School Counselor

COUNSELOR GENERAL SUMMARY:

The responsibilities of the position are to provide counsel guidance and intervention strategies to students at assigned school in a wide range of issues ranging from personal/social/emotional adjustment proper behavior academic and physical welfare and if assigned to secondary school career/college planning.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

* Masters degree and valid ESA certificate with an endorsement in school counseling.

* Valid counseling certification.

* Experience as a counselor or teacher is desirable. No allowable substitutions.

Licenses/Special Requirements- As specified above.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

To effectively perform the essential functions of any position with the District regular attendance is required and expected.

• Counsel students individually and in small groups on a wide range of issues; assist students in resolution of social/emotional/educational and physical issues affecting their welfare.
• Provide support and assistance in developing interpersonal and other skills essential to student welfare and educational achievement; assist with a wide range of problem-solving anger management social and emotional skills training self-concept academic problems behavior problems and other issues.
• Coordinate services for students; make referrals to special programs and services as appropriate; serve as advocate for students as appropriate; meet with service providers as appropriate; coordinate school/community services to children.
• Assist students in developing self-esteem and responsible behaviors; model appropriate behavior; maintain classroom management; acknowledge discuss reward and correct student behavior; discipline students as necessary; maintain student safety.
• Develop and implement behavior modification programs.
• Consult with staff parents and administrators on a wide range of issues relating to student achievement and proper behavior; assist staff in developing effective programs for students particularly in educational attainment social adjustment behavior management and career plans; confer with parents; assist parents in developing effective parenting skills as requested.
• Provide crisis intervention counseling to students as needed; listen to student confidences; adapt to individual situations and needs; facilitate intervention and problem resolution for student safety and welfare; coordinate response as necessary.
• Guide and counsel students individually and in groups on educational and career plans and objectives if at the high school level.
• May provide drug and alcohol counseling; provide training; monitor services to and goals of students served.
• May make classroom presentations and conduct or arrange for staff training related to counseling.
• Create a positive counseling atmosphere to encourage and motivate students to learn essential skills develop essential attitudes and experience successful learning.
• Participate in school and district decisions; attend meetings activities and events; serve on committees as appropriate; promote student learning and achievement; promote positive public and community relations; facilitate team processes to develop appropriate behavior plans and programs as appropriate to student needs.
• Maintain current knowledge of counseling research trends and specific subject fields; attend professional development conferences seminars classes and in-service activities.
• Collect and compile data as required; provide reports and interpretations as necessary for program and administrative requirements.
• Coordinate and organize special programs and events such as student recognition or staff mentoring and training; coordinate and implement building student programs such as HiCap 504 and behavior plans etc.
• Assist in a variety of building management activities such as supervising halls and play areas if assigned to elementary school assisting visitors maintaining a positive school environment for learning and teaching and related activities.
• Coordinate standardized and state-mandated assessment program for building.
• Serve as a member of the MTSS team of the district; perform related duties consistent with the scope and intent of the position; other duties as assigned.

MENTAL DEMANDS:

• Requires proficiency diplomacy discretion and effective oral/written communication skills in the form ofstudent/parent/staff relations and conflict/problem resolution.
• Requires ability to establish and develop positive rapport with students at assigned grade levels requires genuine interest in helping all students.
• Requires ability to provide and maintain an effective counseling environment requires expertise in effective individual and group counseling.
• Requires good listening skills; requires substantial planning development and creativity in researching developing and implementation of counseling and/or vocational programs.
• Requires knowledge and successful use of effective counseling and behavior modification techniques and development and implementation of behavior plans; requires ability to adapt and modify techniques and/or materials for effectiveness; requires excellent planning organizational and time management skills.
• Requires excellent concentration skills; requires adaptability flexibility patience and understanding of different student staff parent and community learning/working styles and ability to promote effective relationships.
• Requires effective supervisory and student discipline skills; requires effective supervision and instruction of student behavior to promote and encourage skills acquisition and learning.
• Requires regular and effective decision-making skills including creativity and flexibility in problem-solving.
• Requires performing under stress when confronted with emergency critical and unusual situations and day-to-day deadlines; stress and/or tension is a frequent part of the job.
• Requires ability to establish and complete priorities and objectives; requires substantial self-discipline in behavior and attitude.
• Requires modeling effective and appropriate behavior at all times.
• Requires ability to work independently with excellent collaboration/cooperation skills and ability to work as part of a team.
• Requires fairness and consistency when working with students.
• Requires setting up and maintaining accurate files and records; requires excellent reading writing math and written/oral communication skills; requires a high degree of proficiency in English usage including grammar and spelling for the composition and formatting of own correspondence and records/reports.
• Requires performance of detailed work in reference to preparation and computation of data and analysis of information both verbally and in written form.
• Requires maintaining composure when working with distraught angry or hostile individuals and requires de-escalation and mediation skills.
• Requires awareness special education process and understanding of the legal process in public education.
• Requires knowledge and understanding of current research theories and trends in counseling.
• Requires administration of rules regulations policies and laws related to counseling in public education; requires proficiency in evaluation of student progress and achievement; requires strict confidentiality.
• Requires understanding and proficiency in operation of personal computer and software programs.
• Requires effective ability to direct activities of non-certificated staff.
• Must possess genuine interest in helping others with mental social physical educational and vocational needs.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:Reports to building principal.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Exposure to diseases carried by students; exposure to student noise levels; requires good visual and hearing ability; may require prolonged standing or sitting; may require attending to students personal hygiene; may require lifting and positioning students; may require restraining out-of-control students; may require assisting students with physical activities; may be exposed to visual display terminal for prolonged periods; may be asked to attend evening meetings or activities; may represent the district on potentially sensitive or controversial matters.

CONDITIONS:The preceding list of essential functions is not exhaustive and maybe supplemented as necessary.

Special Attributes

The candidate must maintain these attributes:

• Work collaboratively within the schools and the district;
• Maintain composure professionalism and tact in dealing with students/staff/parents;
• Dress and demonstrate appearance appropriate to a professional educational setting;
• Comply with counseling standards FERPA and all federal and state confidentiality laws;
• Remain supportive and active in implementing building and Columbia School District Vision Mission and Goals as shown within the Unified Instructional Core.

Contract Details:This posting is for one (1) daily 1.0 FTE continuing counseling assignment at Columbia elementary school. Benefits and retirement eligibility will be determined upon hire.
Work Location:Columbia Elementary School
Work Schedule:Monday through Friday
Work Hours: 7:30 am 3:00 pm 7.5 HOURS DAILY
Wage/Step Range based on annual 1.0 FTE:
School Employee Benefits Board (SEBB): of Retirement (DRS): plans 2 or 3 for Certificated Staff.
Salary Schedules and Collective Bargaining Agreement:

Columbia School District #400 does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex race creed religion color national origin age veteran or military status sexual orientation gender expression or identity disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Title IX Officer Jay Aune 787 Maple Street Burbank WA 99323 ADA/Section 504 Coordinator Mike Taylor 835 Maple Street Burbank WA 99323 and Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator Jillian Robillard 977 Maple Street Burbank WA 99323 @.