.5 (half-time) School Counselor

Direct Services

• Design and implement instruction aligned to ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success in large-group, classroom, small-group and individual settings.
• Deliver classroom lessons, small group sessions, and one-on-one short-term counseling to support students' academic, social-emotional, and career development needs.
• Follow District 51 School Counselor master calendar to deliver district-required school counseling lessons.
• Respond to student crisis situations in a non-disciplinary role (e.g. Suicide Risk Screeners, dysregulated students) and report or refer to appropriate professionals or agencies.

Indirect Services

• Referral/Recommendations:
  • When a student's needs extend beyond the training and/or responsibilities of the school counseling role, School Counselors connect students and families to district and/or community-based resources.
• Consultation:
  • With administrators, parents/guardians, staff, and community partners to implement appropriate tiers of culturally-responsive and trauma-sensitive interventions within the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework.
• Collaboration:
  • With administrators, parents/guardians, staff, and community partners regarding student needs and concerns to support student achievement and social-emotional learning.
  • To provide leadership and expertise in creating a positive school culture and climate that integrates diverse backgrounds, strengths, and needs.
  • To support transition activities,
    • Play a key role in supporting students through important transitions, including from PK to Kindergarten, 5th to 6th grade, 8th to 9th grade, and from 12th grade to post-secondary education or career paths.
    • Counselors provide guidance, resources, and personalized support to help students navigate these transitions successfully, ensuring they are prepared both academically and emotionally for the next stage of their educational journey

Program Planning and School Support

• The School Counselor will gather and interpret multiple sources of data, including academic, attendance, perception, mental health and well-being, and discipline data to develop goals for their school counseling program.
• Counselors will use data to inform and adjust evidence-based counseling strategies and interventions.
• Act as advocates on educational support teams such as: Crisis Team, MTSS, 504s, Master Scheduling, and Special Education teams.
• Support fair-share duties and responsibilities based on ASCA recommendations.
• Provide leadership and expertise in creating a positive school culture and climate that integrates diverse backgrounds, strengths, and needs.
• Middle / High / Other - Provide purposeful course advisement as students strive to develop skills and behaviors essential to their academic and postsecondary success.

ASCA / Professional Foundation

• Adhere to the ASCA National Model, incorporating ASCA Student Standards: Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success, ASCA School Counselor Professional Standards & Competencies, and ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors.
• Apply developmental, learning, counseling and education theories.
• Demonstrate understanding of educational systems, legal issues, policies, research and trends in education.
• Demonstrate understanding of the impact of cultural, social and environmental influences on student success and opportunities.
• Demonstrate leadership through the development and implementation of a school counseling program.
• Demonstrate advocacy for a school counseling program.
• Create systemic change through the implementation of a school counseling program.
• Strive to focus 80% of their time on direct and indirect services based on the ASCA National Model.
• Strive to focus 20% of their time on Program Planning and School Support.
• Attend work and arrive in a timely manner.
• Attend district learning committee (LC) meetings for professional growth opportunities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and frequent interruptions in a timely manner.
• Some expectations for work outside of the regular schedule (e.g. school events, parent teacher conferences, award ceremonies, student meetings, training etc.).

Other Duties

• Additional tasks, duties, and responsibilities may be assigned as needed/requested.