School Summary

Iowa Connections Academy (IACA) is a tuition-free, full-time virtual public school for students in grades K-12 throughout Iowa. The school operates in partnership with the CAM Community School District in Anita, IA. IACA is accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, the Northwest Accreditation Commission, and the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), which are accrediting divisions of Cognia.

Position Summary

Working from your home in Iowa or a hybrid with our main office in Anita, Iowa, the School Counselor will virtually assist students and parents/learning coaches with course selection, and scheduling and will be a key point of contact for student concerns that span multiple subject areas as well as non-academic issues.  The School Counselor will become an expert on course and credit requirements and will collaborate with stakeholders to establish and implement counseling processes for IACA students. 

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

Advise students and families related to academics, career planning, and graduation; Keep abreast of all high school graduation requirements, including special requirements such as completion of a CPR course, and communicate this information to the Director of Student Services and other school Administrators; Assist students and parents with the school course selection process, according to specific state credit and graduation requirements along with student needs and interests.  An integral part of this process is assisting students and parents to develop a Four-Year Plan for meeting graduation requirements; Offer guidance to students with issues related to withdrawing from courses, changing schedules, and seeking support as needed, while ensuring that the school’s course selection and withdrawal policies are adhered to; Contribute to the development and implementation of a K-12 comprehensive postsecondary exploration and planning annual framework; Help students to research and understand their post-secondary career and educational options; Review student transcripts and the entry of credits into the online transcript system; Follow procedures to ensure that Connections Academy transcripts are accurate and up to date; Work with the Administrative Assistants to obtain school records from the student’s previous school (where applicable) and forward student records when appropriate; Refine and develop asynchronous and synchronous referral processes and services for students and families related to social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs; Collaborate with school teams to identify and help families access school and community resources; Participate in the development of crisis prevention and management plans for the school and serve as a key member of the Student Support Team (SST); Collaborate with the broader Student Services Team to develop and implement practices that help accurately identify students who are “at risk” or “in crisis”;  Act as a main point of contact for these students and families, communicating & supporting them regularly; Contribute to and maintain the Personal Learning Plan (PLP) for each student (as assigned); Partner with IACA Administrative Assistants to implement standard operating procedures and secure complete and accurate records for Connections Academy students; Support families through the school withdrawal process, assisting with data collection regarding withdrawal; Report and refer to 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; Review and monitor that curriculum offerings meet state requirements; Implement special programs such as Advanced Placement support, SAT and ACT Preparation, NCAA preparative and planning support, and college entrance preparation; Understand the requirements for and assist Administration in planning for the administration of all Annual Yearly Progress testing, along with PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams; Assist with student preparation of applications for postsecondary & and vocational education; Educate students and parents about college admissions requirements and financial aid; Support professional development activities for teachers and school staff members; Assume teaching and grading duties as assigned; Collaborate with other stakeholders to plan and implement high school graduation ceremonies; Serve as a Section 504 Coordinator, and Other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

Must possess, or be willing to acquire conditional licensure through the state of Iowa for any of the following in order to be properly licensed at the elementary and secondary levels: Professional School Counselor (5-12) Secondary School Counselor (5-12) Excellent communication skills, both oral (verbal and non-verbal) and written Strong technology skills (especially with Google Suite & Microsoft products) Perpetual customer-focused lens regarding “all things work” Ongoing, student-centered analysis of data Development & implementation of evidence-informed strategies and interventions Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills A high degree of flexibility Team player with demonstrated leadership skills Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment Unconditional positive regard for all others Strong skills associated with personal emotional regulation and “EQ: Emotional Quotient” Willingness to travel on occasion for marketing, professional development, and/or state testing events (may require occasional overnight travel) High School-level Postsecondary School Counseling experience preferred

Must be able to use a personal electronic device and email address for 2-step authentication