Director of College Counseling

The mission of the Idyllwild Arts Foundation is “Changing lives through the transformative power of art.” The Idyllwild Arts Academy provides pre-professional training in the arts and a comprehensive college preparatory curriculum to a diverse student body of gifted young artists from all over the world.

The Idyllwild Arts Summer Program provides arts instruction and experiences of the highest caliber to a diverse student population of all ages and abilities. Idyllwild is a small town located at over 5,000 feet on the western slopes of California's San Jacinto Mountains. Even though it seems far from the hustle and bustle of city life, the town and campus frequently hosts music festivals, prominent speakers and artists, and community events. Los Angeles and San Diego are only two hours by car.

Position: Director of College Counseling

Reports To: Assistant Head of School – Arts and Academics

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Start Date: July 1, 2024

Position Overview

Idyllwild Arts Academy welcomes experienced college counselors to prepare our Academy students for higher-level educational institutions in the United States and abroad. Idyllwild Arts Academy students are young artists who join our community to train for a life and career in the arts. Students are taught to be critical, creative thinkers and to make a positive impact as artists in their local communities and the world. The Director of College Counseling is responsible for the post-secondary placement of all seniors and post-graduates and for developing and maintaining close relationships with those universities, colleges, conservatories, and other programs that admit Idyllwild Arts Academy graduates. They work closely with families and students, as well as with the Arts Department Chairs to ensure the best possible options for placement. The Director of College Counseling will be important in helping realize the strategic vision of Idyllwild Arts Academy and will report directly to the Assistant Head of School.

The Director of College Counseling will lead the college search and application process, inspire students to seek a “best fit” for college, arts schools, or conservatories. It is crucial that the Director establish and maintain strong parent communication. In addition, the Director is charged with ongoing development and updating of college preparedness and transition curriculum that is appropriate for different grade levels.

• Oversee and direct personnel in the College Counseling office.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with college admissions directors and offices.
• Schedule visits and host college representatives to the IAA campus.
• Oversee the dissemination of all information regarding the college counseling application process.
• Assemble, proofread, and send all college applications, including all secondary school reports.
• Work with the Academy Registrar to keep accurate permanent records of students’ testing and academic work.
• Maintain the College Counseling web pages. Make sure that the School Profile is accurate and up to date.
• Represent the school with a high level of professionalism, including excellent writing and communication skills.
• Oversee the test coordinator, who coordinates and supervises the program and calendar of all standardized testing for students, including scheduling test dates, registering students, arranging for special ‘prep’ sessions, administering the tests, and providing pre- and post- test counseling.
• Continue to develop and build Life Skills curriculum for 11th and 12th grade students in order for students to gain a broader sense of the college application process and to reflect upon their own goals and aspirations. Curriculum should also include options for students who choose not to attend college upon completion of high school.
• Work closely with Arts Department Chairs on placement, audition, and portfolio deadlines.
• Counsel individual students and families.
• Write recommendations for all seniors.
• Guide faculty on best practices for letters of recommendation.
• Serve on regional college counseling organizations.
• Counsel families on financial aid resources and procedures.
• Use and coordinate Scoir as the main system for keeping track of college applications, submitting recommendations, and transcripts.
• Oversee college counseling programming for the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program
• Attend faculty, department, all-school, and employee meetings and trainings as required.
• Serve as an Advisor to a group of 5-6 students, providing general oversight of their well-being, scholastic and artistic progress, communicating regularly with their families with how their advisees are progressing. This includes meeting weekly with advisees during assigned advisory blocks and all-school meetings, as well as additional events throughout the year. Advisors are expected to attend their advisees’ performances, shows, gallery openings, and other culminating events.
• Various duties related to student supervision (dances, social events, school trips) and clubs are required.
• Additional duties as assigned by the Head of School or Assistant Head of School.
  
  

The Director of College Counseling should have experience in an independent school or a college admissions office. They should have experience in leadership and management. The Director of College Counseling must have substantial knowledge of arts training programs in all disciplines, and some direct knowledge of and/or background in the arts is strongly preferred. Outstanding interpersonal skills are important both with adults and students since the “counseling” aspect of college counseling is central, leading with empathy. The Director of College Counseling should be flexible and highly diplomatic, demonstrating the ability to work with various people, both domestic and international.

Personal Qualifications

• Acts as a model of integrity
• Understands and maintains professional boundaries between students, colleagues, and parents
• Respects confidentiality
• Has a sense of humor and keeps things in perspective
• Exercises patience and good listening skills
• Flexible and has the ability to work under pressure Keeps a positive attitude
• Ability to use a wide range of course material and books, both written and electronic.
• Ability to diversify activities: dialogue, role-playing, group activities, formal exercises, questions that promote critical thinking.
• Ability to implement a holistic approach to teaching.
• Sensitive to cultural, gender, and economic diversity.
• Demonstrated commitment to DEIB as it relates to Humanities curriculum and instruction.
• Strong interest in arts education and integrating arts into the curriculum.
• Experience and/or keen interest living in an international boarding community. Prior residential life experience is helpful, though not required.
• Enthusiasm for the education of adolescents and the unique challenges they experience.
• Modest campus-owned housing may be available in exchange for dorm parenting. If interested, candidates with dorm parenting and/or other relevant residential life experience will be given additional consideration.
  
  

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant subject is required.
• Master’s Degree is strongly preferred.
• College Counseling certificate is beneficial.
  
  

Other Requirements

• Ability and desire to work within the Idyllwild community, Riverside County, or commute a reasonable distance, that does not impede on-time arrival during winter months.
• Obtain and maintain a valid California Driver License, pass a criminal history background check as required by California Education Code Section 44237, and pass a TB questionnaire/test.
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS / WORK ENVIRONMENT

While performing the duties of this position an incumbent is required to:

• Regularly remain sedentary for long periods of time in meetings and while processing information and paper work both manually and on a computer.
• Specific vision abilities include close, distance and color vision perception and the ability to adjust eye focus. Reaching with the hands and arms and use of hands to finger, type, and manipulate a computer keyboard and mouse is required.
• Additionally, the incumbent must be able to converse in clear English both written and orally, over a telephone and in person, and be able to make public presentations.
• Work hours vary and may include days, nights, and weekends.
• Reasonable accommodation will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.
  
  

Reasonable accommodation will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

“Changing lives through the transformative power of art.”