School Counselor
Job Title:
School Counselor
Work Year:
As designated by the school. - Days: 187 day position (new teachers 190 day position)
Salary:
General Description
- Comprehensive school counseling as defined by the American School Counselor Association provides developmental, preventive, remedial, and responsive services.
- Promotes and enhances the learning process for all students through an integration of academic, social/emotional, and postsecondary development.
- Contributes to and/or manages the School Counseling Program using the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model.
- Delivers and evaluates data driven counseling services relevant to student outcomes and achievement through classroom lessons, small groups, and individual counseling.
- Effective school counselors in the state of Colorado have the knowledge, skills, and commitments needed to provide excellent and equitable learning opportunities and growth for all students.
- School counselors strive to support the whole child’s growth and development, close achievement gaps and to prepare diverse student populations for postsecondary and workforce success.
- Effective school counselors utilize root cause analysis to employ and adjust evidence-based strategies and approaches for students who are not achieving mastery of standards and students who need acceleration.
- Develop students skills, interests and abilities necessary to be lifelong learners, as well as for democratic and civic participation.
- Communicate high expectations to students and their families and utilize diverse strategies to engage them in a mutually supportive teaching and learning environment.
- Engage in collaboration, continuous reflection, on-going learning and leadership within the profession.
- Provide proactive leadership that engages all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help students achieve school success
- Establish a rapport with families, students and colleagues.
- Responsible for using effective counseling techniques.
- Professional School Counselors align with the school’s mission to support the academic achievement of all students as they prepare for the changing world of the 21st century.
Direct student services
- Support academic achievement, career exploration, and social/emotional developmental needs of all students through individual counseling, small groups, and classroom lessons.
- Assist with transitions
- Elementary School primarily assists grades ECE to Kindergarten, Kindergarten to 1st grade and 5th to 6th grade.
- K-8 primarily assists grades ECE to Kindergarten, Kindergarten to 1st grade, 5th to 6th grade and 8th to 9th grade.
- Middle School primarily assists grades 5th to 6th and 8th to 9th grade.
- High School primarily assists 8th to 9th grade and 12th to post secondary.
- Counsel students to encourage and support student achievement in all ASCA domains (social/emotional, academic, and career-readiness)
- Counsel students regarding educational issues such as course and program selection, school adjustment, study habits, attendance and college and career readiness planning.
- Counsel individuals to help them understand and overcome social/emotional or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
- Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.
- Identify root causes affecting students' development.
- Work with families to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and resource needs.
- Support students’ future thinking and goal development to prepare students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- Uphold ethical standards as outlined by ASCA such as maintaining the confidentiality of all students.
Indirect student services
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social/emotional development, and physical health in collaboration with other professionals and stakeholders
- Assist families to identify and access community-based services as needed and requested
- Contribute to and/or manage the School Counseling Program using the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model by collaborating with building administration
- Utilize the ASCA National Model to evaluate and interpret data for school counseling program modification to determine programming which support student needs.
- Use data to design counseling services which support student achievement, analyze data results and use results to inform stakeholders and continuously improve programs.
- Create and update accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- Confer with families, teachers, other counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral, academic, and other problems.
- Advise teachers and other school personnel on methods to enhance school and classroom atmosphere to provide motivating educational environment.
- Collaborate with teachers, staff, and families regarding meeting the needs of students.
- Advocate for equitable educational access and opportunity, and collaborate efforts enhancing students’ educational experiences.
- Participate in ongoing professional development and engage in leadership opportunities.
Education and Licensure
- Master’s or higher degree in School Counseling
- Holds a Colorado Special Services Provider license or is currently eligible for one with the appropriate endorsement for this positon
- A completed Human Resources file including transcripts, student teaching verification and previous work experience
Endorsement Category
- School Counselor
Condition of Employment
- As a condition of employment, the individual selected for this position will be expected to complete the APS-sponsored Linguistically Diverse Educator (LDE) Certificate Program within the first three years of employment.
- Click here to learn about the Linguistically Diverse Educator Certificate.