Counselor - Elementary School

FTE: 1.0

Calendar: 187A

PURPOSE

Utilizing leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, school counselors promote student success, provide preventive services, and respond to identified student needs by developing, managing, delivering and assessing a comprehensive school counseling program that addresses academic, career, and personal/social development for all elementary students.

Summary

This is a professional position with the principal function to provide a program and services for students, parents, teachers, and administrators in order to help each child reach his/her academic, social, and emotional potentials. The work is performed collaboratively under the general guidance of the school principal and counseling coordinator. The primary duties of this classification are performed in a general office and school environment with some travel required between schools or for other district responsibilities. Performance of this job will be evaluated by the school principal(s) with input from the district counseling coordinator in accordance with the board's policy on evaluations.

Performance Responsibilities

Develop and maintain a written plan for effective delivery of the school counseling program based on the Idaho Comprehensive School Counseling Program, the current school site data and the needs of the building. Provide classroom and educational guidance through regularly scheduled and developmentally appropriate classroom instruction according to adopted curriculum. Provide parenting education and referrals as needed. Facilitate student support groups. Advocate for students. Provide individual, group and crisis counseling for students and their parents. School counseling services are intended to be short-term interventions, thus school counselors will assess and refer as needed to community or government agencies. Consult with significant adults, parents, teachers, etc. in a child's life. Collaborate with building principal to determine participation and/or roles in the various building teams and committees which support academic and social success for all students. Collaborate with building principal to provide district required trainings and staff in-service trainings for school. Facilitate student transitions. Perform related work as required.

Competency Requirements

Knowledge of:

• Idaho School Counselor Association Comprehensive Model and the A.S.C.A. National Model;
• Counseling theories, techniques and professional and ethical standards with specific emphasis in the area of confidentiality;
• Understanding the role of the school counselor and the school counseling program in the school crisis plan;
• Instructional methods and training techniques including curriculum design principles, learning theory, group and individual teaching techniques, design of individual development plans and test design principles;
• Human behavior, performance and mental processes and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders;
• Group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences and cultures;
• Assessments and interpretation techniques for educational planning;
• Leadership, collaboration, conflict resolution, planning and organization techniques and practices.
  
  

Ability To

• Provide effective counseling services including grief and bereavement counseling;
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing with a positive professional attitude;
• Utilize active listening skills, identify the nature of a problem identify feelings and guide individuals towards a solution;
• Identify feelings, symptoms of stress, abuse, addiction, depression and appropriate coping skills;
• Utilize multiple approaches when learning or teaching new things;
• Teach or guide others to approach things differently;
• Maintain important records efficiently and accurately and to prepare clear and concise reports;
• Maintain confidentiality of information processed or prepared;
• Operate standard office equipment including a personal computer using program applications appropriate to assigned duties;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other District employees, supervisory personnel, students, parents and referral sources;
• Handle interruptions, prioritize work, and return to and complete tasks in a timely manner;
• Perform time management and scheduling functions, meeting deadlines, and setting project priorities.
  
  

Qualifications

• Pupil Personnel Services Certification, K-12 Counselor;
• Vocational counseling experience preferred;
• Teaching experience preferred.
  
  

Essential Physical Abilities

• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to discern verbal conversation and to communicate effectively on the telephone and in person;
• Sufficient visual acuity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to comprehend written work and assessments, prepare and review documents, and organize documents and materials;
• Sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to perform repetitive hand/wrist/arm motions and to operate a computer and office equipment;
• Sufficient personal mobility, flexibility, and balance, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to work in an office environment, lifting or moving objects that weigh up to 20 lbs.;
• Job tasks require, with or without reasonable accommodation, climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, and grasping;
• Must have a valid Idaho Driver's license and a vehicle to drive and/or must provide own transportation for job related activities.
  
  

EVALUATION

Yearly by supervisor.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

To be determined by calendar year.

• As per Idaho Code 65-5-1/65-503: "Eligible veterans are provided advantages in public employment in Idaho…"