SCHOOL COUNSELOR

General Purpose

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

• Align comprehensive school counseling program with the American School Counseling Association Model.
• 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.
• Continuously monitor progress and make improvements to practices based on the problem solving model.
• Clearly communicate school-wide plans and support systems with the school community.

Counseling:

• Provide direct and indirect counseling services based on data.
• 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.
• 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.
• Assist with the development of academic, social/emotional learning, behavioral, and career readiness goals.
• Monitor all interactions and follow-up with needed assistance.

Consulting

• 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.
• Support awareness of and responsiveness to learning styles, cultural diversity, and individual learning needs.
• Assist teachers and staff with Social and Emotional learning practices to promote self-regulation and calming skills. Facilitate local protocols for students in crisis.
• Identify students at risk of harming others and conduct threat assessments per local procedures.
• Identify and remove barriers to ensure effective family and community involvement.

Coordinating

• Coordinate/facilitate 504 meetings. Maintain proper documentation for 504's.
• Coordinate/facilitate school level McKinney Vento meetings and monitor identified students for needs.
• Facilitate the Back Pack Program.
• Facilitate Terrific Kids Awards and promote positive behavior within the school community.
• Facilitate the NCCS Home-Bound process with school admin, teachers and parents
• Coordinate/facilitate volunteer programs within the school
• 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.
• Facilitate PBIS and promote positive behavior throughout the building, including Terrific Kids Awards.
• Facilitate volunteer programs within the school community.
• Attend monthly District level meetings with counselors and licensed therapists.

Professional Practices and Development

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