High School Counselor for 2024-2025

Job Title: High School Counselor for 2024-2025

Reports To: Principal

Classification: Exempt/Full-time/10 months

MISSION STATEMENT

De La Salle North Catholic High School provides a faith-based, college-preparatory high school education to underserved students from the Portland area. We are the most diverse private high school in Oregon, and over 95% of our graduates are accepted into college. Our goal is to develop tomorrow’s community leaders by making high-quality education accessible to motivated young people in a learning environment that values cultural, spiritual, and ethnic diversity. Our educational approach provides each student with the opportunity to succeed through small classes, high expectations, and active participation in our Corporate Work Study Program affiliated with the nationally-recognized Cristo Rey Network.

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Counseling Department at De La Salle North Catholic High School is committed to assisting all students and their families in meeting the demands of high school and in dealing with psychosocial barriers to student success. Counselors work with students individually, in the classroom, and in small groups to support students facing emotional, social, and academic challenges, and to promote student self-awareness, problem-solving, motivation, and the ability to reflect on one’s own behavior and choices. Counselors also collaborate with teachers, administration, and student leaders to promote a healthy school climate, educating students on issues such as cybersafety, dating violence, healthy relationships, mindfulness and stress management, substance abuse awareness and prevention, suicide prevention, child sexual abuse prevention, and college and career readiness.

We seek an experienced counselor with a working knowledge of trauma-informed practices, adolescent development, and brain science. We are looking for someone with a personal commitment to culturally responsive practices, who models emotional maturity, appropriate boundaries, a wellness mindset, and is a collaborative team player. Bilingual/bicultural strongly preferred.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Student and Family Supports

• Provides individual and group counseling to support students with emotional, social, psychological, and academic needs. Subject matter can include self-esteem, stress/anger management, depression, anxiety, family issues, grief support, child abuse, and substance abuse.
• Communicates with parents regarding student needs and support plans.
• Provides resources to parents for community counseling resources, social services agencies, and emergency assistance.
• Supports transfer students and 9th graders in their transition and integration to high school.
• Assesses safety and risk to students and if needed, provides crisis intervention. 
• Assists with the process of evaluation for special education needs and the development of learning support agreements.
• Communicates and collaborates with community partners (mental health, medical professionals, etc.) to support student success.
• Provides basic college and career prep information (individually and in the classroom) for 9th and 10th grade students.

Advocate for Student Needs

• Attends level team meetings with teachers to provide a strengths-based, trauma-informed perspective on student behavior.
• Collaborates with Administration, Academic Resource Center staff, and teacher level teams to implement an effective referral and follow-up process for students of concern.
• Communicates student needs to teachers when students face personal or family crises; helps create and facilitate a support plan for students (e.g., tutoring, mental health support, etc.)
• Observes in classrooms as requested and assists teachers in developing and implementing strategies that promote social emotional health in the classroom as needed.
• Attends staffings with teachers and parents to create student success and support plans.

Spearhead Programs to Promote a Safe and Equitable School Climate

• Teaches in classrooms occasionally to address bullying, cybersafety, suicide prevention, equity issues, and other mental health issues relevant to student body.
• Receives Archdiocesan training in C.A.S.E. child sex abuse prevention and provides instruction to all 9th graders as well as training of new staff, faculty, and DLSNC volunteers.
• Coordinates Raphael House guest educators on Safe and Equitable Relationships.
• Coordinates in-house counseling services for students through the STAR program, including scheduling students and offices, helping plan and facilitate parent information nights, etc. 
• Organizes and facilitates annual Substance Abuse Awareness and Prevention Day.
• Organizes and facilitates Taproot Theater presentation on cyberbullying.
• Provides/coordinates in-service programs for teachers and staff on trauma-informed practices, confidentiality, mandatory reporting, and mental health topics affecting students.

Other Duties

• Helps provide task supervision to graduate interns in social work.
• Available for occasional evening and weekend events throughout the school year (such as Back-to-School Night, Open House, admissions interviews, parent-teacher conferences, etc.)

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s Degree in School Counseling, Social Work, or related field
• Preferred bilingual in English and Spanish
• Experience working in high-needs high school population, demonstrated ability to establish rapport with a diverse population of high school students, and knowledge of trauma-informed practices
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

SALARY AND BENEFITS

DOE. Generous benefits package includes: 2 weeks paid sick time, medical/dental/vision with a shared premium cost, employer-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance, employee-paid voluntary insurance plans, and a 403(b) retirement savings plan.

TO APPLY

Please upload both cover letter and resume. Approximate desired start date is January 27, 2025. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. Successful completion of a background check is a condition of employment.

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