School Counselor

 Organizational Overview:

KIPP Atlanta Schools is part of the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) national network of free, open enrollment, college-preparatory schools dedicated to ensuring that every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities. There are 280 KIPP schools in 21 states and the District of Columbia serving more than 175,000 scholars and alumni. KIPP Atlanta currently operates 9 schools including four primary schools, four middle schools and one high school, as well as KIPP Forward which supports scholars on their journey to a choice-filled life. We are a social justice organization and our vision and mission require the work of dedicated, bold and skilled leaders, educators, and support staff who are committed to serving as the catalyst for joyful, academically excellent schools and the foundation for building a more just and equitable world for our scholars. 

What We Value:

• Good Decision-Making: “I make thoughtful decisions in alignment with my school’s and organization’s values.”
• Peer Accountability: “I hold all Big KIPPsters accountable to our schools’ and organization’s values, standards, and expectations.”
• Excellence Always: “I do all aspects of my work with excellence - the big and the little things, the parts being monitored as well as those not monitored.”
• Communication is Key: “I communicate with both honesty and love. How I communicate nurtures courage, belonging, partnership, and progress toward our promise to KIPPsters and families.”
• Scholars Over Everything: “I put our scholars first, 100% of the time, without fail. I quickly resolve any and all adult-centered concerns and qualms to reserve my individual and our collective time and attention for our KIPPsters.”
• Walk Trumps Talk: “I chose this social justice career. And so, I behave in alignment with my choice. My behaviors match our promise to our scholars and families.”
• “Us” Only: “I belong to every member of our organization, and every member of our organization belongs to me. I choose unity always - in both the good times and hard times.”

 Job Summary:

The School Counselor supports scholars’ academic and social-emotional development by providing counseling services and leading prevention and intervention supports that improve attendance, reduce chronic absenteeism, and strengthen school culture. This role partners with families, teachers, and school leaders to remove barriers to attendance; delivers Tier 1–3 counseling and SEL supports aligned to ASCA best practices; and uses data to target services and monitor impact.

Job Responsibilities:

• Provides targeted counseling supports for scholars with attendance risk factors (anxiety/avoidance, trauma, peer conflict, school belonging, executive functioning), using evidence-informed strategies and progress monitoring.
  • Measures of Success
    • Reduction in chronic absenteeism rate for assigned caseload/grade band (as defined by school goals)
    • Improved attendance for scholars receiving Tier 2/3 attendance interventions
    • Increased on-time daily attendance and reduction of “near-chronic” patterns through early intervention
    • Evidence of effective tiered supports (documented plans, follow-ups, and progress monitoring)
    • Positive scholar SEL indicators and decreased avoidance-related referrals/absences
    • High-quality, timely documentation of counseling services and attendance interventions
  •  
• Provide individual and small-group counseling aligned to academic, social-emotional, and behavioral needs.
• Facilitates re-entry conferences and short-term reintegration plans for scholars returning from extended absences or crisis events.
• Support scholars with goal setting, emotional regulation, and problem-solving skills.
• Deliver counseling services aligned to ASCA best practices.

• Serves as an active member of the MTSS team, leading counseling/SEL components of Tier 2 and Tier 3 supports and ensuring alignment with academic and behavioral interventions.
• Co-leads the school’s tiered attendance intervention workflow (early warning identification, tier placement, intervention planning, and follow-up) in partnership with AP Scholar Support, Deans, and the MTSS Coordinator.
• Contribute to intervention planning and progress monitoring.
• Implements and monitors attendance interventions for chronically absent scholars (case management routines, goal-setting plans, check-ins, and barrier removal supports), documenting actions and outcomes.
• Supports teachers with classroom-level strategies that strengthen belonging and engagement (Tier 1) and reduce avoidance-related absences.

• Conducts structured family outreach for attendance concerns to identify root causes (transportation, housing instability, health, safety, school climate, caregiver barriers) and connects families to school/community resources.
• Facilitates attendance-focused family meetings for chronically absent scholars and documents attendance plans, responsibilities, and follow-up cadence
• Partner with families to support scholar well-being and development.
• Facilitate meetings related to SEL supports, attendance concerns, and crisis response.
• Provide families with resources and guidance as appropriate.

• Analyzes attendance data to identify early warning indicators and chronic absenteeism trends (schoolwide, grade-level, and subgroup), and uses findings to target counseling groups, supports, and prevention efforts.
• Maintains an attendance intervention tracker (as defined by the school/region) documenting tiered supports provided, barriers identified, services/referrals made, and progress toward attendance goals.
• Maintain accurate counseling documentation and service logs.
• Analyze SEL and attendance data to identify trends and inform programming.
• Support compliance with school and district counseling requirements.
• Regularly reports attendance intervention outcomes to the AP Scholar Support/SLT and recommends system adjustments based on patterns.

Qualifications

Candidate Qualifications:

Required

• Master's degree in Counseling, School Counseling, or a closely related field from a CACREP-accredited or regionally accredited institution
• Valid Georgia Professional School Counselor certificate 
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience as a school counselor (or closely related school-based counseling role)
• Demonstrated experience implementing tiered SEL/attendance interventions and partnering with families to remove barriers to attendance.

Preferred

• General education and/or special education certification, endorsements or credentials
• Experience leading in a K–8 or turnaround environment

Compensation & Benefits:

Compensation for this role is between$68,896and$100,000.  The starting pay will depend on various factors that may include but are not limited to professional experience, education, training, and certifications. 

KIPP Atlanta Schools offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• 15 days of Paid Time Off, in addition to identified holidays and regular school breaks including Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Mid-Winter Break and Spring Break.
• Comprehensive health insurance (medical and dental), life insurance and optional short and long term disability
• Paid Parental Leave 
• Participation in Georgia retirement plan and an optional 403(b) retirement plan

Location & Work Conditions:

This position requiresroutine physical activity associated with normal office environments and requires candidates to be based in Atlanta and regularly be in schools and able to attend in person meetings and events.  Additional in person time may be necessary based upon organizational needs.  

Statement of Nondiscrimination:

KIPP Atlanta Schools provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.