Transition Counselor Specialist - Office of Student Support Services (C140-2627)

Hartford Public Schools; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 62,000 - 114,000; Full time

Job summary

Hartford Public Schools is seeking a Transition Counselor Specialist to support school staff in guiding students from middle to high school toward college and career readiness. You will lead the development and monitoring of transition initiatives, align them with district standards, and collaborate with executive leadership to improve graduation outcomes.

Under the Assistant Director of Alternative Programming, you will track graduation data, post-secondary plans, and Student Success Plans

Qualifications

• Master in School Counseling or related field required.
• CT School Counselor Certification (068) required.
• Experience in urban school district preferred.
• Strong data tracking and evaluation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, monitor, and evaluate college and career programs.
• Implement strategies to increase post-secondary planning and pathways.
• Support structured approaches to adolescent academic and personal/social supports.
• Create transition and college/career awareness programs for parents and community partners.
• Provide professional development for Principals and staff on Student Success Plans and readiness topics.
• Monitor data elements like graduation and post-secondary attendance.
• Oversee involvement of community-based organizations serving CCR needs.
• Perform duties as assigned by the Assistant Director of Alternative Programming and Chief of Academics.

Skills

Data analysis

Professional development

Communication

Collaboration

Time management

Relationship building

Education

Master's degree in School Counseling

CT School Counselor Certification (068)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Data systems

Job description

POSITION

Transition Counselor Specialist

REPORTS TO

Assistant Director of Alternative Programming or Designee

POSITION SUMMARY

Transition Counselor Specialists will provide direct support to school–based staff to ensure the effective and successful transition of students from the middle years through the high school years. Transition Counselor Specialists will provide leadership in the development, operation, and integration of research-based transition initiatives focused on college and career readiness, including the development, integration, and monitoring of strategic action steps, which will yield an increase in the district graduation rate and students graduating with post‑secondary plans. Transition Counselor Specialists, under the leadership of the Assistant Director of Alternative Programming, will collaborate with Executive Directors of School Leadership and other stakeholders to ensure the school‑based adoption of district college readiness and career development standards. The scope of the work includes monitoring and assessing graduation and promotion data, post‑secondary data, Student Success Plans, Hartford Promise initiatives and action steps, district goals, transition planning and Internship/Career Development.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop, monitor, and evaluate research-based programs focused on college and career preparation.
• Implement and monitor systemic strategies to increase effective college and career pathways and support post‑secondary planning.
• Support the development, implementation, and monitoring of a structured, comprehensive approach to increasing academic and personal/social supports, aligned to the unique needs of the adolescent learner.
• Develop and implement a research-based transition and comprehensive college and career awareness program for parents and community partners.
• Provide professional development for Principals and all HPS staff related to Student Success Plans, transition, and topics related to college and career readiness.
• Monitor and report on key data elements, such as high school completion and post‑secondary attendance data.
• Monitor community-based organizations that service the CCR needs of Hartford Public Schools.
• Perform other duties that may be assigned by the Assistant Director of Alternative Programming and Chief of Academics.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS/ABILITIES OF IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Master in School Counseling or related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in the field of Education in an urban school/school district.
• High level technical skills, e.g. Microsoft products, data systems.
• Demonstrated experience in providing effective professional development.
• Experience creating performance measures and systems.
• Knowledge of data collection and tracking procedures to monitor program outcomes.
• Experience working with college and industry/business partners.
• Knowledge of early college and dual credit models.
• Excellent research skills.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Must be able to work within difficult time constraints and under stressful conditions.
• Must be self-initiated and an innovative thinker within a collaborative team structure.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with administrators, teachers, staff, community and external partners.

Education & Certification Requirements

Candidates must have a conferred master’s degree from an accredited institution and must also possess and maintain the certification and/or licensure requirements for this position as established by the Connecticut state statutes; CT School Counselor Certification (068).

Salary and Terms of Employment

Pay will be commensurate with experience, educational level, and in accordance with the Hartford Federation of Teachers’ (HFT) Collective Bargaining Agreement salary schedule. The bargaining agreement salary range for the school year 2026-2027 is $61,955 to $114,267.

Evaluation

Evaluated annually

Union Affiliation

Hartford Federation of Teachers (HFT)

An Equal Employment Opportunity and Aff M/F/V/D

Hartford Public Schools (Hartford, Connecticut)

Hartford Public Schools (Hartford, Connecticut) is a diverse community of educators and 16,000 students attending 39 distinctive magnet, community, and neighborhood schools located in Connecticut's capital city. Our values are excellence, equity, inclusiveness, collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement. Our mission is to provide all students with the learning and support needed to succeed in school and life, and our shared vision is that all students will graduate prepared to transform our world.

'Set the bar. Meet the bar. Exceed the bar. Raise the bar!'

'Set the bar. Meet the bar. Exceed the bar. Raise the bar!' is the motto of Hartford Public Schools' Superintendent and CEO, Dr. Andraé Townsel. We are committed to continuous improvement, knowing that consistent growth toward abundant academic proficiency and excellence will raise the bar for our students in Hartford.

Achieving this vision requires exceptional educators who share our commitment to every student. In HPS, we recruit and select diverse educators who are committed to our instructional vision: to develop students' individual academic, social, and emotional capacities and growth within the classroom and beyond. If this resonates with you and you're passionate about empowering students to reach their full potential, we'd love to hear from you. Passion and purpose thrive here!