About ICL Academy

A new model of private online education: Connecting academics, student passions, and industry experts. ICL Academy is an online private school for grades 5-12 that aims to solve many problems facing in-person and online schools by focusing on student engagement through a personalized, blended approach that combines academics with personal passions. Its founder, Kirk Spahn, is a fourth-generation educator with over 20 years of experience specializing in digital education and youth civic engagement. ICL Academy is powered by 150 years of academic excellence. It builds on the track record of success of the Institute for Civic Leadership, a nonprofit founded in 2001 that has inspired, educated, and supported a new generation of youth civic leaders to take positive action in their local and global communities. 

ICL Academy also partners with industry experts who serve as master teachers and Champion Mentors. ICL Academy is grateful to have amazing Champions such as Novak Djokovic, Steve Nash, Bode Miller, Monica Seles, Vincent Zhou, and so many more supporting its community of students and families. ICL Academy has quickly become the #1 online school for kids pursuing their passion. 

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced professional to join the ICL Academy team as an upper school academic advisor/school counselor.  This position plays a pivotal role in creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment, ensuring that all students have access to the resources and services they need to succeed. This position is essential in facilitating a positive educational experience for our diverse student body and supporting the school's commitment to academic excellence.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Onboarding and Advising:

• Lead the onboarding and transition of new upper school students and families within the advisor’s caseload in partnership with the admissions and placement teams.
• Develop individualized and supportive relationships with students and families within the advisor’s caseload.
• Facilitate the academic success and retention of students by developing and communicating pacing plans and supporting the development of executive functioning skills such as organization, time-management, and goal setting.
• Utilize the learning management system to convey important academic and pacing information and learning support resources to students and families.
• Maintain a detailed roster of students in the advisor’s caseload, to include relevant academic, demographic, and personal information.
• Maintain accurate and updated four-year plans for all students that align with their academic, post-secondary, and collegiate athletics goals.
• Serve as the student and family’s primary connection to the broader school community and facilitator of important resources and supports.
• Identify and support students of academic concern via proactive outreach and communication.
• Monitor and update students’ academic plans and academic progress.
• Refer students of academic and/or mental health concern to the Dean of Counseling and Advising, as appropriate.
• Identify, support, and monitor students on conditional enrollments.
• In partnership with the academic team, coordinate the re-enrollment, course planning, course extension, and summer school enrollment processes for students in the advisor’s caseload.
• Support and participate in key virtual webinars and orientations to support students’ and families’ transition to the school.
• Assist in school-wide retention efforts and strategies.

Individual College Counseling:

• Guide a caseload of senior students and their families in all aspects of the college admissions planning process, including the development of the college list, standardized testing, timing of applications, college essays, letters of recommendation, and financial aid and scholarships.
• Utilize a developmental and holistic approach to maintain trust and rapport with students and families.
• Support students in their unique journeys academically, athletically, and otherwise, including the support of gap year and other alternative post-secondary options.
• Utilize SCOIR as a means for maintaining accurate data and records of individual students’ application progression.
• Liaise with the Registrar to ensure accuracy of student transcripts and records.
• Prepare accurate and timely students’ materials, including the transcript, letters of recommendation, school profile, and school report, to be submitted to potential colleges in the application process.
• Write powerful and persuasive letters of recommendation in support of students.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) eligibility guidelines and the University of California (UC) admissions requirements.
• Represent the school at various conferences, as required.
• Maintain an active membership in the National Association of College Admission Counselors (NACAC).

Additional Duties:

• In partnership with the Director of Community Engagement, facilitate the community engagement experience of ICL Academy upper school students and their families via attendance at and participation in various community building events, such as Community Day, talent shows, student volunteer opportunities & events, & class pep rallies/celebrations.
• Support the planning of the school’s annual year end celebration.
• Attend the annual year end celebration.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Job Requirements, Skills, and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Graduate degree in school counseling or academic advising strongly preferred.
• College admissions experience, at either the college or high school levels, strongly preferred.
• School counselor specialization and/or certification preferred.
• Tutoring and/or academic advising experience preferred.
• Technologically proficient in student information systems required.
• Highly organized.
• Outstanding interpersonal and community relations skills and the ability to communicate and work effectively within a diverse community.
• Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
• A professional that operates with ethics and integrity.
• High degree of flexibility.
• Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits:

• Sponsored Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits
• Sponsored 401K Plan
• Sponsored $50K Life Insurance included for all employees
• Flexible PTO
• Remote/Work from Home and flexible hours
• Professional development

ICL Academy is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating a diverse workforce. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other status of an individual or that individual’s associates or relatives that is protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.