Stronger Connections Counseling Specialist

Job Title: Stronger Connections Counseling Specialist

FLSA Status: Exempt

Pay Grade: 103

Workdays: 226

Reports To: Coordinator of Administrative Services

Primary Purpose

Provide effective mental health and counseling leadership and coaching to Stronger Connections LEA subgrantees within the ESC Region 11 service area. Provide appropriate professional development and technical assistance to campuses districts and charter schools.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education/Certification

• Masters Degree required

• Texas teacher certificate preferred

• School Counselor Certification Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Social Worker required

Special Knowledge/Skills

Team-oriented attitude and desire to work collaboratively with ESC staff TEA and campus/district/charter school personnel.

Strong organizational communication public relations and interpersonal skills.

In-depth knowledge of the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling

• Technical knowledge of college and career readiness standards

• Knowledge of student behavioral and academic challenges including current models for implementing effective programs to meet student needs

Experience

• Five years experience in school counseling or school social work

• Successful experience in training teachers and/or other adults

• Successful experience in an educational leadership position

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

*This job description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities skills efforts or working conditions associated with this job. They are intended to be accurate reflections of those principal job elements essential for making fair hiring and pay decisions.

**This position may be partially or completely funded using grant and/or federal monies and is assigned programs to include activities designed to enhance the effective and coordinated use of funds.

• Actively participate in and/or provide leadership for inter-departmental teams to help improve student performance in the region improve the ESC internal operations and meet the established goals and objectives of the ESC.

• Develop quality training products and services reflecting scientifically based research national and state initiatives and campus/district/charter school needs.

• Engage in professional development to maintain knowledge and skills in areas of elementary school counseling secondary school counseling and college and career readiness.

• Provide technical assistance and services as specified by any applicable federal grant that funds this position including but not limited to the Stronger Connections Technical Assistance Grant.

• Serve as the backup for LEA crisis response consultations and support.

Foster strong community partnerships among LEAs IHEs LHMAs and other partners.

Ensure a positive and committed partnership with the Texas Center for Student Supports (TCSS).

Complete training required by TCSS to support the implementation of the Student Support Framework student support teams school culture and climate surveys and SSF diagnostics.

• Provide implementation and evaluation support to ESC Region 11 Stronger Connections subgrantees through executive coaching and fidelity of implementation processes.

• Provide TOT sessions to ESC Region 11 Stronger Connections subgrantees.

• Attend and participate in ESC Region 16s executive coaching program.

• Participate in TCSS monthly PLC meetings and any additional training and report relevant information back to LEA SCG awardees.

• Collaborate with ESC Region 11 leadership to submit quarterly reports to TEA. Analyze the data (TOT data FOI results ESC feedback surveys etc.) looking for trends successes and barriers and including recommendations/suggested action steps in each quarterly report based on this analysis.

• Connect SCG awardees to existing ESC training opportunities based on their SMART goals climate survey results and diagnostic prioritized focus areas and provide TEA with a summary report each quarter with the FOI.

• Attend the 2025 Stronger Connections summer conference and two ESC Stronger Connections Grant summits.

• Provide technical assistance in collaboration with interagency/intra-agency initiatives as requested by TEA/TCSS. Activities may include but are not limited to resource development content reviews consultation participation in expert panels or collaboration beyond those previously listed.

• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics for each program initiative to measure success and progress.

• Monitor and evaluate the performance of each program initiative regularly conducting qualitative and quantitative analyses.

• Ensure the performance management process is cyclical and iterative promoting continuous improvement.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Duties

None

Equipment/Specialized Software Used

Computers projection devices control panels in meeting rooms printers productivity software software specific to the job assignment network resources internet resources and other hardware and software necessary to perform the functions of the job effectively and efficiently.

Working Conditions (Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors)

Mental: Public relations and people skills are always required work with frequent interruptions and maintain professional composure and confidentiality under stress.

Physical: Occasional prolonged and irregular hours ability to move tables and chairs and load/unload boxes and materials. Prolonged use of a computer. Frequent region and state-wide travel.

Environmental: Open cubicles/workstations.

Evaluation

Annual performance evaluation will be performed in accordance with the adopted policies of the Education Service Center Region 11. Employment in this position is contingent upon performance need and funding.

This position is grant-funded with funding anticipated to conclude on August 31 2026

Required Experience:

Unclear Seniority