WATERTOWN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
VACANCY NOTICE
SCHOOL COUNSELOR - LONG TERM SUBSTITUTE
LEVEL: Schurz Elementary School
PERCENTAGE: 100% - Long term substitute
LICENSURE: School Counselor (#7054)
START DATE: January 13, 2027 - April 14, 2027 (approximately)
RESPONSIBILITIES: Duties required to perform this position include:
- Provide a variety of social work and school counseling services to students, foster and promote the growth of each student as a unique individual and assist each student in developing to his/her fullest potential intellectually, physically, socially and emotionally;
- Act as a consultant and resource to both regular and special education personnel, to meet the needs of students with identified behavioral, social and/or emotional disabilities; Communicate early identification and intervention strategies as related to student behavioral, social and/or emotional disabilities;
- Strive to build relationships with students, colleagues and families - promoting kindness, inclusion, and a positive school environment and community
- Create an environment conducive to creating trust, openness, involvement and achievement;
- Implement a variety of counseling techniques and activities that meet the individual needs, interests and abilities of individual students and small groups;
- Support student needs through coordination of 504 plans
- Assess the counseling progress and achievement of students on a regular basis and provide progress reports to both students and parents/guardians as appropriate;
- Work to establish/maintain open lines of communication with students and parents/guardians - communicating information related to student well-being, social-emotional learning, and counseling services;
- Assist in coordinating student and/or parent/guardian involvement with outside agencies and school-based mental health providers;
- Serve as a leader in the area of school climate and social-emotional learning; supporting teacher implementation of Second Step and Responsive Classroom strategies, as well as providing classroom lessons on bullying and protective behaviors;
- Work collaboratively with building principal and team members to analyze data related to student behavior and social-emotional screening tools to determine additional instruction, interventions and supports (Tier 2)
- Serve as district liaison/coordinator for all outside medical/psychiatric evaluations of students; Provide social/developmental medical history reports to pertinent professionals;
- Participation on IEP evaluation teams; Serve as consultant in the assessment, observation, identification, program planning, and placement process of students;
- Provide resource services in the handling of concerns regarding students with behavioral, social and/or emotional disabilities;
- Carry out required record keeping and report completion tasks in an accurate and timely manner;
- Strive for professional growth through on-going professional reading and participation in workshops, seminars, conferences and/or advanced course work;
- Attend general staff meetings and special education/pupil services department meetings and serve on building level or district wide committees;
- Assist in student supervision tasks or beyond the classroom student activities as assigned;
- Assist in implementing all Board policies and/or administrative procedures as well as state or federal laws governing student welfare, instruction and conduct;
- Perform such other duties as assigned by the building principal or the Director of Elementary Teaching and Learning.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Qualified candidates should possess:
- Ability to be student-centered;
- Passion for working with elementary school aged students;
- Ability to promote a positive school climate in all interactions with students, staff, and parents;
- Knowledge of trauma-informed practices;
- Interest in building community and family connections;
- Ability to support all students towards academic, social, behavioral, and emotional success;
- Effective oral and written communication skills in interactions with students, parents, and staff;
- Knowledge of Second Step or comparable SEL curriculum and evidence-based interventions/strategies for supporting student SEL growth
- Ability to work as a member of the elementary school pupil services team; and
- Knowledge/experience with RtI and PBIS
The ideal candidate will display the following personal characteristics:
- Commitment to Public Education and Continuous Improvement;
- Honesty, Integrity, Confidentiality, and Trustworthy;
- Approachable by Students and Staff;
- An Ability to Support and Trust Staff; and
- Willing to Embrace the Watertown Community and our Students.
THE SCHOOL: Schurz Elementary is a 4K-5 building with an enrollment of approximately 220 students, approximately 60 staff members, and a growing Dual Language program.
THE DISTRICT: Selected candidate will help to further the WUSD mission to serve our students by providing educational opportunities to promote academic excellence and a lifelong love of learning and to lead families, students and staff in realizing the WUSD vision of inspired learners through student-centered education strengthened by community involvement.
TRADITION. INNOVATION. TRANSFORMATION.
The Watertown School District has an enrollment of approximately 3,000 students taught in seven buildings.
THE COMMUNITY: The Watertown community has 24,000 residents and is located on the Rock River approximately halfway between Madison and Milwaukee, at the junction of Highways 16, 19, and 26.
APPLY BY: Applications will be received until the needs of the district have been met.
The Watertown Unified School District does not discriminate in its education program, activities, or employment on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, marital status, or disability status.