[2025-2026] Guidance Counselor - High School (Finance)

KIPP Capital Region is a part of a national network of high-performing public Charter Schools committed to creating joyful, academically excellent, and prepared students with the skills, ability, and confidence to pursue their paths to college, career, and beyond.

Located in both Albany and Troy, NY, KIPP Capital Region serves 2,500 students in grades K-12 across seven schools. We believe every individual walks through the doors of schools bearing gifts. Talent. Perspective. Drive. Inspiration. So at KIPP Capital Region, we support every student and educator to see those gifts, then build the skills and confidence they need to thrive.

We are committed to furthering anti-racism, equity, and racial justice in all our efforts, and expect all of our stakeholders to participate in this work so that we can create a future without limits for our students, together.

Position Overview

The High School Guidance Counselor is responsible for being the vital link among students, families, and staff, supporting School Leadership in managing student credit achievement and graduation progress. They collaborate with the KIPP Forward Team and College and Career Seminar teachers to assist students in planning their educational and career trajectories. Additionally, they help students address academic and social challenges typical of high school life.

Duties/Responsibilities

Academic and Data Management

• Collaborate with the school team to ensure 100% accurate reporting of grades, credits, and GPA data annually.
• Conduct transcript audits to verify accuracy and completeness.
• Lead efforts to develop, maintain, and ensure a coherent, state compliant high school transcript that prepares students for college, military, or career pathways.
• Analyze student data to identify factors negatively impacting academic performance, such as attendance issues or missing credits.
• Prepare and deliver reports to school leadership on student credit accumulation and at-risk students.
• Ensure students are scheduled effectively to maximize on-time graduation and alignment with diploma pathways.
• Facilitate course selection, including electives, enrichment, credit recovery, Honors, AP, and CTE courses.
• Support students in exploring interests, values, skills, and abilities to inform academic planning and pathway choices.

Student Academic and Career Planning

• Guide students in creating academic plans that include class selection, graduation requirements, and college preparation.
• Assist students in setting academic and personal development goals.
• Support students in exploring extracurricular activities, college research, and early application processes.
• Counsel students on post-secondary pathways, including college, military, vocational training, and careers.
• Encourage students to research and consider various career options and internship opportunities.
• Help students develop strategies for achieving their educational and career goals.
• Support college and career readiness initiatives.
• Lead efforts to develop students' leadership, public speaking, and other soft skills.
• Organize events such as college fairs, career days, and mental health awareness campaigns.

Counseling and Personal Support

• Provide individual and group counseling to address personal, social, and emotional issues such as bullying, low self-esteem, disabilities, and relationship problems.
• Support students facing mental health challenges through crisis intervention, coping strategies, and referrals to mental health professionals.
• Collaborate with external mental health resources and community agencies as needed.
• Assist students in processing personal problems, developing resilience, and improving social skills.
• Promote mental health awareness and reduce stigma within the school community.
• Support students facing emergencies or trauma with emotional guidance and resources.

Conflict Resolution and Behavior Management

• Mediate conflicts between students, teachers, and parents to foster positive relationships.
• Facilitate conflict resolution sessions and develop long-term solutions to behavioral issues.
• Participate in threat assessment teams to identify and support students at risk of violence or self harm.

Collaboration and Communication

• Serve as liaison among students, parents, teachers, and administrators to support student success.
• Facilitate communication regarding behavior, academic concerns, and social issues.
• Promote positive parent/teacher relationships and assist in resolving conflicts.

Program Development and School Improvement

• Promote and support the school's mission, vision, and values.
• Develop and participate in internal surveys and data collection for continuous improvement initiatives.
• Organize and participate in events that develop student sensitivity to social issues.
• Work with academic boards and committees to improve learning conditions and support student well being.

KIPP Capital Region

• Perform other duties as outlined by School Leadership.
• Committed to furthering anti-racism, equity, and racial justice in all our efforts, and expect all our stakeholders to participate in this work so that we can create a future without limits for our students together.
• Complies with all charter, federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including the NYS Department of Education, Department of Health, and NYS Office of Children and Family Services
• Adheres to organization policies and procedures; promotes and supports mission, vision, and values, including developing and participating in internal surveys and data collection for continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications
Education and Experience

• Master's degree in Counseling or related counseling field from an accredited College or University required.
• NYS School Counselor certification required.
• Experience as a School Counselor, preferably in a charter or public high school environment, preferred.
• Experience working collaboratively with various departments in a fast paced, growing environment across functional teams with multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to identify ways to evolve our Guidance Counselor practices by staying current with the latest trends and providing recommendations and insights based on industry best practices.
• Understanding of working directly with students, preferably required in the charter, private, or public school environment.
• Prior experience working in schools and urban communities is preferred but not required.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule outside of regular business hours.
• Aptitude to create and work within an inclusive environment that honors and supports a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Prolonged periods were spent sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to access and navigate all areas of the school and other facilities as needed.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee needs to read, write, and speak English fluently.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use fingers to type, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance; stoop/bend and reach, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk, hear.
• Dexterity requires writing and operating standard office machines such as computers, printers, copiers, fax machines, phones, and calculators.
• Ability to occasionally lift and move up to 20 pounds.

Additional Information

WORK PERKS
When you join KIPP Capital Region, you are joining in on our promise to families that their children will enter college and the professional world able to thrive academically due to their literacy, numeracy, and core knowledge in science and social studies. We also promise that our students will develop a passion for learning and the drive necessary to persevere as they climb the mountain to and through college and career. Our graduates will be prepared to return to their community as teachers, leaders, and architects of continued growth in the Capital Region. And while the biggest perk to working at KIPP Capital Region is doing work that makes a lifelong difference in the lives of our students, you'll find that's not the only benefit we offer:

• Industry-leading medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Aggressive employer 403(b) contribution match
• Childcare benefits
• Unparalleled work/life integration
• Casual dress code
• Relocation stipend (conditions apply)
• And so much more! For more information on the benefits of joining KIPP Capital Region, please view our Employee Benefits Summary .

Learn More:
KIPP Capital Region offers a competitive salary ranging from $58,800-80,502

Salaries are determined using an equitable compensation scale that accounts for years of experience relevant to the role and longevity within the KIPP network. KIPP Capital Region will evaluate and determine the step/level a new hire will be placed within our teacher salary scale at point of hire.

All staff and educators at KIPP Capital Region are committed to anti-racism and inclusion, are part of a close-knit diverse community, and are encouraged to show up authentically, inspiring our children to do the same. Learn more about what it's like to work at KIPP Capital Region: kippcapital.org/join-our-team/

This role is located at KIPP Capital Region schools in Albany, NY.