Elementary Counselor- (Gladstone)

PURPOSE OF JOB

The elementary counselor is a member of the district’s guidance function, charged with providing a comprehensive guidance program for students in grades K-6. The counselor develops program activities to meet the needs of students; consults with teachers, staff, and parents to enhance program effectiveness, and provides support to other elementary educational programs.

What You'll Be Doing

• Implements the elementary guidance curriculum by conducting guidance learning activities in the classroom as planned in conjunction with school administrators and teachers;
• Consults with and serves as a resource to teachers to facilitate the infusion of guidance learning activities;
• Develops educational and career plans for groups and individual students; provides orientation activities for new students; participates in orientation programs for parents and students; assists students in transitioning to middle school and informs students and their parents of test results and their implications for educational planning; provides resources and information to assist in career awareness and career exploration activities;
• Counsels and coordinates with in-district and community agencies, school psychologists, nurses, administrators, community-based psychologists, service agencies, and physicians in meeting the special needs of students with severe problems;
• Interprets group test results to faculty and staff; establishes effective liaisons with all grade levels; acts as an advocate for students as appropriate in conjunction with other staff; assists school staff in the placement of special needs students in gifted education and special education programs; participates with administrators and faculty as a team member in the implementation of the district testing program;
• Periodically reviews the guidance program with staff and administrators, based on student's needs assessments and program objectives; provides instructional activities and resources and individual planning systems to assists students as they develop educational and career plans; reviews and modifies the program calendar and evaluates guidance learning activities;
• Pursues professional growth by attending state and local staff development programs; joins professional associations (MSCA, MVA, AACD, AVA, MACD); reads professional journals; attends relevant workshops and conferences, and takes post-graduate courses.

To Be Successful at This Job, You'll Need To

• A master’s degree or higher degree in education, school counseling, counseling, counseling psychology, rehabilitation counseling or a closely related mental health discipline;
• Completed additional graduate course work specific to school counseling, as designated by the state-approved recommending certification official, including a supervised internship or field experience of at least three hundred (300) hours in an appropriate school setting;
• Missouri Certification in Counseling K-8 or K-12;
• Physical demands: sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, use hands, fingers, reach with hands and fingers; bend, stoop, lift objects of at least ten pounds. The job requires the employee occasionally to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Visual ability requires mono and color vision, close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Benefits

• Health and Dental Insurance are provided.
• KCPS Defined Benefit Pension plan – mandatory 9% contribution is required from employees and matched by KCPS; Voluntary retirement savings plans are also available.