Elementary School Counselor

Position Type:
Student Support Services/School Counselor

Date Posted:
9/1/2026

Location:
West Point Elementary

Date Available:
ASAP

Closing Date:
Open Until Filled


General Definition of Work

The Elementary School Counselor is responsible for providing a comprehensive school counseling program for grades PreK-5 that is preventative in design, developmental in implementation, and supports WPPS students in the areas of academic achievement, career and college planning, and personal and social development. The school counselor also serves as a consultant to educators, families, and community partners.

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions

Development and Management

• Uses data to develop and inform the school counseling program and evaluates the program's impact on the school's instructional goals.
• Collaborates on the development and management of the comprehensive school counseling program with the Director of Student Services and counselors at WPMS/HS.
• Communicates and shares the goals of the comprehensive school counseling program to stakeholders including students, families, and community partners.
• Uses the majority of the time (80%) to provide direct services to students through preventive and responsive services, including individual student planning, and uses the remaining time in development and management, system support, and accountability.

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.
• Assesses student needs and makes referrals to appropriate school resource personnel, social agencies, community agencies, and alternative programs.
• Intervenes during crises and participates on the school crisis team.

Individual Student Planning

• Prepares students for the transition to the next level: middle and high school.
• Assists all students with developing academic, career, and personal/social skills.
• Collaborates with school staff to develop career planning events for students.
• 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. And promotes an understanding and appreciation of diverse populations and cultures.
• Assists families in obtaining services for their children through an appropriate referral and follow-up process.
• Assists teachers in understanding their students and their needs.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to counsel students and parents on sensitive problems and to communicate ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Thorough knowledge of casework methods and procedures
• Ability to conduct interviews and guidance sessions effectively and to analyze attitudes and problems objectively
• Thorough knowledge of community agencies available to serve and assist students
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, staff, and administration.

Education and Experience

Holds or is eligible for a teaching license from the Commonwealth of Virginia with an endorsement in School Counseling.

Master's degree with coursework in Education, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Physical Requirements

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; work regularly requires speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions, frequently requires reaching with hands and arms and occasionally requires standing, walking, sitting and stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g., business office, light traffic).

West Point Public Schools, Virginia