Counselor - Elementary

School Counselor Position Summary

The school counselor works with the principal and the Coordinator of Counseling Services in carrying out the guidance and counseling program of Federal Way Public Schools and in alignment with the American School Counselor Association National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs. The counselor is responsible for the professional quality of the program in individual schools and for the consistency of the program as it relates to established policies and procedures of the Federal Way Public Schools. The counselor promotes the success of all students through the implementation of this comprehensive school counseling program that addresses the academic, career, and personal/social needs of students. The counselor is culturally competent and a leader for equity and social justice for each Federal Way Public Schools scholar.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Guidance Curriculum
  • Delivers and implements effective instructional skills and careful planning of structured classroom lessons as needed and based on data
  • Directs services through the guidance curriculum, individual student planning and preventive and responsive services
  • Learns and collaborates with other educators in the schoolwide integration of the guidance curriculum
  • Conducts effective classroom presentations to students in collaboration with administration and teachers that align to the school and district goals
• Individual Student Planning
  • Maintains and inputs accurate student records in the student information system
  • Aids all students, individually or in groups, with developing academic, career and personal/social skills, goals and plans
  • Accurately and appropriately interprets and utilizes student data through frequent progress monitoring efforts to inform decisions
  • Collaborates with parents/guardians and educators to assist students with educational, college and career planning
  • Ensures the smooth transition between levels as well as to post-secondary options
  • Consults with teachers on individual students, on development stages of youth and on intervention and prevention strategies
• Preventive and Responsive Services
  • Provides individual and group counseling to students with identified concerns and needs
  • Consults and collaborates effectively with parents/guardians, teachers, administrators and other educational/community resources regarding students with identified concerns or needs
  • Advocates for equity and access for all students
  • Provides staff with resources to accommodate individual differences and needs of students
  • Implements an effective referral and follow-up process
  • Manages and communicates a clear means for counseling referral and other access to counseling services
  • Accurately and appropriately uses assessment procedures for determining and structuring individual and group counseling services
  • Maintains and monitors student academic performance, behavior and attendance and assists with appropriate prevention/intervention services
  • Understands and applies response to intervention, positive behavior intervention supports, and restorative practices and multi-tiered system of supports
• System Support
  • Provides appropriate information to staff related to the school counseling program
  • Informs staff of services provided by the school counselor and how to access those services
  • Aids teachers, parents/guardians and other stakeholders in interpreting and understanding student data
  • Participates in professional development activities to improve knowledge and skills
  • Uses available technology resources to enhance the school counseling program
  • Adheres to laws, policies, procedures and ethical standards of the school counseling profession
  • Serves on school guidance team and serves on building and district committees
  • Maintains and supervises student activities as appropriate
  • Advocates and collaborates to create systemic change to improve the academic and career success of all students
  • Works cooperatively with others in achieving common goals supporting Professional Learning Communities

Required Qualifications

• Current Washington Educational Staff Associate School Counselor certificate
• Experience with a comprehensive school counseling program
• Demonstrates understanding of the American School Counselor Association framework for School Counseling programs

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with a comprehensive school counseling program
• Demonstrates understanding of the American School Counselor Association framework for School Counseling programs

Condition of Employment

• Criminal background clearance
• Valid Washington State Driver's License
• Willing to learn job related computer skills
• Maintain a current ESA Certified Washington State Teacher's Certificate
• Knowledge of School board policies and procedures
• Ability to organize and perform job responsibilities efficiently and independently without close supervision and able to pay strict attention to detail
• Speak, read and follow written or verbal communications
• Practice effective safety and security within individual work routines
• Develop and maintain positive customer relations with staff and service providers
• Work collaboratively with District staff and promote teamwork with co-workers
• Practice ethical and professional standards of conduct including the requirements of confidentiality
• Relate effectively with parents, staff, students and the public in a multicultural and multiracial community
• Perform job responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Related to Cultural Competence and Equity

• Knowledge/Awareness of own cultural identity and how this influences behavior, and desire to learn about the cultural identity of others
• Ability to establish and nurture an environment that promotes cultural competence and equitable treatment of staff, students, and patrons of the District
• Ability to understand and hold self and others accountable for promoting the Federal Way Public Schools' commitment to "Each Scholar: A Voice. A Dream. A Bright Future."
• Ability to recognize that each person is a unique individual even as we celebrate their group cultural heritage

Physical Demands

• Sit
• Use hands to finger, handle, or feel
• Reach with hands and arms
• Stand and walk
• Lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• Close vision, and ability to adjust focus

Work Environment

• Indoor conditions
• Near video display
• Moderate noise level

Work Schedule

• Monday through Friday, 180 days per year
• Most often 7.5 hours/day

Reporting Relationship

• Reports to, and is evaluated by the Director of College and Career Readiness or Designee

Representation

• Federal Way Education Association (FWEA)

Classification History

• Update 03/2016

Disclaimer

• The preceding list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary.
• The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the scope of responsibility and the level of knowledge and skills typically required, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements, skills or duties so classified.
• All personnel may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed.
• All employment open positions are made available on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or veteran status.
• Job descriptions are written as a representative list of the ADA essential duties performed by the entire classification. They cannot include, and are not intended to include, every possible activity and task performed by every specific employee.