2025-2026 School Counselor (K-8) - KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools

KIPP
KIPP Public Schools is a network of 280 public charter schools, 15,000 educators and 175,000 students and alumni.  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.

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. 

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. 

In the 2025-26 school year, the KIPP Jacksonville region will be comprised of four schools educating 3,000+ students, kindergarten through twelfth grade, in the North and Westsides 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

For the current 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 dismissal is at 1:30pm 

• High School Staff: 6:45am - 3:45pm, High School Students: 7:15am - 2:30pm, Wednesday High School 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 approximately almost 300 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. To see all openings, visit our Regional Job Board.

POSITION OVERVIEW

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

Ideal start date: June 2025 for this Year-Round position. 

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

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Our current starting salary for a first-year school counselor is $50,000

• Free individual health benefits (including medical, dental, and vision)***

• Free individual 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 first year of paying out millage stipends, certified New-to-KIPP instructional staff received an additional $7,000. Certified staff also received TSIA stipends this year. There are other opportunities to earn money at KIPP Jax in the form of additional stipends. 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. 

• 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

HIGHLY PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Two or more years of school-based K-8 school counseling that includes evidence of building systems and partnership OR two or more years of K-8 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.

APPLY

Please complete an application and upload a resume via our job board. No applicants will be considered that submit resumes through other job postings. Link to job board here: https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/KIPP/jacksonville  

Please note in the application if you have a school preference based on location. 

If you're a current KIPP Jax team member, you should:

1) Inform your current manager of your interest in the role and

2) Complete the online application

QUESTIONS
If you have questions about positions at KIPP Jacksonville, please email LaShawnda Anderson at LAnderson@kippjax.org. 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 does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation or national or ethnic origin.