Do you want to grow your career in An American Classical Education, helping students to live responsible, courageous, and virtuous lives? Ascent Classical Academies is currently hiring a School Social Worker or Counselor for its Douglas County campus in Lone Tree, Colorado, to begin in the 2023-2024 school year.

Ascent Classical Academies are dedicated to the intellectual and moral betterment of students and encourage teachers to take their own moral and intellectual improvement seriously as part of a supportive and excellence-driven culture. At Ascent Classical Academy charter schools, well-educated and articulate faculty utilize direct instruction to convey real knowledge to students using traditional teaching methods. Teachers enjoy a wide array of resources as they create their own lessons within the content-rich curriculum to engage students in a positive and virtue-imbued learning experience in the liberal arts. General education grammar school teachers experience the joy of mastering the key elements of their instruction, such as explicit phonics, Singapore math, Core Knowledge history and science, and English grammar with support from peers within the school and other Ascent Classical Academy network schools.

Desired Start Date: August 1, 2023, Part-time and Full-time option is available*

Compensation Range and Particulars:  $65,000- $80,000, highly dependent on experience, qualifications, and workload (prorated for part time)  

Schedule and Classification: Exempt

Benefits Available for Full Time:

• Competitive compensation package including performance pay and stipends available
• Employee-only coverage for group medical, dental, and vision plan; dependent coverage available
• Health savings account with employer contributions
• Short- and long-term disability and life insurance plans
• Retirement investment account with employer match
• Paid time off for a wide array of health reasons for employees and dependents, consistent with the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Free employee benefit and healthcare guidance
• Paid leave for qualifying events under the Family Medical Leave Act
• Robust teacher training including several weeks of on-site training

Part-Time employees may be eligible for the following benefits:

• Paid leave for qualifying events under the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act
• Retirement investment account with employer match
• Robust teacher training including several weeks of on-site training

*This position may allow flexibility as to schedule, including part-time hours in the appropriate situations.

About Ascent Classical Academies

Ascent Classical Academies partners with a network of classical charter schools based in Colorado delivering a content-rich curriculum in the liberal arts and sciences, with underlying principles in the Western tradition of the study of history, literature, philosophy, and fine arts. Our American Classical Education includes, among other things, the study of Latin; a rich examination of American literary, moral, philosophical, political, and historical tradition; and a school culture centered upon moral virtue, respect, discipline, and studiousness among students and faculty alike. Ascent Classical Academy charter schools currently serve approximately 1,700 students in K-12 campuses located in the Denver and Fort Collins areas of Colorado, with significant expansion planned throughout Colorado, the Carolinas, and beyond.

See Ascent Classical Academy of Northern Colorado and Ascent Classical Academy of Douglas County to learn more about our existing schools. 

General Duties:

• Ensure the academic integrity of the School by overseeing the appropriateness of modifications and accommodations for students in specialized programming
• Plans and implements the counseling program to address the academic, career, and personal/social needs of every student.
• Demonstrate effective case management of students
• Support and establish a safe and respectful learning environment for all students
• Demonstrate expertise in assessment, data based decision-making skills and psycho-educational practices, in order to plan, consult, collaborate and/or provide direct services to students who require mental health support and/or services
• Regularly attends counseling meetings to keep current on policies, procedures, and best practices regarding school counseling programs and issues.
• Provides counseling services for students, and advisement to parents, teachers, staff, and outside agencies. Counseling services may include, but are not limited to, targeted individual counseling, small group counseling, classroom presentations to support academic success, social skills, stress and anger management; and crisis intervention. Counseling services may include a review of psychological evaluations and standardized test scores.
• Facilitates the development of the school/community social and health assessment as a required component of the state accreditation process.
• Consults with administration, staff and parents regarding mental health issues in order to assist students with attitude, learning and/or behavioral problems.
• Assess and provide research-based intervention to students with a suspected learning disability
• Work collaboratively to design IEPs that support academic growth and positive social interactions for learning to promote educational access
• Serves as a member of RtI (Response to Intervention) and/or Multi-tier System of Support (MTSS)/Positive Behavior Support System (PBS) to support the referral process to include pre-referral screening and conferences, student progression, school level articulation and staffing for ESE. Assists with the coordination of student placement, agency referrals, student records, and student recognition programs.
• Serves as a member of the school’s ELL (English Language Learners) Committee.
• Provide services consistent with Ascent Classical Academies’ content-rich curriculum
• Assist and supervise general education teachers to meet individual educational goals for students with IEPs
• Maintain consistent communication with teachers, parents, Headmaster, and Student Services Director as needed
• Maintain student confidentiality

Ensure academic integrity of the School for students with specialized programming:

• Remain faithful to the classical curriculum and the School’s mission and vision to train the mind and improve the hearts of students with specialized programming
• Understand the importance of the defined curriculum
• Ensure that modifications and accommodations are consistent with the School’s mission and vision
• Stress the importance of continued student progress both academically and behaviorally
• Demonstrate mastery as a teacher to students
• Develop the intellect of each student to the utmost of his or her ability
• Develop the personal character of every student

• Colorado Department of Regulatory Agency (DORA) license in Psychology, Social Work, or Counseling
• Current Colorado special services licensure with appropriate endorsement for school psychology, school social work, or school counseling (see Colo. Dept of Education requirements)
• 2 or more years' relevant experience including familiarity with special education laws and regulations
• Eligibility to work in the United States
• After offer is accepted, satisfactory background check as required by state law and Colorado Department of Education
• Conviction in the values of a rigorous liberal arts education
• Loyalty to the school and ACA’s mission and vision
• Commitment to model moral character in line with the school’s core virtues and the pursuit of the Good, True, and Beautiful
• Adherence to all ACA policies, including but not limited to the Employee Handbook, Family Handbook, and all applicable school and board policies