Elementary School Counselor 26-27

Position Overview

We are looking for a counselor to join our school community and mental health team who is:

• Passionate about developing relationships with students and their families
• Dedicated to helping students achieve their highest personal and academic potential by removing or reducing social and psychological barriers to learning
• Comfortable designing, implementing and teaching a variety of social and emotional learning experiences
• Adept at scheduling and conducting individual and small group counseling sessions focused on student needs
• Thrives in innovative environments and is comfortable with the ambiguity that can come with a dynamic and progressive workplace
• Learns and participates as a member of committees, teams, etc.
• Committed to continuous improvement, sees feedback as a positive, and has a growth mindset

Salary

Minimum Compensation (based on 100% FTE): $45,000 - $52,000 (Master's Degree)

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

The School Counselor is responsible for developing, implementing and managing a comprehensive school counseling program to serve the academic, social and career development needs of students enrolled in WPSD.

• Development and Management:
• Uses data to develop and inform the school counseling program and evaluate the program's impact on the school's instructional goals.
• Collaborates on the development and management of the comprehensive school counseling program with the school administrator or instructional leader.
• Communicates and shares the goals of the comprehensive school counseling program to stakeholders including students, families and community partners.
• Develops and maintains a written plan for effective delivery of the school counseling programs based on the WPSD annual student achievement goals and aligned with the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) National Standards for School Counseling Programs.
• Preventative and Responsive Services:
• Designs, implements and assesses the guidance curriculum.
• Utilizes responsive counseling, initiating individual and group sessions for students' academic, social and personal concerns.
• Consults with families and staff to appraise student needs and interests and to discuss appropriate recommendations for educational options.
• Plans, coordinates and provides the classroom guidance sessions to meet the identified guidance and counseling competencies in the areas of academic achievement, career and educational development, and personal and social development to assist students in developing decision-making skills and identifying life goals.
• Affects student needs and makes referrals to appropriate school resource personnel, social agencies, community agencies and alternative programs.
• Intervenes during crisis situations and participates on the school critical incident recovery team.
• Individual Student Planning:
• Prepares students for the transition to the next level.
• Plays and coordinates programs such as career fairs, test skills preparation, improved/perfect attendance celebrations and other extensions of the counseling program to support students' knowledge of post-secondary options.
• Assists students in navigating their academic, workplace and community experiences, through the use of individual student planning which includes individual career and academic plan (ICAP), student interviews and other planning tools.
• (Secondary School Counselors) Collaborates with parents/guardians and educators to assist students with educational and career planning.
• Participates in school management teams in order to advocate for students needs and provide guidance for school staff.
• System Support:
• Guides, coordinates and supports other school staff in implementing school wide advisory programs.
• Uses responsive counseling strategies to establish relationships and collaborate with educators, students, families, and community partners which reflect recognition of and respect for each individual.
• Aids families in obtaining services for their children through an appropriate referral and follow-up process.
• Serves as liaison between the social services agencies (i.e., Department of Human Service) and personnel from the various school systems.
• Assists teachers in understanding their students, including providing and interpreting student data.
• Provides in-service training on topics related to the school counseling program and supporting student achievement.
• Accountability:
• Conducts at minimum a yearly program audit to review the extent and quality of program implementation.
• Prepares and submits a variety of requested reports and data, to ensure fulfillment of established program requirements.
• Interprets tests, student data and other assessment results appropriately within the counseling environment for the purpose of developing and implementing academic plans for individual students.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in school guidance and counseling.
• Mets the Colorado Department of Education certification requirements for the Special Service Provider School Counselor license and holds a current and valid certification as a professional school counselor.
• Ability to learn the student information system (Infinite Campus).
• Familiarity with Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs, ASCA National Standards, ASCA School Counselor Competencies and ASCA School Counselor Performance Standards.

Additional Duties

Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Principal and other central office administrators as designated by the Superintendent.