School Counselor

Counselor

Purpose Statement: Responsible for providing counseling services to school site as well as support to other schools as needed.

Essential Functions:

• Identifies and assesses the relevant factors involved in the problems of students referred because of learning, emotional, behavioral, social, physical, economic, cultural, or family difficulties.
• Provides intervention services with children and families that may include assessment, individual short-term or crisis counseling, group instruction, support groups, and home visitation.
• Identifies and refers students and parents to other community agencies as needed with administrator approval.
• Interacts effectively with other agencies or professionals in order to establish and implement a referral system as a support to the children and families.
• Provides information and consultation to teachers, administrators, family members, and significant others in regard to the intervention plan for the child receiving services.
• Attends Child Study and school meetings as directed.
• Maintains confidential documentation of student contacts: anecdotal records, phone calls, correspondence, conferences, staff contacts.
• Provides consultation, training, and updated resource information to district staff on intervention issues.
• Provides short-term counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.
• Coordinates intervention services with recommendations of treatment agencies when students return to school.
• Works with the truancy intervention specialist in helping solve truancy issues.
• Makes home visits with school staff as needed, both with intervention and school issues.
• Maintains close communication with building administration, psychologist, SELS, and Director of Social Emotional Learning and Mental Health.
• Documents and evaluates the effectiveness of services provided.
• Create and implement prevention classes to parents, staff, and students.
• Participate in the school safety and leadership teams.
• Follows District policies, procedures, and directives in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Performs such other tasks as may be assigned.

Other Functions: Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit. Bilingual/Biliterate Spanish fluency is preferred to provide parents/guardians with in-the-moment information.

Job Requirements: Minimum Qualifications Skills, Knowledge and Abilities SKILLS are required to perform multiple, technical tasks with a need to occasionally upgrade skills in order to meet changing job conditions. Specific skill based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: operating standard office equipment including utilizing pertinent software applications; planning and managing projects and programs; overseeing program activities; developing effective working relationships; preparing and maintaining accurate records; administering personnel policies and procedures; and program evaluation and assessment techniques. KNOWLEDGE is required to review and interpret highly technical information, write technical materials, and/or speak persuasively to implement desired actions; and analyze situations to define issues and draw conclusions. Specific knowledge based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: pertinent laws, codes, policies, and/or regulations.

ABILITY is required to schedule a significant number of activities, meetings, and/or events; often gather, collate, and/or classify data; and use job-related equipment. Flexibility is required to independently work with others in a wide variety of circumstances; work with data utilizing defined but different processes; and operate equipment using a variety of standardized methods. Ability is also required to work with a significant diversity of individuals and/or groups; work with data of widely varied types and/or purposes; and utilize job-related equipment. Independent problem solving is required to analyze issues and create action plans. Problem solving with data frequently requires independent interpretation of guidelines; and problem solving with equipment is moderate to significant. Specific ability based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: establishing and maintaining effective working relationships; meeting deadlines and schedules; setting priorities; working with multiple projects, frequent interruptions, and changing work priorities; working with detailed information/data and maintaining accurate records; maintaining confidentiality; and facilitating communication between persons with frequently divergent positions.

Responsibilities include: working independently under broad organizational guidelines to achieve unit objectives; directing other persons within a department, large work unit, and/or across several small work units. Utilization of resources from other work units is often required to perform the job's functions. There is some opportunity to impact the organization's services.

Work Environment: The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 60% sitting, 25% walking, and 15% standing. This job is performed in a generally clean and healthy environment.

Experience: Three years of K-12 teaching, counseling or related experience.

Education: Master's Degree or more advanced degree