​School Counselor

Kona Pacific Public Charter School is seeking a compassionate, student-centered School Counselor to support the academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and personal growth of students in PreK through Grade 8. As a Waldorf-inspired public charter school, we believe every child deserves to be known, valued, and supported through meaningful relationships, restorative practices, and whole-child education.

The School Counselor plays an integral role in fostering a safe, inclusive, and nurturing school community by providing a comprehensive counseling program aligned with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model and Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board School Counselor Performance Standards. The counselor collaborates with students, families, teachers, administrators, and community agencies to remove barriers to learning and promote student success from early childhood through middle school.

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Essential Responsibilities

Student Counseling & Support

• Provide developmentally appropriate individual and small-group counseling for students in PreK–8.

• Deliver classroom guidance lessons focused on social-emotional learning, emotional regulation, friendship skills, conflict resolution, resilience, digital citizenship, healthy relationships, and responsible decision-making.

• Support early childhood students in developing emotional awareness, self-regulation, social skills, and successful school readiness behaviors.

• Conduct needs assessments and implement evidence-based interventions to support student success.

• Assist students experiencing crisis, trauma, grief, family transitions, or other challenges affecting school performance.

• Develop behavior support plans and collaborate with staff to implement appropriate interventions.

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Student Success & Academic Support

• Monitor student attendance, academic progress, and overall well-being to identify students needing additional support.

• Participate in Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), Student Support Team (SST), and Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings as appropriate.

• Collaborate with teachers and administrators to develop intervention plans for students experiencing academic or behavioral challenges.

• Support successful transitions into PreKindergarten, Kindergarten, elementary, middle school, and beyond.

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Family & Community Partnerships

• Build trusting relationships with families through consultation, collaboration, and regular communication.

• Connect families with school and community resources that support student well-being.

• Provide parent education related to child development, social-emotional learning, mental health, behavior supports, and healthy family-school partnerships.

• Collaborate with community agencies and mental health providers to coordinate services when appropriate.

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School Culture & Prevention

• Promote a positive, inclusive school climate through restorative practices, character education, and school-wide social-emotional learning initiatives.

• Partner with teachers to nurture each child's developmental, emotional, and social growth through observation, relationship-building, and developmentally appropriate support that honors the whole child.

• Support bullying prevention, suicide prevention, violence prevention, and student wellness programs using developmentally appropriate practices.

• Help cultivate a school environment grounded in aloha, empathy, respect, responsibility, and belonging.

• Support staff in implementing proactive behavioral and social-emotional strategies across all grade levels.

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Collaboration & Leadership

• Serve as an active member of the school's leadership, MTSS, and student support teams.

• Consult with teachers regarding student behavior, classroom supports, and social-emotional development.

• Maintain confidential student records in accordance with federal and state laws.

• Participate in faculty meetings, professional development, and continuous school improvement initiatives.

• Assist with crisis response planning, intervention, and post-crisis support.

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Qualifications

• Master's degree in School Counseling or a closely related counseling field.

• Valid Hawaiʻi School Counselor license or eligibility for licensure through the Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board.

• Knowledge of the ASCA National Model and comprehensive school counseling programs.

• Experience implementing MTSS, restorative practices, trauma-informed practices, and social-emotional learning.

• Strong understanding of child and adolescent development from early childhood through adolescence.

• Excellent communication, collaboration, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

• Commitment to equity, cultural responsiveness, confidentiality, and ethical counseling practices.

• Appreciation for Waldorf-inspired education, Hawaiian culture, place-based learning, and whole-child development.

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Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a PreK–8 or elementary/middle school setting.

• Training in trauma-informed practices, restorative approaches, and social-emotional learning.

• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and community agencies.

• Knowledge of Hawaiian culture, local community resources, and culturally responsive counseling practices.

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At Kona Pacific, our School Counselor is a trusted advocate, mentor, and collaborator who helps every student—from our youngest learners through middle school graduates—develop the confidence, resilience, and skills needed to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We seek an educator who believes in the power of relationships, restorative practices, and whole-child education to help students become compassionate, capable, and lifelong learners.

