School Counselor Role

 School counselors are advocates who provide support to maximize student potential and academic achievement while serving the needs of a diverse student population. In collaboration with all educators, families and the community, school counselors create a support system through individual and small-group counseling, responsive services and leadership. As a result of the school counselor, students will acquire skills and knowledge for college and career readiness and become civically minded members of society. 

The successful candidate possesses:

• Knowledge of Common Core Learning Standards and College and Career Readiness skills;
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff members, and administrators;
• Ability to build strong relationships with students, staff, parents and the community;
• Excellent organizational, verbal, and written communication skills;
• Strong foundation in the principles of anti-racism, trauma-sensitivity, and culturally-responsive education.
• Takes a strengths-based, advocacy approach to working with students and families;
• Strives to grow and learn in a team-oriented, collaborative environment. 
• NYS School Counselor Certification - Preferred

Job responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Developing/implementing a comprehensive school counseling program in collaboration with other school counselors.
• Working with students individually and in groups. 
• Participation in the CSE process as appropriate;
• Assisting students with personal goal setting, action planning, and progress-monitoring
• Providing support in pathways for college and/or career readiness, and long-term post-secondary planning.
• Providing responsive services to include individual and small group counseling, and comprehensive Tier 1 programs and interventions.

• Consultation and collaboration with teachers, staff and parents/guardians; referrals to and consultation with outside service providers and community resources.
• Serving as a member of the School Based Support Team, Committee on Special Education, 504 Committee, Cohort Team, and other groups as appropriate.
• Providing classroom guidance instruction to students in several areas to include college and career readiness, study and organizational skills, self-awareness and identity development, and social/emotional learning.
• Assisting administrators with mediating student conflicts and partnering with parents and other stakeholders to identify barriers to learning, and design personalized interventions. 

English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher Role - Adult Ed

This position will report to School Building Principal. The ESL teacher will plan, prepare, and teach well developed culturally responsive lessons which enthuse and inspire students, and promote an exciting rigorous learning environment. The ESL teacher will assess, track, and provide relevant and timely feedback on achievement and developmental needs to students, families and colleagues. The ESL teacher will maintain a strong home, school and community connection. The ESL teacher will work within a diverse environment of dynamic learners. This position will require a high degree of creativity, cultural awareness and problem-solving capabilities.  

ESL Teacher Expectations

• Effectively and appropriately differentiate instruction to meet all students’ learning styles with an appreciation for students’ cultural and learning differences;
• Select and sequence culturally relevant materials, resources, and approaches according to the content area and audience of diverse learners;
• Design, administer, and evaluate a range of authentic formative and summative assessments as appropriate;
• Induct students using culturally responsive practices to provide academic advice, counselling, educational guidance, and advisory support, including individual learning plans, as directed;
• Develop culturally relevant materials and resources, implement, support and/or lead in the production and improvement of curriculum planning, and undertake other academic project work as directed;
• Utilize learning spaces and tools (i.e., notice boards, displays) to share student work and lived experiences.

ESL Teacher Key Qualities

• Embraces an assets based perspective;
• Places students at the center of learning;
• Values students' linguistic and cultural backgrounds;
• Challenges and supports students;
• Demonstrates good critical thinking skills to understand student and staff experiences;
• Excellent listening and questioning skills;
• Flexible and adaptable;
• Proactively plans for situations and circumstances;
• Imparts a positive impact with students and staff.

The success of Air Force Junior ROTC would not be possible without the expertise and dedication of the nearly 1,900 retired Airmen who serve as Aerospace Science Instructors. 

Air Force Junior ROTC is a full program and is not confined to the “regular” school day, nor just the classroom.  Air Force Junior ROTC instructors conduct academic classes during the regular school day, but also supervise Leadership Development Requirements (LDRs) after regular school hours.  LDRs are experiential learning activities like drill teams, academic bowl teams, marksmanship teams, etc.  A robust and successful AFJROTC program will have several active LDRs throughout the year.

