Guidance Counselor

Guidance Counselor

Job Title: Guidance Counselor

Report to: Head of School

Shift type: Full time

Contract Term: 12 months

Location: The Islamic School of Irving

Basic Functions:

Student & School-Wide Support

Provide consultation to school administrators, teachers, staff, students and parents regarding personal social and emotional needs of students

Conduct a needs assessment and evaluation of bullying, violence, and risky behaviors

Provide individual/group counseling for at-risk students

Refer students who need intense or specialized services to district or outside agencies

Provide support for new and returning students

Coordinate or assist the campus-based counseling team in facilitating interventions or strategies to remove barriers to student success

Prepare and deliver a minimum of ten guidance lessons to all students to develop life skills, promote good character, develop resilience, and emphasize the importance of higher education and goalsetting

The Social/Emotional Learning (SEL) counselor oversees and helps determine SEL policies, monitors staff needs and issues, and solicits feedback from staff about what is and what is not working. She/he is a good listener, providing support and training as needed to continue a strong and positive experience to meet student social and emotional learning requirements.

The SEL counselor recognizes shifting cognitive and emotional needs of students within their school, looking for trends before they emerge and are established.

Staff Support & Coaching

Raise the level of understanding among all staff about the importance of SEL as well as SEL-based approaches for working with individual students, classrooms and incorporating a SEL-focused school culture

Coordinate or assist in implementing schoolwide activities related to healthy student development including Anti-bullying initiatives

Coordinate staff-focused SEL and general self-care activities and information sessions

Organize and facilitate staff training at monthly meetings, which could continue during the summer months (as needed)

Participate in all staff meetings and trainings

Community Engagement & Outreach

Conduct parent workshops, training, and general outreach to educate parents on the importance of positive environments and SEL, and enhance parents' ability to support their children's success

Recruit community agencies as a resource to meet student and school needs

Special Projects

Coordinate other activities that foster bully prevention and social and emotional and academic well-being of all students

Perform all other tasks and duties as assigned by principal

ISI personnel must comply with time and effort reporting requirements through personnel activity reports or periodic certifications, as appropriate. Regular and punctual attendance at the worksite is required for this position.

Work Environment:

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. A remote working environment /alternate work arrangement is not an option for campus-based employees/campus-based positions because regular and punctual attendance at the worksite and performing all duties at the worksite are essential job duties for all campus-based personnel.

Qualifications:

Master's degree in Guidance Counseling; valid Texas counseling certificate is a plus

A minimum of five years counseling experience

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with diverse groups

Effective interpersonal skills to interact with all levels of employees, staff members, and the general public

Competence with the use of technology required in a professional office

Ability to promote a positive, caring climate

Process all levels of work on assignments from beginning to end

Effective and efficient decision-making skills

Ability to coordinate multiple projects and assignments; high degree of flexibility required

Knowledgeable of counseling procedures, student appraisal, and facilitating student growth

Knowledgeable of social and emotional learning competencies, restorative practices, and positive behavior interventions

Ability to interact and communicate effectively with students, staff, and parents

Demonstrated ability to coach school staff and provide support with implementing SEL-based approaches (at the student, classroom, and school-wide levels)

Demonstrated ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions

Demonstrated flexibility to cope with the challenges of a rapidly changing world

Demonstrated willingness to remain current with the latest developments in the profession

Apply academic achievement strategies

Manage emotions and apply interpersonal skills

Plan for postsecondary options (higher education, military, work force)

Individual student academic planning and goal setting

School counseling classroom lessons based on student success standards

Short-term counseling to students

Referrals for long-term support

Collaboration with families/teachers/administrators/community for student success

Advocacy for students at individual education plan meetings and other student-focused meetings

Data analysis to identify student issues, needs and challenges

Acting as a systems change agent to improve equity and access, achievement and opportunities for all students

A background check is required for all positions.