KIPP Massachusetts
Job Title: School Counselor
Reports to: KIPP MA School Leaders
Who we are.
KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) is a national network of free, open-enrollment, public schools that are
successful in helping students from educationally underserved communities develop the knowledge, skills,
character, and habits needed to succeed in college and the competitive world beyond. There are currently
183 KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia serving 70,000 students. Today, KIPP
Massachusetts serves over 1400 students in our five schools in Boston and Lynn and almost 400 alumni on
their journeys to and through college with our KIPP Through College Program.
What we do & why it matters.
Nation-wide, only 10% of students from low income communities like Lynn and Boston graduate from
college, compared to 84% of their more affluent peers. Preparing our students for successful lives of
independence and impact drives the work of all KIPP school leaders, teachers, and staff. Nationally, KIPP
alumni graduate from college at 4 times the national average, which is good, but not good enough. We
project our Class of 2015, the first to benefit from a 5-12 KIPP education, will graduate from college at 5
times the national average. Our goal is for 75% of our alumni to graduate from college.
Our Schools.
KIPP MA serves over 1,400 students at five schools in 2015-16. KIPP MA will serve over 1,600 students at five
schools in 2016-17.
In Lynn, MA, we are building a K-12 education system across three schools. We currently serve students in
grade K at KIPP Academy Lynn Elementary School, in grades 5-8 at KIPP Academy Lynn Middle School, and in
grades 9-12 at KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate High School. We are excited to build our Lynn elementary
school to serve grades K-1 in 2016-2017 and grades K-4 by 2019-2020.
In Boston, MA, we are building a K-8 education system across three schools. We currently serve students in
grades K-1 at KIPP Academy Boston Elementary and in 5-8 at KIPP Academy Boston We are excited to build
our Boston elementary school to serve grades K-2 in 2016-2017 and grades K-4 by 2018-2019.
Across all our schools, 84% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, 14% receive Special Education
services, and 20% are identified as English Language Learners. At KIPP, we believe that all kids can and will
learn, and our staff members are dedicated to ensuring we serve the needs of all our learners. We are at our
best when we are engaging students’ joy and curiosity through rigorous curriculum that will put them on the
paths toward lives of independence and impact.
By 2020, KIPP will serve 10% or more of Lynn public school students and join our charter peers in Boston to
serve 20% of Boston’s public school students. We will also scale our KIPP through College (KTC) program to
serve 857 alumni by 2020, effectively tripling the total number of students served by KIPP Massachusetts.
Work Hard. Be Nice.
School Counselor
At KIPP MA, we believe our students’ character and emotional growth is inextricably linked to their academic
progress. Our school counselors play a vital role in shaping the culture of our schools and helping students
climb the mountain to and through college. School counselors are responsible for supporting the emotional,
social, academic, and character growth and well-being of KIPP MA students and families. Counselors are an
integral part of the KIPP team working to ensure our students succeed in school and go on to lead selfsufficient, successful, and happy lives.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Providing direct services to the school community, including:
 Providing regular one-on-one counseling or group counseling to students and families;
 Providing crisis intervention as needed;
 Managing, tracking, and documenting student interactions and counseling schedule;
 Setting goals with students and tracking progress towards those goals;
 Collaborating and communicating daily with teachers and staff to meet students’ needs;
 Ensuring a safe, positive environment in group and one-on-one counseling sessions;
2. Manage aspects of referral process for social services, partnerships, and special education services,
including
 Provide support and documentation for all students with IEPs;
 Meet regularly with students who have mandated counseling on their IEPs;
 Conducting regular assessments of current and emerging student and family needs;
 Developing and maintaining partnerships with external agencies;
 Referring individuals and families to external resources and services and when necessary referring
cases of suspected child abuse to the State Central Registry.
 Monitoring and facilitating the delivery of external resources and services;
 Administering records, documentation, and other compliance activities.
3. Consult with the school’s Student Response Teams to develop comprehensive supports and interventions
to students who are presenting challenging behaviors.
4. Communicate effectively with students, families, and colleagues, and respond to family concerns
promptly and effectively.
5. Participate actively in team meetings, school-wide activities, professional development, and other events.
6. Directly support the students’ social and emotional health to ensure their well-being and safety.
7. Communicate with proper support staff about student behavior, attendance, and other possible issues,
and support Principal and teachers when discipline issues arise.
8. Provide recommendations to the staff and leadership team around approaches to working with struggling
students.
9. Establish a professional rapport and strong relationship with students, staff, and families, including
meeting with parents regularly regarding student issues.
10. Display the highest ethical and professional behavior and confidentiality when working with students,
parents, and staff.
Work Hard. Be Nice.
General responsibilities include (but are not limited to):
At KIPP, we believe that an excellent staff member does the following:
 Believes that all of us can and will learn and creates a positive learning environment with high
expectations for all students and staff throughout the school;
 Thrives as part of a team-oriented, mission-driven culture;
 Exudes joy and a love of learning every single day;
 Demonstrates a growth mindset and a desire to continually improve through feedback, coaching, and
professional development;
 Constantly assesses progress, communicates results clearly, and uses data to inform decisions and set
ambitious goals.
 Has a strong work ethic and commits to doing whatever it takes for students to excel, including
committing to an extended work day and remaining available to colleagues, students, and families
outside of school hours
Qualified candidates have the following:
 A belief in the mission and values of KIPP
 Bachelor’s Degree required
 MSW or Master’s degree in counseling-related discipline
 Experience working within a school environment or extensive work with children, teenagers, and
young adults
 Experience in therapeutic modalities related to children and families in traditionally underserved
communities, including assessment and treatment of trauma. Experience in play-therapy is desired
for the KIPP Elementary Counselor positions
 A strong work ethic, extensive knowledge of child and adolescent development, and a documented
track record of personal and professional success
 Oral and written proficiency in Spanish desired but not required
To apply:
Internal candidates: If you are currently a member of the KIPP MA team, please apply by emailing your
resume to the Recruitment Team at Talent@kippma.org. Be sure to indicate to which position you wish to
apply.
External candidates: If you do not currently work for the KIPP:MA team, please visit our job board at
http://kippcareers.force.com/jobboard?site=Massachusetts and complete an online application.
Compensation
Compensation is commensurate with experience and includes a comprehensive benefits package.
KIPP MA is an employment at-will organization.
KIPP Massachusetts, KIPP Academy Lynn, and KIPP Academy Boston are equal opportunity employers. We do
not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, gender identity, religion, creed, ethnicity,
sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age, ancestry, special need, proficiency in the English
language, or a foreign language. We are committed to hiring a diverse and multicultural staff and encourage
applications from traditionally under-represented backgrounds.
Work Hard. Be Nice.