Air Force Junior ROTC Program Staffing.  Each Air Force Junior ROTC program must be staffed with a minimum of two instructors.  More instructors are added as enrollment grows.  An Air Force Junior ROTC unit typically has one retired officer and one retired enlisted instructor. 

Officer instructors are retired officers who have at least a bachelor’s degree.  Over 90 percent of them have master’s degrees with backgrounds in teaching, extensive experience managing complex programs, and many have significant experience working with youth groups.

Enlisted instructors are retired noncommissioned officers who normally have at least a bachelor’s degree.  All enlisted instructors have extensive experience in leadership, supply, administration, drill and ceremony, teaching, and many have significant experience working with youth groups.

Responsibilities of All Instructors. Instructors will exhibit only the highest levels of personal and professional conduct while serving as an Air Force Junior ROTC instructor.  The proverbial "glass house" analogy certainly applies here.  Instructors perform duties, accept responsibilities, and meet standards as prescribed by applicable Department of Defense (DoD), Air Force and Air Force Junior ROTC instructions.  Instructors will directly supervise all cadets participating in official AFJROTC unit events, AFJROTC community service events, and other unit activities (e.g. drill competitions, curriculum-in-action trips, base visits, etc.) that enhance or supplement the program. 

All Air Force Junior ROTC instructors are deeply involved in their communities.  They teach Air Force Junior ROTC aerospace science and leadership education curricula. They also serve as liaisons between the Air Force and civilian agencies in the aerospace field, and perform career and performance counseling for AFJROTC cadets.

Instructors devote themselves to cadets in the classroom and during LDRs. Their hard work and devotion have resulted in an Air Force Junior ROTC program that’s highly acclaimed at the local and national level.

Essential Functions of All Air Force Junior ROTC Instructors. To successfully serve as an AFJROTC Instructor, an applicant must be able to:

1)  Conduct Academic Classes. An Air Force Junior ROTC Instructor is expected to prepare for and teach periods of instruction of 45 to 90 minutes each, for as many as 4 to 6 periods per day, depending on a particular school’s schedule. Each class period may contain 30 students (possibly more in unusual circumstances) holding a range of ages and maturity levels, and coming from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Teaching academic classes involves significant organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills, as well as a high degree of patience.

2) Lead Before and/or After-School Activities. An Air Force Junior ROTC Instructor is expected to coordinate and lead a variety of school activities, possibly held before or after each school day, both indoors and outdoors. These activities may include physical training events, academic clubs, rocketry teams, marksmanship teams, along with performing drill instruction and demonstrating drill sequences. Leading extracurricular activities involves significant organizational skills, strong teambuilding skills, and physical stamina.

3) Lead Off-Campus Events. An Air Force Junior ROTC instructor is expected to lead field trips to historical sites, visits to local government agencies and military installations, and to march in parades with their cadets. Leading off campus events involves significant organizational skills, physical stamina, and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations.

4) Be an Ambassador of the Air Force. An Air Force Junior ROTC instructor is expected to exemplify a positive image of the Air Force at all times by conducting themselves in a highly professional manner in both their words and their actions. Additionally, an Air Force Junior ROTC instructor is expected to maintain a professional military appearance in uniform, and to comply with Air Force Junior ROTC weight and body fat standards.

5) Complete any additional state and/or local school district mandated teacher certification or continuing education requirements. Any additional certification requirements above the basic Air Force Junior ROTC instructor certification must be accomplished at no expense to the Air Force.

6) Successfully incorporate Air Force Junior ROTC-approved interactive learning software/hardware with classroom instruction, and have a competent knowledge of curriculum planning, Air Force educational programs, drill and ceremonies, and educational administration, including tests and measurements. Academic, administrative, logistical, financial support tasks, and after-school activities will be equally shared by all instructors as regular duties.

7) Complete the mandatory Air Force Junior ROTC Instructor Certification Course (JICC) as a condition of certification.