NJ Certified High School College Readiness Counselor (2026-2027)

ABOUT ACHIEVERS:

Achievers Early College Prep Charter School (AECP) is New Jersey’s first public charter school for students in middle school and high school that provides them with the unique opportunity to pursue one of four STEAM pathways (Health Sciences, Digital Media, Audio Engineering and Cisco Computer Networking). Students can have access to a program that allows them to earn up to 60 college credits, NOCTI credentials and workplace training. AECP is determined to ensure that students can enhance their journey through high school and graduate with content mastery, skills, and experiences that are essential to the current marketplace and the world beyond. 

ACHIEVERS FIT:

• Demonstrates alignment and commitment to Achievers Early College Prep's mission, core beliefs, and educational philosophy
• Adaptable in a growing environment; Is flexible and solutions-oriented
• Evidence of self-motivation, taking initiatives, and willingness to be a team player
• Experience in schools that rely heavily on intervention, literacy, and content knowledge as a means to dramatically increase student achievement
• Driven to deliver rigorous instruction by emphasizing student engagement with complex texts, critical thinking, and comprehensive literary analysis
• Exhibits a laser focus on analyzing student work and student data, coupled with a deep commitment to data-driven decision making
• Quantifiable track record of outstanding academic results 
• Unwavering commitment to feedback, improvement, practice, and notion of “I’M ALL IN!”
• Culturally aware, culturally sensitive, and asset-based thinking

ABOUT THE ROLE: 

The College Counselor will have three primary functions: helping students to plan and track their credits, guiding students in their college search and application process, and teaching lessons to students, in order to achieve 100% college acceptance or post-high school opportunity; additionally, the college counselor will work closely with our instructional and advisory teams to engage their support in navigating early college success.

In the counseling function, the college counselor will meet individually with all students to support their college application process. This includes supporting the search - finding a "best-fit" college, based on students' interests, needs and strengths. The counselor will be familiar with PSAT, SAT and Accuplacer, as well as manage the AP credit process. The counselor will serve as part of the ninth grade summer bridge team to assist rising 9th graders with the transition from middle school.

In their senior year, students will be guided through the college application process by the college counselor. This also includes supporting students through the financial aid processes - including finding scholarship opportunities and helping students understand financial aid. Ultimately, the college counselor's primary accountability is towards college acceptance - with 100% of students being accepted to a four-year university or a post-high school opportunity that leaders to a STEAM career.

In the teaching function, the college counselor will instruct students around topics in the college search, application and financial aid processes. Additionally, aspects of college life, preparing for autonomy and accessing resources on a college campus will be topics that students need to master through the instruction of the college counselor.

Qualifications

• Passionate about increasing the college attainment rate in urban communities
• Certain that all students can go to college
• Entrepreneurial and enjoys having autonomy, flexibility and accountability
• A collaborative team player who works well with other adults and engages in healthy conflict to get the best results for students
• Resourceful and persistent, constantly seeking to improve upon results
• Someone who strives to be the best at what they do and has fun along the way
• Committed to personalizing learning for each student and willing to learn with us as we innovate in our use of space, time, the role of teachers, and technology
• Comfortable with a high degree of transparency around results and accountability for results
• Supportive of our warm/strict discipline model and effective in maintaining a consistent, disciplined classroom
• A graduate of a four-year university
• A Social Worker certificate, Guidance Counselor certificate, prior Upward Bound or high school experience is desired
• Bachelor's degree

Job Description:

The College/Career Counselor serves the students and families, primarily in 10th - 12th grades, by providing a program which focuses on the major aspects of the career counseling and college planning/placement process. With a goal of 100% college acceptance, the College/Career Counselor works in coordination with each student’s Crew leader and other members of the faculty, as well as with the school administration, to assist students in discovering their strengths and interests, exploring career alternatives and finding institutions of higher learning which will meet these interests, strengths and values.

He/she develops Curriculum that supports students in their exploration of career alternatives and helps them understand the college application process. The College Counselor designs and directs a program of activities to assist students with college planning in 10th-12th grades including: academic preparation for college, meeting both graduation and college acceptance requirements, college searches, school and financial aid application, scholarship searches, testing, recommendations, and transition to college.

Job Responsibilities:

●  Proactively creates and develops positive relationships with all members of the school community (students, teachers, families).

●  Establishes positive working relationships with colleges and universities, ensuring they are familiar with the EL Education model and Franklin School specifically, and creating opportunities for successful admission of Franklin students.

●  Develops curriculum and provides training to  to support the career planning and college selection/application processes.

●  Works with students and their families to understand the career alternatives available to them as well as the educational alternatives that are accessible.

●  The College/Career Counselor employs several venues to reach students and families, including individual conferences with students and families, larger group presentations in workshops, classrooms, and college visits​.

●  Maintains a resource library of print & electronic information of college catalogs, college guides, scholarship information, and financial aid application. Inform and assist parents with the fee waivers and financial aid process

●  Establishes and maintains college counseling web information.

●  Directs communication via newsletters, information packets, phone and e-mail with students and families.

●  Collaborates with student's leaders to deliver information, gather recommendations and meet deadlines.

●  Coordinates college visits to the school.

●  Participates in local college fairs.

●  Coordinates college entrance exam testing and interpretation.

●  Participates in ​National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)​.

●  May perform other projects and duties as directed by the Executive Director.

●  Bachelor's or Master’s Degree in applicable field of study/education from an accredited college or university.

●  Demonstrated experience with experiential or project-based learning.

●  Excellent knowledge and understanding of the teaching and learning process.

●  Demonstrated success in effectively solving challenging problems through a positive, collaborative approach.

●  5+ years of experience in the college admissions process, either guiding high school students in their application process or serving at the college level in admissions or career counseling.

●  Dedication and expertise in counseling a range of students in the career planning and college process, including those whose families have long been oriented toward college as well as those for whom college application and attendance is a new and unfamiliar.

●  Evidence of high levels of organizational skills and the ability to work closely and effectively with students, parents, and colleagues in the school.

●  Interest in the mission and educational goals of The Franklin School of Innovation, readiness to continue building the school’s career planning and college counseling program, and the ability to advocate for the school & its students in the college process.

●  Knowledge of the financial aid process.

●  Excellent oral and written communication skills.

●  Ability to work with diverse populations.

Personal and Leadership Skills:

●  Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with students, parents, administrators, colleagues, community, and other school community staff.

●  A strong sense of personal accountability for student achievement.

●  Outstanding listening, written and oral communication skills.

●  Unshakeable belief that all students can learn and achieve at high levels.

Physical Requirements 

• Required to work from school everyday- setting up spaces
• Set up for events in schools/other locations 

COMPENSATION:

Achievers offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package. This is a 12-month position which is exempt and therefore not eligible for overtime pay under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards. Achievers is an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, marital status, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected status. All employment decisions will be made solely on the basis of the individual's qualifications as related to the requirement of the position being filled.