Elementary Counselor

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Plan, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive program of guidance to school assigned, including counseling services. Provide a proactive, developmental guidance program to encourage all students to maximize personal growth and development. Counsel students to fully develop each student's academic, career, personal, and social abilities.

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Education/Certification:

Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling

Valid Texas Counseling Certificate

Preferred:

Valid Texas Teaching Certificate

Special Knowledge/Skills:

Knowledge of counseling procedures, student appraisal, and career development

Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills

Ability to instruct students and manage their behavior

Ability to present information to small and large group situations to students, parents, and district staff

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Program Management

• Uses a planning process to define needs, priorities, and program objectives.

• Implements a developmental and balanced program.

• Evaluates the effectiveness of individual activities and the overall program in meeting desired student outcomes.

• Educates the school staff, parents and the community about the guidance program through a public information program.

Guidance

• Outlines, in writing, a campus guidance curriculum consistent with the district's mission, values, and beliefs while tailored to campus needs.

• Teach guidance units effectively.

• Consults with administrators and teachers regarding the teacher's areas of responsibility in teaching the developmental guidance curriculum.

• Supports teachers in teaching "essential knowledge and skills" identified in the SBOE Rules for Curriculum, which are guidance-related.

• Involves students in personalized educational and career awareness.

• Presents relevant information accurately and without bias.

Counseling

• Provides counseling systematically.

• Responds to students individually.

• Provides counseling in groups as appropriate.

• Provides group counseling systematically.

• Serves on the campus MTSS team

• Uses accepted theories.

• Uses effective techniques.

Consultation

• Provides professional expertise collaboratively.

• Interprets information and ideas effectively.

• Advocates for students.

Coordination

• Maintains a communication system that effectively collects and disseminates information about students to other professionals as appropriate.

• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with other school professionals.

• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with representatives of community resources.

• Accurately assesses students' (and their families') needs for referral.

• Participates actively in the process for referral of students to school/district special programs and/or services.

• Uses an effective referral process for assisting students and others to use community agencies and services.

Assessment

• Is knowledgeable in the principles of testing and measurement, which underlie standardized testing program development.

• Collaborates in the planning and evaluation of the group standardized testing program.

• Supports the campus testing coordinator.

• Correctly applies principles of test and measurement to test and other appraisal results interpretation.

• Interprets test and other appraisal results to school personnel.

• Interprets test and other appraisal results to students and their parents.

• Uses other sources of student data as assessment tools for educational planning.

• Maintains the confidentiality of student assessment.

• Ensures that the uses of student records are for the benefit of students and personnel working with those students.

Professionalism

• Observes ethical standards of the Texas and The American School Counselor Association.

• Observes relevant legal standards.

• Pursues continuous professional growth and development.

• Keeps abreast of current and innovative procedures and practices in the fields of guidance and counseling and in education.

• Selects counselor interventions appropriate to students' issues and circumstances.

• Creates an atmosphere in which confidence, understanding and respect result in a helping relationship.

• Maintains positive working relationships with other counselors.

• Maintains professional records.

• Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

• Maintain emotional control under stress; occasional district-wide and statewide travel

• Lifting: Regular light lifting and carrying

• Posture: Prolonged sitting, frequent standing, knelling/squatting, and bending/stooping

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