SCHOOL COUNSELOR

School Counselor

School Counselors promote student success, provide preventive services, and respond to identified student needs by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program that addresses academic, career, and personal/social development for all students.

Job Description and Responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities of an elementary school counselor include, but are not limited to:

Program Planning, Facilitating and Monitoring

1. Align comprehensive school counseling program with the American School Counseling Association Model.
2. Use school data to enhance counseling program by setting goals aligned with the school improvement plan/MTSS tiered system of intervention including academic, social emotional and behavioral supports. Serve as the school lead in the areas of social emotional and behavioral strategies.
3. Continuously monitor progress and make improvements to practices based on the problem solving model.
4. Clearly communicate school-wide plans and support systems with the school community.

Counseling:

1. Provide direct and indirect counseling services based on data.
2. Use evidence-based curricula to promote social and emotional learning and assess student growth in these skills in order to assist with individual and school-wide improvement.
3. Work with the licensed school therapist in order to assist with trauma, emotional outbursts, expression of suicidal thoughts and/or self harm or other mental health issues. Use available district level and community resources to assist students/families in need.
4. Assist with the development of academic, social/emotional learning, behavioral, and career readiness goals.
5. Monitor all interactions and follow-up with needed assistance.

Consulting:

1. Promote and provide professional growth opportunities among staff and community members on application of best practices in developing the whole child and social and emotional health.
2. Support awareness of and responsiveness to learning styles, cultural diversity, and individual learning needs.
3. Assist teachers and staff with Social and Emotional learning practices to promote self-regulation and calming skills. Facilitate local protocols for students in crisis.
4. Identify students at risk of harming others and conduct threat assessments per local procedures.
5. Identify and remove barriers to ensure effective family and community involvement.

Coordinating:

1. Coordinate/facilitate 504 meetings. Maintain proper documentation for 504's.
2. Coordinate/facilitate school level McKinney Vento meetings and monitor identified students for needs.
3. Facilitate the Back Pack Program.
4. Facilitate Terrific Kids Awards and promote positive behavior within the school community.
5. Facilitate the NCCS Home-Bound process with school admin, teachers and parents
6. Coordinate/facilitate volunteer programs within the school
7. Assist administration and staff in conferencing with parents concerning issues that can be considered difficult to discuss, mental health and behavioral issues and/or other topics deemed confidential in nature.
8. Facilitate PBIS and promote positive behavior throughout the building, including Terrific Kids Awards.
9. Facilitate volunteer programs within the school community.
10. Attend monthly District level meetings with counselors and licensed therapists.

Professional Practices and Development:

1. Adhere to ethical standards of the counseling profession.
2. Help ensure student supervision and safety.
3. Carry out other school duties assigned by the administration, provided these assignments do not interfere with the counseling program and services to students.
4. Take part in professional development activities to improve knowledge and skills.