Manager of Student Success & Counseling Services - Oregon Connections Academy

School Summary

Oregon Connections Academy is a tuition-free, online school serving students in grades K–12 throughout Oregon. Connections Academy schools are supported by Connections Education LLC, which is accredited by Cognia. Oregon Connections Academy is authorized by the Prairie City School District to serve students throughout Oregon. 

Oregon Connections Academy strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

Position Summary and Responsibilities 

Working remotely from a home office in Oregon, the Manager of Student Success & Counseling Services leads ORCA's comprehensive school counseling program and Counseling Team, ensuring every student in grades K–12 has access to a coordinated, data-informed, and equitable program supporting academic achievement, career and postsecondary planning, and social-emotional development. This role designs and oversees systems for graduation planning, course selection, crisis prevention and intervention, transcript accuracy, family engagement, community partnerships, and College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR), while ensuring the program meets Oregon Department of Education (ODE) requirements under OAR 581-022-2060 and aligns with ORCA's School Improvement Plan. The Manager uses student outcome data to drive continuous program improvement, identify and close equity gaps, and ensure all students have equitable access to opportunities that promote graduation, postsecondary readiness, and lifelong success. 

This position is responsible for ensuring ORCA's counseling program satisfies Oregon's Comprehensive School Counseling rule. Specifically, the Manager of Student Success & Counseling Services will: 

• Design, deliver, and continuously improve a K–12 comprehensive counseling program aligned with the Oregon Department of Education's Framework for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, and ensure the program aligns with ORCA's School Improvement Plan. 
• Ensure every student in grades 7–12 develops and annually reviews an Education Plan and Profiel (EPP) — a formalized plan through which students establish education, career, and life goals and connect them to activities supporting those goals. 
• Assign counseling responsibilities appropriately across staff and ensure all school staff understand their role in implementing the comprehensive counseling program. 
• Ensure the program is designed, delivered, or implemented by staff licensed by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) as a school counselor or school social worker, or by a team whose combined training/experience spans Oregon's Framework, counseling methodologies, social-emotional learning, mental and behavioral health supports, trauma-sensitive practices, culturally responsive and sustaining practices, curriculum/instruction/assessment, and career development.
• Conduct and submit ORCA's annual comprehensive school counseling program assessment as part of ODE's program evaluation and improvement process.  
• Ensure no staff member practices outside the scope of their TSPC license or within the scope of a license they do not hold. 

Key Responsibilities  

Program Leadership & Team Supervision  

• Organize, supervise, and evaluate the work of the Counseling Team at all levels, and collaborate with the Dean of Students and the Advisory Team to identify students who are at risk or in crisis. 
• Establish department procedures, systems, and accountability measures that promote consistent, high-quality services across grade levels. 
• Develop, plan, and implement student success and counseling programs for students and families related to academic and career planning, graduation, and interpersonal adjustment. 
• Serve as subject matter expert for College Board programs and Dual Credit programs and collaborate with the Assistant Principal and College and Career Counselor to ensure students are informed of these opportunities. 
• Provide professional development activities for teachers and staff that build knowledge of state requirements, comprehensive counseling practices, and crisis-intervention protocols. 

Data-Informed Continuous Improvement & Equity  

• Facilitate continuous program improvement through the use of program audits, needs assessments, and student outcome data. 
• Utilize attendance, achievement, behavior, graduation, and postsecondary readiness data to identify student needs and evaluate program effectiveness. 
• Use data to identify equity gaps and implement strategies that improve access, opportunity, and outcomes for all student populations. 
• Prepare reports and presentations that communicate program outcomes and student success data to school leadership and stakeholders. 
• Collaborate with school leadership and instructional staff to identify and address barriers impacting student achievement, attendance, engagement, and persistence. 
• Foster a collaborative culture that promotes advocacy, equity, and student-centered decision-making. 

Graduation Planning, Course Selection & Records  

• Oversee the process for maintaining each student's graduation plan, including assisting students and parents in developing a Four-Year Plan for meeting graduation requirements. 
• Keep abreast of all high school graduation requirements, including special requirements such as community service, and communicate this information to the school administration and the High School Coordinator. 
• Plan and supervise the secondary course selection process in accordance with state credit and graduation requirements and individual students' needs and interests; counsel students and families on issues related to dropping courses or changing schedules. 
• Supervise the review of student transcripts and entry of credits into the online transcript system; develop and implement procedures ensuring transcripts remain accurate and up to date; generate and authorize official transcripts upon request. 
• Supervise efforts to secure complete and accurate records for students. 
• Ensure the Counseling Team supports teachers when students enroll mid-semester, including guidance on integrating new students into coursework and appropriately handling prior grades, credits, and evaluations. 

Family & Student Support  

• Maintain a high level of professional communication with parents to deliver program information, address individual student needs, and utilize all levels of academic support available to ensure student success. 
• Provide specified assistance to families in need of additional support to prevent unnecessary withdrawals and encourage a high level of participation. 
• Handle student problems escalated by parents and teachers. 
• Counsel families through the school withdrawal process and assist with related data collection. 

Crisis Prevention & Intervention  

• Design, implement, and monitor crisis prevention and management plans for the school, and provide leadership to the Crisis Management Team. 
• Oversee the reporting and referral of critical incidents that jeopardize student well-being, as obligated by law, administrative regulations, or ethical standards. 
• Support school staff in providing responsive services and referrals for students experiencing academic, behavioral, social-emotional, or personal challenges. 
• Coordinate partnerships with community agencies and maintain current referral resources to support student and family needs; lead the Counseling Team in identifying school and community resources available to school teams and families. 
• Lead the Counseling Team in identifying school and community resources, and maintain an up-to-date resource list available to school teams and families. 
• Develop and implement processes to regularly review each secondary student's status related to attendance, participation, and performance. 

Testing & College/Career Readiness  

• Coordinate high school testing support alongside the District Testing Coordinator, including PSAT, ACT, and AP exams, and manage logistics such as scheduling, tracking participation, and contracting for testing facilities. 
• Research, develop, and implement special programs such as AP support, SAT/ACT preparation, and college entrance preparation. 

Events & Additional Duties  

• Support administration and staff in the planning and implementation of high school graduation ceremonies. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications   

• Licensed by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) as a School Counselor or School Social Worker, per OAR 581-022-2060(3)(a);  
• Oregon Administrative License preferred. 
• Advanced degree in Counseling or Administration 
• Preferred 3 years of leadership experience in a secondary school setting  
• School Counseling experience preferred 
• Travel is required for administration approximately 2-3 times per year (may require overnight travel) 
• Ability to work some occasional evening hours, as needed to support some families 
• Must have a dedicated, distraction-free office space and ensure careful monitoring of student information. 

Skills:  

• Strong leadership, team management abilities, and staff supervision skills. 
• Excellent oral and written communication and collaboration skills. 
• Proficiency in data analysis and program assessment; development of processes, procedures, and key outcomes 
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement student success initiatives. 
• Knowledge of academic advising, retention strategies, and student development theory. 
• Technologically proficient (especially with Microsoft Office products and Google Suite) 
• Student-focused approach with a high degree of flexibility and a demonstrated track record as a collaborative team player in a fast-paced environment. 

Key Competencies:  

• Leadership and Vision 
• Problem-Solving and Decision-Making 
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills 
• Data-Driven Approach 
• Collaboration and Teamwork

Note: The anticipated starting salary for Oregon-based individuals expressing interest in this position starts at $80,000. Salary offers are based on the candidate's fit against the criteria for the role and may vary from the anticipated range. Benefits available to eligible employees can be seen at https://www.connectionsacademy.com/careers/benefits/.