Elementary Counselor

This position will be shared betweenHorizon Elementary and Wallace Elementary.

Position Criteria:

• Masters degree and Iowa license with Professional School CounselorK-8 endorsement
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Previous teaching experience preferred
• Student-centered philosophy
• Strong communication skills - verbal & written
• Strong administrative/management skills

Performance Responsibilities

Personal Performance Criteria

• Works well with others maintaining positive and effective communication with school personnel and students
• Contributes to creating a positive work environment
• Demonstrates integrity and respects confidentiality
• Arrives on time and works consistently until the end of his/her scheduled day
• Takes advantage of professional growth opportunities related to his/her specific job
• Works independently and with confidence
• Demonstrates ability to grasp and adjust to new and changing situations
• Demonstrates initiative and ability to work without close supervision

Professional Performance Criteria

Personal Qualifications

• Demonstrates positive interpersonal relations and works cooperatively with students parents and staff
• Project a positive image as an educator in the school and in the community - Promotes a positive image of the Johnston Schools respects differing points of view
• Demonstrates an understanding and acceptance of diverse racial ethnic cultural gender special needs and religious groups
• Uses discretion in handling confidential information and situations
• Actively supports expectations of student behavior outside of the classroom during the school day
• Demonstrates a positive attitude and manages stress in a constructive manner

Guidance/Counseling Process

• Demonstrates the ability to help students make appropriate educational plans/life choices.
• Maintains and uses sources of information to guide students.
• Displays ability to help students see options implications consequences and set goals.
• Knows and uses suitable resource materials procedures and models.
• Utilizes a variety of counseling skills activities and resources in meeting the needs of students.
• Develops objectives and conducts activities which are clear meaningful and consistent with student needs and building and district goals (parent conferences staffings teacher conferences school orientation job placement group guidance).
• Exhibits mastery of counseling skills.
• Demonstrates good interpersonal skills (relationship with students staff administration and parents).
• Uses time effectively.
• Provides input in curriculum improvement.
• Practices good listening skills (non-judgmental empathic understanding).
• Utilizes appropriate assessment activities.
• Knowledgeable of use of and interpretation of information and/or data.

Responsive Services/System Support

• Expresses concern for students regardless of cultural academic intellectual emotional needs.
• Demonstrates understanding and acceptance of differences among individuals and groups (i.e. racial ethnic cultural socio-economic religious and handicaps.)
• Displays nonsexist/multicultural attitudes.
• Provides constructive strategies to students.
• Demonstrates sensitivity in communicating and working with staff.
• Works courteously and cooperatively with school personnel.
• Recognizes the need for and participates in teamwork for the improvement of instruction.
• Demonstrates willingness to share methods materials and ideas with co-workers.
• Provides constructive criticism to administrators and accepts it from them.
• Keeps administration informed of pertinent situations.
• Communicates with and informs parents concerning guidance and counseling services.
• Provides a climate which promotes effective communication with parents.
• Cooperates with parents in the best interest of students.
• Demonstrates professionalism and professional growth.
• Establishes goals and initiates activities aimed at professional growth and development.
• Attends professional meetings (i.e. counselors meetings faculty meetings conferences staffings in-service) promptly and courteously.
• Maintains positive student/counselor rapport through understanding an acceptance of individual worth of student.
• Treats students in a manner which reflects an awareness of their developmental and emotional characteristics.
• Displays empathy and understanding when counseling students.
• Maintains professional confidentiality.
• Provides availability to meet with students staff and parents.

Professional Responsibilities

• Demonstrates a commitment to professional growth
• Keeps current with appropriate teaching content and instructional techniques and strategies(e.g. participation in professional organizations workshops conferences including the development of technology skills)
• Applies knowledge gained through professional growth to the classroom
• Contributes and participates in a positive manner to building and district professional growth opportunities
• Works collegially to select and implement building and district goals
• Remains informed on building and district policies and works cooperatively toward their implementation
• Participates when appropriate in curriculum development and building/district assignments
• Provides requested data in a timely and accurate manner
• Meets responsibilities beyond the school day related to school functions
• Maintains a professional appearance appropriate to job responsibilities
• Assumes leadership roles (committee participation department chairs curriculum review etc.

Terms of Employment:194-day contract