School Counselor

Making Waves Academy School Counselor Student Support Services•Richmond, CA•Full Time

Salary:

$85,000•$110,000 | CalSTRS Retirement Eligible |

Exempt Location:

Richmond, CA (Making Waves Academy Campus) The Impact You'll Make You are more than a counselor; you are an advocate, a strategist, and a lifeline. At Making Waves Academy, your work isn't just about sessions—it's about interrupting inequity. You will build the emotional architecture that allows our students to thrive in a high-performing environment. You thrive at the intersection of clinical expertise and educational advocacy, ensuring every Wave-Maker is seen, heard, and supported. What You'll Be Doing As a critical member of our Student Support Services team, you will lead our multi-disciplinary approach to student well-being. From Tier 1 classroom lessons to Tier 3 crisis intervention, you own the student experience.

Your day-to-day includes:

Driving Student Outcomes:

Deliver a comprehensive counseling program using MTSS and Restorative Justice frameworks to support students across grades 5-12.

Direct Support:

Leading short-term individual counseling and targeted group sessions to address immediate mental health and social-emotional needs.

Crisis Leadership:

Acting as the primary responder for students in acute distress, ensuring 100% compliance with California mandated reporting and state laws.

Strategic Collaboration:

Serving as a clinical expert in Pre-SST and IEP meetings to help teams draft and meet student goals.

Data-Driven Advocacy:

Managing the Student Support Services database and "Non-Cognitive Dashboard" to track attendance and behavior trends, using data to close equity gaps. What We're Looking For You are a high-performing professional who remains calm in "crisis mode." You possess the emotional maturity to handle high-stakes dynamics and the technical skill to manage complex administrative requirements like 504s and IEPs. You'll need to have: Bachelor's degree in School Counseling, Psychology, or Social Work. Valid California Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential in School Counseling (Required). 2+ years of experience in a 5-12 school setting. The ability to analyze student data to identify and support at-risk subgroups.

Even better if you have:

A Master's Degree in a related field. Deep proficiency in MTSS, PBIS, and Restorative Justice philosophies. Why Making Waves Academy? When you join our team, you join a movement dedicated to intergenerational change. We support our employees as holistically as we support our students. 100%

Health Coverage:

We cover 100% of most premiums for medical, dental, and vision for you and your family.

Work-Life Balance:

Enjoy all school holidays and breaks to ensure you have time to recharge.

Community Immersion:

We are a close-knit, supportive community that values your professional growth and your personal well-being.