Director of K-12 School Counseling and MTSS

About the role

The Director of K-12 School Counseling and MTSS leads comprehensive, ASCA-aligned counseling programs and integrates the MTSS framework to support student mental health and wellness, academic progress, and postsecondary planning.

Responsibilities

• Aligns division-wide initiatives across all three intervention tiers, with a strong focus on universal behavioral supports and evidence-based programs to address chronic absenteeism, academic development and behavioral challenges.
• Ensures positive student outcomes through an equity-driven leadership approach, including data analysis, strategic project implementation, and collaborative engagement with diverse staff, families, and community partners.
• Develops and maintains a division-wide tiered academic, behavioral, and attendance intervention framework.
• Researches, designs, and trains schools on targeted interventions addressing chronic absenteeism, academic, and behavioral challenges.
• Collaborates with campus leadership to ensure all counseling programs align with national ASCA standards.
• Designs and implements K-12 academic and career planning resources utilizing college and career platforms.
• Serves as the division's Section 504 contact, managing dispute appeals and maintaining the digital documentation processes.
• Pairs with school principals to select, supervise, and contribute to the evaluation of counseling staff.
• Designs and delivers division-wide comprehensive professional development for counseling staff, division staff and community stakeholders.
• Partners with social and mental health services to meet the external needs of students.
• Creates metrics and analyzes student information system data to evaluate framework effectiveness and equitable access for students.
• Serves as a consultant to school-based staff in the area of increasing student attendance, supporting behavioral skill building and academic development.
• Prepares a wide variety of written materials for the purpose of documenting activities, providing written reference, and/or conveying information.

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in school counseling required. Doctorate preferred.
• Certificates & Licenses: Valid Virginia Department of Education Postgraduate Professional or Pupil Personnel Services License with endorsement in school counseling required or eligibility to obtain one. The additional endorsement in Administration and Supervision required or ability to obtain the endorsement.
• Experience: Five years or more of increasingly responsible experience in school counseling and leadership is required. Comparable professional experiences considered. Experience as a supervisor and/or school-counselor administrator preferred (e.g. Director of Counseling, Director of Student Services). Progressive experience supporting tiered systems of support for academic, attendance and behavioral interventions in an educational setting or with K-12 students.
• Key Competencies: Active commitment to student centered leadership to ensure equitable access for diverse student populations. Deep knowledge of the K-12 academic, attendance, and behavioral interventions through the MTSS framework. Comprehensive understanding of school counseling and ASCA national standards. Advanced insight into K-12 mental health and trauma-informed programs. Proven success guiding post secondary planning and career development, specifically for underserved students. Ability to design, execute, and monitor large-scale division initiatives. Skill in supervising counseling staff and delivering professional development. Ability to design assessments, analyze data, and measure program effectiveness. Perform other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the department.