Immediate School Counselor (High School)

KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools; Jacksonville (FL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools in Jacksonville, Florida is seeking a year‑round School Counselor (PK‑12) to work closely with families, teachers and principals to improve attendance, support students’ social and emotional well‑being, and coordinate credit recovery efforts through district programs and community partnerships.

The position requires Florida certification in Guidance and Counseling, a relevant Master’s degree, and at least one year of school counseling experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and a relevant Master's degree to meet the standards outlined for certification.
• Relevant Florida Teaching Certification or Eligibility for Certification in Guidance and Counseling Pre-K- Grade 12
• At least one complete year of school counseling experience with a proven track-record of high achievement
• KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools believes that our staff will represent our core values—high expectations, a growth mindset, commitment to team, trust, joy, and sustainability. We search for established educators who embody them.
• Passing a background check, as required by law

Responsibilities

• Serve as the coordinator and LEA for all district MRT meetings
• Support classroom teachers with in-class character education and classroom guidance as determined by school leadership
• Provide individual or small group counseling for students, including weekly social and/or emotional interventions for students
• Provide appropriate updates to leadership on student emotional/physical well-being based on interactions with families, assessments, and observations
• Support students with challenging behaviors
• Track school wide attendance data and work with families of students with low attendance to increase attendance
• Serve as liaison between families and community resources, including creating programming or forming partnerships to benefit students and families.
• Onboard new families to KIPP
• Oversee summer reading and credit recovery programs through FLVS
• Other duties as outlined by school or regional leadership teams

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Education or related field

Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling or related field

Florida Teaching Certification or Eligibility for Certification in Guidance and Counseling Pre-K-12

Job description

KIPP

KIPP Public Schools is a national network of tuition-free public schools educating nearly 190,000 students in grades Prek-12 across 21 states and Washington, DC. While each of our schools is as unique as the community to which it belongs, we are united around a shared promise: Together, A Future Without Limits. You can learn more at www.kipp.org.

KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools

KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools is part of the KIPP national network. Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose – college, career, and beyond – so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

KIPP

KIPP Public Schools is a national network of tuition-free public schools educating nearly 190,000 students in grades Prek-12 across 21 states and Washington, DC. While each of our schools is as unique as the community to which it belongs, we are united around a shared promise: Together, A Future Without Limits. You can learn more at www.kipp.org.

KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools is part of the KIPP national network. Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose – college, career, and beyond – so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

In the 2026-2027 school year, the KIPP Jacksonville region will be comprised of four schools educating more than 3,000 students, kindergarten through twelfth grade in the North and West sides of Jacksonville, Florida.

• KIPP Impact Academy: Kindergarten - 8th grade
• KIPP VOICE Academy: Kindergarten - 8th grade
• KIPP Bessie Coleman Academy: Kindergarten - 8th grade
• KIPP Bold City High School: 9th - 12th grade

In the 2026-2027 school year, teachers at KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools work the following hours Monday through Friday and may have occasional meetings or special school events outside of these hours. Hours for teachers and students may vary slightly by school.

• K-8 Staff: 7:30am - 4:30pm, K-8 Students: 8:00am - 3:30pm, Wednesday K-8 student dismissal is at 1:30pm
• High School Staff: 6:45am - 3:45pm, High School Students: 7:15am - 2:30pm, Wednesday High School student dismissal is at 12:30pm.

Every Wednesday is a student early release day, which allows teachers to participate in weekly professional development and content team meetings. *This doesn’t include Wellness Wednesdays when all staff leave at student dismissal.

To support these schools, we will employ more than 400 full-time staff members. We seek educators and colleagues that represent our core values of high expectations, growth mindset, commitment to team, trust, joy, and sustainability. To learn more about what it is like to work and teach at KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools, please visit www.kippjax.org/teach where you can also view all of our job postings.

Why Teach at KIPP?

At KIPP, we see the gifts in everyone who walks through the doors of our schools - especially our teachers. Their skill. Energy, Love. Their determination. On the good days and on the hard days. So we support our teachers to make the most of those gifts.

The KIPP Difference

• Respect - For our teachers’ innate talent and desire to learn, for their professional growth, and for the lives they lead beyond our walls. We offer pay and benefits that reflect our appreciation for the invaluable role our teachers play in lighting paths to opportunity for students
• Support - As our teachers progress through the day, the year, and their careers, we ensure they always feel the KIPP Team and Family at their backs, with opportunities to lead and support to grow
• Purpose - Together, our students, schools, families and communities share an ambitious mission to create a future without limits. We need talented teachers to realize it. Shape the future for your students and yourself by joining us in our work.

Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW

*Florida certification in Guidance and Counseling (grades PK-12) is required*

This role is available at KIPP Bold City High School (9-12)

The School Counselor is a year-round, certified position that is responsible for working closely with families, Learning Specialists, teachers, students and Principal(s) to enhance the school’s ability to meet its academic mission, especially where home, school, and community collaboration is key to achieving that mission.

Success in this role is measured by positively impacting (1) student attendance, (2) the onboarding experience of new families, (3) students’ social/emotional well-being, and (4) credit recovery, as needed. Counselors also execute at least 1 school-based community event a school-year and create/maintain systems that support their initiatives.

Specific Position Duties:

• Serve as the coordinator and LEA for all district MRT meetings
• Support classroom teachers with in-class character education and classroom guidance as determined by school leadership
• Provide individual or small group counseling for students, including weekly social and/or emotional interventions for students
• Provide appropriate updates to leadership on student emotional/physical well-being based on interactions with families, assessments, and observations
• Support students with challenging behaviors
• Track school wide attendance data and work with families of students with low attendance to increase attendance
• Serve as liaison between families and community resources, including creating programming or forming partnerships to benefit students and families.
• Onboard new families to KIPP
• Oversee summer reading and credit recovery programs through FLVS
• Other duties as outlined by school or regional leadership teams

Qualifications

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree and a relevant Master's degree to meet the standards outlined for certification.

• Relevant Florida Teaching Certification or Eligibility for Certification in Guidance and Counseling Pre-K- Grade 12
• At least one complete year of school counseling experience with a proven track-record of high achievement
• KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools believes that our staff will represent our core values—high expectations, a growth mindset, commitment to team, trust, joy, and sustainability. We search for established educators who embody them.
• Passing a background check, as required by law

In accordance with Florida House Bill 531, this position requires a background screening through the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. For more information regarding the screening process, education, and awareness, please visit the official website at: https://info.flclearinghouse.com

Highly Preferred Qualifications

• Two or more years of school-based high school school counseling that includes evidence of building systems and partnership OR two or more years of high school teaching experience with a proven track-record of high achievement in the classroom.

CERTIFICATION

The FLDOE website outlines that a Master’s degree is required for this position. If you have questions about Florida certification, please visit www.fldoe.org/edcert. Please list details about where you are in the certification process on your application so we can process your application accurately. If you hold a statement of eligibility or an out-of-state certificate, please list that information on your application.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Our current starting salary for a first-year school counselor is $53,000

• Access to health benefits (including medical, dental, and vision)***
• Access to short-term and long-term disability insurance***
• 403(b) retirement program with a company match***
• To support teacher practice and their growth, all lead teachers receive individualized coaching and professional development.
• The salary offered in the DocuSign doesn’t include any stipends for which the candidate may be eligible. In our current year of paying out millage stipends, certified New-to-KIPP instructional staff received a historical average of $11,000 with the addition of receiving TSIA stipents. There are other opportunities to earn money at KIPP Jax in the form of additional stipents. This role will only be eligible for instructional stipends if they have their FLDOE certification.
• This offering is subject to change each school year. Terms would be outlined in an offer letter, if issued.

QUESTIONS

If you have questions about this position at KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools, please email Jess at [e-mail]

Please understand that resumes and/or cover letters are not accepted via email and you will be redirected to apply via the website.

KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools is committed to a policy of equal treatment for all individuals applying for employment at our schools. KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation or national or ethnic origin.