Counselor (Elementary School)

About the role

Utilizing innovation, guidance, advisement, counseling, student support, and collaboration, School Counselors ensure student success by implementing a comprehensive ASCA aligned school counseling program that addresses the academic, career and personal/social development for all students.

Essential Duties

• Develops, submits ASCA aligned annual comprehensive school counseling plan – 80% of time providing direct services to students and approximately 20% of time in program management, system support, and accountability
• Develops and maintains annual and monthly plans that detail activities and programs for students
• Consistently communicates comprehensive school counseling plans and supports to parents and stakeholders
• Develops and communicates appropriate college, career, social/emotional support resources to students
• Accesses and utilizes all available data to develop counseling supports to meet students’ needs and to access counseling plan effectiveness
• Expend a minimum of 80% of counselor time providing support and guidance directly to students and ensure all students on caseload can access their counselor in a timely manner
• Provides schoolwide proactive and preventative services to all students in the areas of academic, social-emotional, and college/career development
• Provides classroom guidance and instruction to all students on post-secondary options and plans, social-emotional topics, study, organizational, and time management skills and other life skills
• Identifies off track and at-risk students and provides targeted counseling supports to achieve on time student graduation
• Facilitates consistent access to college and career resources such as college fairs, college representatives, scholarships, military, financial aid (FAFSA), and college admissions
• Conducts individual and small group counseling, advisement, and provides specialized interventions for students
• Uses student data to design school counseling supports specifically for student sub-groups
• Develops and implements prevention, education, and awareness activities based on unique needs of students (e.g. drug/alcohol, student safety, healthy relationships, coping skills, etc.)
• Attends student meetings to help interpret and understand student data, performance and plans of support for students
• Collaborates with other school and district staff to ensure students receive appropriate support to achieve on-track graduation
• Utilizes all available technology resources to effectively implement a comprehensive school counseling program
• Conducts an annual program evaluation that measures ASCA implementation alignment and program effectiveness, shares results with principal, district, and other relevant stakeholders
• Completes monthly logs to provide evidence of delivery of services per the ASCA model
• Provides evidence of planned activities which indicate tasks related to role are completed
• Adheres to state and district guidance and provide evidence of compliance
• Administers an annual student survey to assess student needs, student interests, and feedback on school-based counseling programs and report results to Principal and District Staff
• Accurately reviews and maintains student records and student transcripts related to counseling and advisement
• Participates in continuous professional development activities to improve knowledge and skills
• Promotes positive relationships with students, parents, school staff, and community

Required Education

Master’s Degree in School Counseling
Certification/Licensure: Must hold or be eligible for S-5 certification in school counseling; S-6 or S-7 preferred

Experience Qualifications

Two (2) years of experience in counseling students as individuals and in groups and experience interpreting standardized sing results preferred

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate a guidance and counseling program based on student needs
• Proven skill and knowledge in ASCA model of counseling and counseling/advising individuals and groups
• Knowledge of college/career entrance requirements and ability to communicate accurate information for college/career guidance
• Knowledge of available school, system and community resources
• Awareness of cultural diversity and its implications for school counseling
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, projects and responsibilities
• Ability to apply critical thinking skills in rendering solutions to various issues
• Ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively as a member of a team and in a professional manner
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal