Company Summary
Indiana Connections Academy (INCA) is a tuition-free, virtual public charter school for students in grades K-12 throughout Indiana. INCA is authorized by Ball State University and governed by an independent Board of Directors. The school is operated by Indiana Connections Academy, a nonprofit corporation, through a contract with Connections Academy of Indiana, LLC, to provide its educational program and other services. The school was founded in 2010, as part of the Indiana Department of Education Virtual School Pilot Program, and became a charter school in the fall of 2011. INCA is accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, an accrediting division of AdvancED.
Position Summary and Responsibilities
Working from your home office in Indiana, the School Counselor is responsible for promoting student well-being and academic success in a virtual learning environment. This role focuses on building strong relationships with students and families, providing proactive and responsive counseling services, and connecting families to essential community resources. The counselor will support students’ social-emotional development, identify barriers to learning, and collaborate with educators and support staff to create a positive, inclusive virtual school culture.
The School Counselor will be responsible for the successful completion of the following tasks:
• Advise students and families related to academics;
• Keep current on all high school graduation requirements, including special requirements such as community service, and communicate this information to the Director of Counseling and to the principal;
• Assist students and parents with the secondary course selection process according to specific state credit requirements and student needs and interests;
• Advise students with issues related to dropping courses and changing schedules, seeking support as needed, while ensuring that the school’s course selection and drop policies are adhered to;
• Review student transcripts
• Follow procedures to ensure that Connections Academy transcripts are accurate and up-to-date;
• Work with the administrative assistants to obtain school records from the student’s previous school (where applicable) and forwarding student records when appropriate;
• Implement programs for students and families related to interpersonal adjustment issues;
• Work with school teams to identify and help families access school and community resources;
• Participate in the development of crisis prevention and management plans for the school and serve as a key member of the Student Support Team (SST);
• Coordinate a team of school teachers to help identify students who are “at risk” or “in crisis”; Act as the main point of contact for these students and families, communicating regularly with them;
• Implement efforts to secure complete and accurate records for Connections Academy students;
• Support families through the school withdrawal process, assisting with data collection regarding withdrawal;
• Report and refer critical incidents that jeopardize student well-being as obligated by law, administrative regulations, or ethical standards. Stay current on all state regulations relating to incident reporting and documentation;
• Implement special programs such as Advanced Placement support, SAT and ACT Preparation, and college entrance preparation;
• Understand the requirements for and assist the principal to facilitate the administration of all high school testing, including exit exams, PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP exams;
• Help students to research and understand their post-secondary career and educational options;
• Assist with student preparation of applications for college and jobs;
• Educate students and parents about college admissions requirements and financial aid;
• Support the coordination of high school graduation ceremonies;
• Support professional development activities for teachers and school staff members; and
• Other duties as assigned.
Requirements
• Must hold a Indiana School Services license
• Master’s degree in Counseling
• Strong technology skills (especially with Microsoft Office products and Google Suite)
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Exhibit a high level of work ethic and the ability to effectively manage time and work independently
• Skilled in problem-solving and motivating students
• Customer focused approach
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• High degree of flexibility
• Team player with demonstrated leadership skills
• Demonstrated ability to work well in fast-paced environment
• Willingness to travel on occasion for marketing and state testing events (may require occasional overnight travel)
• Ability to work remotely