Counselor at Worsham Elementary - ACE School

Counselor – Primary/Elementary

Job Title: Counselor – Primary/Elementary FLSA: Exempt

Reports to: Campus Principal Pay Grade: ELCOU Dept./School: Assigned Campus Calendar Days: 189

Primary Purpose: Plan, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program at assigned campus. Counsel students to fully develop each student's academic, career, personal, and social abilities, including the needs of special population students.

Education/Certification:

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• General qualifications of a teacher and a valid Texas school counselor 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 in one-on-one, small group, and large group situations to students, parents, and district staff

Experience:

• Minimum two (2) years of teaching experience

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Guidance:

• Plan and conduct structured classroom guidance lessons to deliver the district's guidance curriculum effectively and in accordance with students' developmental needs. Collaborate with teachers who teach guidance-related curriculum.
• Meet with and guide individual students, groups of students, and parents to plan, monitor, and manage the student's own educational and career development including the easing of school transitions, creating and providing information about post-secondary opportunities.
• Use accepted counseling theories and techniques of developmental guidance to counsel individual students, small groups of students, and parents to plan, monitor, and manage a student's own personal, physical, emotional, and social development. Provide preventive, remedial, and crisis counseling as needed.
• Participate in the overall system support of the building referral process, in ARD meetings and on the MTSS committee when appropriate.

Consultation:

• Coordinate school, home, and community resources and refer students, parent, and others to special programs and services as needed.
• Consults with school administrators and teachers in identifying students with special abilities and needs and in providing appropriate classroom placement.
• Work collaboratively to advocate for individual students and specific groups of students providing a continuous flow of information concerning student needs.
• Communicates effectively, and initiates and supports programs with students, professional staff, parents and community that facilitate a positive, caring climate for learning.

Assessment:

• Interpret standardized test results and assessment data to guide students and parents in individual goal setting and planning and provide appropriate class placement.

Program Management and Administration:

• Plan, implement, evaluate, and promote continuous improvement of a balanced comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program that includes guidance curriculum, responsive services, individual planning, and system support components.
• Advocate for a school environment that acknowledges and respects diversity developing in-service programs for staff as needed.
• Comply with policies established by federal and state law, State Board of Education rule, and board policy. Comply with all district policies and campus routines and regulations.
• Adhere to legal, ethical, and professional standards for school counselors including current professional standards of competence and practice; complies with Texas Education Agency (TEA) code.

Professional Growth and Development:

• Participate in staff development activities to improve job-related skills.
• Attend and participate in faculty meetings and serve on staff committees as required.

Other:

• Perform other tasks and assumes such responsibilities as may be assigned by the school principal and the Superintendent of Schools.

Evaluation: The Counselor's evaluation is a responsibility resting with the Principal. An evaluation shall be completed in writing at least once during the course of each school year.

Work Environment:

Mental Demands: Work with frequent interruptions, maintain emotional control under stress

Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment including personal computer and peripherals

Posture: Frequent sitting and standing; occasional bending/stooping, pushing, pulling, and twisting

Motion: Repetitive hand motions; frequent keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching

Lifting: Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds)

This document describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.