintain student data across various platforms OTHER SCHOOL-BASED RESPONSIBILITIES: - Participate in school-wide professional development, grade-level teams, and school-specific duties - Support and participate in school-wide activities and programming QUALIFICATIONS: The ideal candidate for this position will possess the following: - Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year educational institution - 1-2 years experience in college counseling or admissions required DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: - Availability to travel - Ability to maintain emotional control under stress - Intelligent, driven self-starter with a demonstrated track record of success in developing and executing on a long-term, multi-tiered strategy - Extremely detail and process oriented, able to develop and implement internal systems necessary to build capacity and organizational structure - Relentless accountability to deadlines, internal and external - Proven ability to collaborate and build relationships with multiple stakeholders - Proficiency with all MS Office programs including: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint - Outstanding project management skills, with an ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously - Openness to giving and receiving frequent feedback - A dedication to learn, grow, and develop as a professional - Unquestioned integrity and commitment to Freedom Prep’s mission
- Bilingual (Spanish preferred)
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with experience.
START DATE An exceptional candidate will assume a full time role as soon as possible.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY Freedom Preparatory Academy is actively seeking to build a diverse and experienced team of educators. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender,
handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin. We are an equal opportunity employer.
APPLICATION PROCESS Outstanding candidates should apply here: https://freedomprep.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx. |