School Guidance and Counselor – Kelem International School (KIS) (Former Swedish Community School), Ethiopia

Kelem International School (KIS) is a pre-KG to Grade 8 school that was originally established under the Swedish Embassy in Ethiopia in 1946 but reopened as an independent not-for-profit school in July 2019.

We are currently seeking a School Guidance and Counselor for the coming academic year 2022-23.

Our vision is to become a collaborative center of learning in Ethiopia, where each and every child becomes a confident and self-realized global citizen. Our mission is to facilitate the realization of every child’s full potential and develop resilient, curious, open-minded and reflective students who are able to express themselves fully and effectively

We wish to enable our students to think critically, analyse and creatively solve problems to be adaptive in a rapidly changing world. Our school fosters in the minds of our students that learning is a life-long endeavor, setting the example by the continued professional development of our teachers and staff.

Our school aims to produce responsible and compassionate global citizens, with respect and recognition of the rich heritage of our host country, Ethiopia.

Currently the student-body of 175 represents 28 different nationalities. Kelem International School follows the Finnish curriculum blended with international standards for G1-8 and International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) for KG.  We are in process of being accredited by Cognia and expect to be fully accredited by June 2022.

Job Summary

The Guidance Counselor will help students develop the academic and social skills needed to succeed, personally and professionally. The Guidance Counselor assists students overcome obstacles that may inhibit their learning. The Guidance Counselor will also be responsible for maintaining accurate records of student attendance and of student performance relative to the adopted standards.

Key Activities

Attendance

• Communicate regularly with students, parents, and teachers regarding attendance and discipline matters
• Research, develop and implement programs to improve student attendance and discipline
• Identify, plan, and implement strategies to address barriers to learning including attendance concerns, behavior issues and social adjustment
• Plan, design, and conduct follow-through strategies to implement the school attendance program
• Coordinate with class teachers to provide work for absent students

Social and emotional learning

• Fully embrace our school’s mission, vision, and values and promote them to students, staff, other faculty, parents, and members of the outside community.
• Implement the child protection policy and be a senior member of the child protection team.
• Be part of a team developing, training and teaching the social and emotional learning and student well-being curriculum.
• Model and support our approach to rigorous academic instruction combined with instilling and reinforcing behaviors that lead to academic and life success
• Participate in working groups of staff and teachers to plan, problem solve, and support one another on an ongoing basis
• Establish and implement social skills, discipline and school culture initiatives
• Support the Dean of Students with monitoring the After School Program in conjunction with the speciality teachers
• Collaborate with other members of the school’s leadership team to create and sustain programs for students and families that recognize and celebrate achievement and continuous progress

Parent liaison 

• Support the Dean of Students to maintain parent involvement systems and structures, including Parent Association and parent involvement plan
• Communicate regularly with families to develop a supportive home-school relationship by coordinating through emails, telegram groups and portal-based communication
• Actively encourage parents to engage in their students’ academic success and other school activities
• Ensure that all students and families know and abide by the school rules and norms
• Coordinate and conduct appropriate parent/teacher conferences related to attendance, discipline, and school involvement
• Maintain positive, constructive and professional relationships with students, their families, and colleagues
• Be highly present and visible during school hours relentlessly ensuring a positive school environment

Data analysis

• Working with the Principals and Dean of Students to review the stakeholder annual survey.

Maintaining Discipline 

• Administer appropriate discipline to all students as outlined by our behavior policies.
• Work with Principals and Dean of Students to update and review behavior policies.
• Keep accurate student discipline records including the documentation of all parent/guardian conferences, intervention strategies, suspensions and phone calls for behavior
• Coach teachers to implement behavior management plans and improve instructional practice especially as it relates to issues of discipline and school culture
• Coordinate and supervise in-school suspension, and extended school programs

Mentoring and support

• Support teachers in ensuring they set high expectations and manage their classes in accordance with Student Handbook expectations
• Supervise and evaluate a portion of the teaching staff of the School.

Events

• Attend all after school student and family events

Reports to: Principal

Coordinates with: Vice Principal, Team Leaders, Teachers, Learning Support

Working Hours: Monday – Thursday 7:30 am – 4:30 pm and Fridays from 7:30 am – 3:30 pm.

Job Starts in: August 29, 2022

Qualification

• Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Educational Psychology, Behavioral Sciences, Social Sciences or related field of study.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience preferably in an international/community school system.