Counselor (Elementary)

Job Description

Position Title:  Counselor 
 
Position Type:  Salary $ 66,000.00 annual  / Exempt (Funded by ESSA, Title I, Part A � Fund 211) 
 
Position Hours:  Full-time; Monday � Friday; 40 Hours per Week
 
Reports to:  Campus Principal
 
Length of Term/Employment:  205 Workdays / At-will
 
Position Mission:  The counselor's role is to support and develop student's academic, social and emotional readiness for learning. The Counselor provides support and resources for families in order to increase the success of students; collaborates and partners with students, teachers, principal, parents, community members, and partners to help identify social and emotional needs and helps design and support prevention and intervention activities and strategies.
 
Education/Certification:

• Master's degree in Counseling or a related field.
• Valid Texas certification as a School Counselor (EC-12) or Licensed Professional Counselor

 
Experience:

• Working in the mental health field.
• Meet the requirements for Texas certificates based on certification from other states or territories of the United States highly desired.

Special Knowledge and Skills:

• Ability to use professional written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated organizational skills.
• Knowledge of available and appropriate community agencies and resources.
• Management style compatible with the position.
• Ability to interact successfully with students, parents, staff and community.
• Plans and implements a balanced comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program that includes Texas Education Agency's four components, Guidance Curriculum, Responsive Services, Individual Planning, and System Support.
• Ability to build a college-going culture based on early college awareness by nurturing in students the confidence to aspire to college and the resilience to overcome challenges along the way.
• Ability to support vertical alignment for college & careers within elementary, middle and high school.  
• Ability to learn School Links, ASCENDER and School Mint

 
 
Responsibilities and Duties:

• Coordinates, facilitates, and implements social and emotional curriculum, parent education opportunities, and skills training.
• Supports team members by providing support for implementation of strategies within classrooms.
• Provides support in a variety of settings to including the classroom in small group settings, and in individual settings with students.
• Actively participates in the school's social and emotional development program and curriculum.
• Actively participates in the district wide Behavior Support System.
• Actively participates in programs and strategies to reduce truancy.
• Actively participates in family engagement and parent education activities and strategies.
• Actively participates in professional learning communities.
• Actively participates in supporting and building a strong positive school culture and learning environment.
• Coordinates Student Support Team Services.
• Effectively plans and engages students in district social and emotional and safety curriculum classrooms.
• Supports school leadership in providing emotional support for students as needed.
• Effectively supports students by providing counseling on an individual and/or group basis to increase student/school readiness, resolve personal problems related to home, school and family relations, emotional adjustment, grief and health-related matters that interfere with their optimal performance as learners.
• Collaborates with specialists in providing specific, targeted, skills training to increase student's school readiness.
• Provides social and emotional skill/ strategy training, and coaching for team members.
• Demonstrates a growth mindset and support team members in increasing knowledge and understanding to increase support for students.
• Effectively collaborate with all stakeholders to include community agencies and partners, to reduce or eliminate barriers to student learning.
• Reviews student records as needed and protects their confidentiality.
• Assists with the welcome of new students and families.
• Assists with transition activities to the next grade.
• Maintains appropriate licensure and training hours as required.
• Complies with applicable District, state, local and federal laws, rules and regulations.
• Complies, maintains, and files all reports, records, and other required documents as required by the district and Guidance and Counseling Department.
• Daily attendance and punctuality at work are essential functions of the job.
• Build College, Career and military Culture at the Campus.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Develop and facilitate college, career and military activities for students, and parents (career day)
• Collaborate with feeder High School Counselors to complete Personal Graduation Plans and schedules through ASCENDER, in accordance with TEA requirements.
• Support Determined Destiny Values with students and parents.

 
Communication:

• Establish and maintain open communication by conducting conferences with students, parents, teachers, principal, and other school personnel.
• Maintains a professional relationship with administrators, students, parents, school and district personnel, and community members.
• Use effective communication skills to present information accurately and clearly.
• Advocates for the school developmental guidance and counseling program and counselors' ethical and professional standards with school and district personnel, parents, students, and the community.
• Advocates for a school environment that acknowledges and respects diversity.
• Uses an effective process when referring student, parents, and/or others to special programs and services.

 
Professional Growth and Development:

• Participate in staff development activities to improve job related skills.
• Attend and participate in faculty meetings and serve on committees as required.
• Demonstrates professionalism, including a commitment to professional development.
• Promotes and follows ethical standards for school counselors.
• Ability to demonstrate the following core values: integrity, high expectations, commitment, respect, dedication to teamwork and passion for a student centered environment.

 Charter & Community Responsibilities:

• Convey the charter's mission to the public and encourage support in accomplishing the mission.
• Illustrate understanding of Charter and community needs and begin activities to meet those needs.
• Demonstrate use of productive and efficient skills to raise community and parent involvement.
• Actively participate in student recruitment efforts.

 Charter Atmosphere:

• Encourage a constructive, thoughtful climate for learning.
• Promote fairness of students and staff from all cultural backgrounds.
• Communicate with students and staff in an effective manner that promotes and sustains the Jubilee culture.

 
Equipment Used:

• Office equipment � personal computer, projector, printer, calculator, multi-line telephone, smartboard.
• Communication equipment � Radio communication equipment, cellular telephone.
• Video monitoring equipment.

 
Working Conditions:

• Mental Demands:
• Maintain emotional control under stress.
• Work with frequent interruptions.
• Be highly adaptable.

 Physical Demands:

• Frequent:  Sitting, standing, walking, climbing stairs and/or ramps, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pulling, pushing, reaching, repetitive hand motions, hearing, speaking clearly, visual acuity, distinguishing colors, driving, traveling.
• Occasional:  Lifting, moderate, 15-44 pounds; carrying, moderate, 15-44 pounds.

 
The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.