This version would be appropriate for posting on the Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board job board, charter school employment websites, or general education job sites while also showcasing Kona Pacific's distinctive mission and values.

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Educational Assistant (PreK–8)

Kona Pacific Public Charter School is seeking a dedicated, compassionate, and collaborative Educational Assistant to support students and teachers in our PreK–8 learning community. As a Waldorf-inspired public charter school, we believe every child thrives when learning is hands-on, relationship-centered, and grounded in academics, agricultural education, Hawaiian Studies, the arts, environmental stewardship, and social-emotional learning.

The Educational Assistant provides instructional, behavioral, and classroom support under the direction of the classroom teacher and school administration. This position plays a vital role in creating a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment where every student is encouraged to reach their full potential.

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Essential Responsibilities

Instructional Support

• Assist teachers in implementing daily instructional activities for individual students, small groups, and whole-class learning.

• Reinforce academic concepts and learning objectives through teacher-directed instruction and practice.

• Support students with diverse learning needs by providing accommodations, modifications, and individualized assistance as directed.

• Observe student progress and communicate observations to the classroom teacher.

• Assist with classroom projects, educational materials, technology, and learning centers.

• Support students during agricultural education, Hawaiian Studies, outdoor learning, art, and other hands-on learning experiences.

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Student Support & Supervision

• Build positive, respectful relationships with students that promote confidence, independence, and a love of learning.

• Partner with teachers to nurture each child's developmental, emotional, and social growth through observation, relationship-building, and developmentally appropriate support that honors the whole child.

• Encourage positive behavior and assist with implementing classroom expectations, restorative practices, and social-emotional learning strategies.

• Supervise students during classroom activities, transitions, recess, lunch, field trips, and other school events to ensure student safety.

• Assist students with personal care or daily living skills when required and appropriate.

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Classroom & School Support

• Prepare instructional materials, organize classroom resources, and assist in maintaining an orderly, welcoming learning environment.

• Perform clerical duties including copying, filing, organizing materials, and maintaining student records as assigned.

• Assist with classroom setup, displays, and organization of instructional spaces.

• Support school-wide events, activities, and special programs.

• Maintain confidentiality regarding students, families, and school operations.

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Collaboration & Professionalism

• Work collaboratively with teachers, administrators, counselors, specialists, and families to support student success.

• Participate in staff meetings, professional development, and school initiatives as assigned.

• Demonstrate flexibility by assisting in multiple classrooms or programs based on student and school needs.

• Model professionalism, empathy, integrity, and respect in all interactions.

• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the school's mission and educational program.

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Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

• Meet Hawaiʻi educational requirements for Educational Assistants by possessing one of the following:

  • An associate degree or higher from an accredited institution; or

  • At least 48 semester college credits, including required English and mathematics coursework; or

  • A passing score on an approved paraprofessional assessment, such as the ETS ParaPro Assessment. (Indeed)

• Experience working with children in an educational, childcare, or youth development setting preferred.

• Ability to work effectively with students from diverse cultural, academic, and developmental backgrounds.

• Strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.

• Appreciation for Waldorf-inspired education, Hawaiian culture, place-based learning, agricultural education, and whole-child development.

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Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting students with diverse learning needs, including students with disabilities.

• Knowledge of restorative practices, trauma-informed care, and social-emotional learning.

• CPR and First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain).

• Experience in elementary or middle school settings.

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At Kona Pacific, Educational Assistants are valued members of our educational team. They are mentors, encouragers, and partners in learning who help create a joyful, engaging, and supportive environment where every child is known, valued, and empowered to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and creatively.

I actually like this version better than most Hawaiʻi DOE postings because it maintains all of the required qualifications and core responsibilities while emphasizing the relationships, creativity, and whole-child philosophy that make Kona Pacific unique. It should appeal to candidates who are looking for more than a traditional paraprofessional role while remaining aligned with Hawaiʻi hiring expectations.

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Join us at Kona Pacific Public Charter School and make a meaningful impact by guiding our educators and students on a journey of discovery, creativity, and connection through Waldorf-inspired education.​

Please email the school at hrmanager@kppcs.org, or call (808) 460-4283 if you are interested.​​