School Counselor (Bilingual Spanish Preferred)

Reports to: Principal

Primary Function

As vital members of the school’s educational leadership team, professional school counselors provide comprehensive, developmental supports within the academic, personal/social, and career domains to ensure that today's students become the productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow. School counselors are uniquely trained professional educators with a mental health perspective who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today’s diverse student population. School counselors provide proactive leadership to engage all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help all students achieve success in school.

Responsibilities

• Create, Implement, and Evaluate a Comprehensive School Counseling Program aligned with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) REACH Framework for School Counselors, which is aligned to the American School Counselor Association National Model for School Counseling Programs. The program delivers services equitably to all students in the building.
• Conduct Annual Needs Assessments and Data Reviews to Determine and Prioritize Student Needs:
  • Conduct an annual needs assessment and data review to identify critical areas of student need.
  • Create targeted program goals aligned to the schoolwide goals, mission, and vision to address critical areas of demonstrated need, resulting in improved academic achievement.
• Implement The School Counseling Core Curriculum:
  • Design, conduct, and co-teach learning activities in classroom, large group, and/or school-wide settings based on academic, career, postsecondary, and social/emotional needs of students.
  • Facilitate the infusion of school counseling as an integral component of the total education curricula through activities such as:
    • Classroom guidance
    • High school/college/career fairs
    • High school/college/career tours
    • Grade-level or school-wide team-building activities
• Provide Individual Student Planning Activities:
  • Collaborate with students, staff, and families to create an academic plan that results in the successful obtainment of a diploma and postsecondary option(s) of choice.
  • Activities may include:
    • Facilitation of completion of the Individual Learning Plan in Naviance
    • Transition activities (e.g., orientations, high school application process)
    • Events to inform families of test results and their implications for educational planning
    • Advisement to ensure students are on-track to the next grade level or phase in life
• Provide Responsive Services:
  • Collaborate with students, staff, and families to address students’ barriers to academic achievement.
  • Activities may include:
    • Facilitation of small groups
    • Structured, short-term, goal-oriented individual counseling sessions
    • Participation in building-level student assistance teams
    • Facilitation of conferences with students, teachers, and families
    • Consultation with teachers, families, and external partners regarding the developmental needs of students
    • Schoolwide support during crisis or emergency situations
    • Participation in IEP/504 Plan teams
  • Note: School counselors do NOT provide therapeutic treatment of a mental, emotional, or bodily disorder.
• Provide Indirect Student Support:
  • Provide indirect services on behalf of students through interactions with others.
  • Activities may include:
    • Referral of students/families to district and community resources
    • Sharing strategies that support student achievement with parents, teachers, and community organizations
    • Serving as a student advocate to promote student development within academic, career, and social/emotional domains
    • Serving as the school’s resident expert on student development
    • Reaching out to other experts and stakeholders to obtain information on students’ needs
    • Teaming/partnering/serving on committees and advisory boards
    • Creating formalized partnerships with community-based organizations
• Provide System Support:
  • Coordinate, conduct, and participate in activities that contribute to the effective operation of the school consistent with the approved school counseling program.
  • Activities may include:
    • Creation of an annual school counseling Evidence-Based Implementation Plan and Annual Agreement to support overall school goals and objectives
    • Creation and delivery of needs assessments to determine the primary needs of students
    • Collection and aggregation of multiple data sources to determine need and progress monitor counseling interventions
    • Protection of planning time for the creation and modification of counseling interventions
    • Coordination of professional development/inservice programs for faculty and staff
• Participate In Regular Professional Development:
  • Actively participate in district, state, and national professional development to stay current with evidence-based practices in the field.
  • Engage in professional associations, read professional journals, attend workshops and conferences, and pursue continuing education coursework.

Requirements

• Master's degree in school counseling
• Current ISBE Professional Educator License (PEL) with a School Counseling Endorsement

Benefits

Health & Wellness: Your Care, Your Choice

CPS is committed to providing comprehensive health coverage to our employees and their eligible dependents. You'll have access to a variety of choices to best fit your needs.

• Medical Plan Options
• Pharmacy
• Dental
• Vision
• Behavioral Health & EAP
• Employee Wellness Program

Financial Security: Planning for Today and Tomorrow

CPS offers strong retirement and savings options:

• Basic Life Insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Pension Plans
• Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) and 457(b))
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Spot Pet Insurance

Work-Life Balance: Supporting Your Personal and Professional Life

CPS values the well-being of its employees and offers competitive paid time off policies:

• Paid Leave
• Sick Leave
• Vacation Days
• Parental Leaves
• Short-Term Disability
• Religious Holidays
• Leaves

Refer to the Chicago Public Schools: A Comprehensive Benefits Overview or the benefits handbook for comprehensive details.

Pay

Salary Range: $64,469.94 to $82,839.39

Schedule

Primary Location: West Side - 2819 West 21st Place (Charles G Hammond School)