Elementary School Substitute Counselor

Position is available immediately through the end of the 2024-2025 school year

TITLE:  SUBSTITUTE-Elementary School Counselor

REPORTS TO: Elementary School Principals and Director of Student Support Services

JOB GOALS:

1. To promote optimal academic, career, and personal/social development in each elementary school student
2. To promote the school’s mission including student achievement, student – teacher relationships, and community participation
3. To promote a positive and inclusive school climate and environment
4. To promote an understanding of the elementary school child among staff and parents
5. To help students overcome problems that impede learning, and assist all students in achieving academic success.
6. To establish rapport with students, parents, and other staff members in the elementary school
7. To work collaboratively with other members of the educational team
8. To function as the central figure in carrying out the school counseling program as an integral component of the total educational program

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Valid Pennsylvania certificate as a K-12 School Counselor
2. Masters Degree in Counselor Education from an approved program of studies
3. 0 or higher QPA
4. Working knowledge of best practices in school counseling according to the guidelines of the American School Counselor Association
5. Working knowledge of the characteristics that when present in an elementary school will over time lead to higher levels of student achievement and overall development.
6. Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
7. Demonstrate personal growth and professional development
8. Demonstrate computer literacy especially in using the administrative software program effectively, retrieval of student information, maintaining student attendance, etc.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Work with students on an individual basis in the solution of personal problems related to such issues as school, home and family relations, health, and emotional adjustment.
2. Remain readily available to students so as to provide counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.
3. Address students’ study habits, skills and attitudes, test anxiety, and barriers to motivation and academic success.
4. Provide developmental counseling activities/lessons about diversity, bullying, conflict resolution, interpersonal skills, and other relevant topics, in the classrooms.
5. Facilitate small group experiences for students around such topics as divorce, friendship, anger management, grief/loss, etc.
6. Monitor students for excessive absences and follow-up with parents/guardians in accordance to the School Board Policy.
7. Lead and complete the school attendance improvement process for students with chronic absenteeism.
8. Assist in the maintenance of student files, including academic records, confidential records, test results, and transcripts.
9. Meet with students who are experiencing academic failure and create a plan for improvement through the child study process.
10. Confer with parents on issues related to counseling whenever necessary.
11. Assist administrators as needed in matters of behavioral and disciplinary issues that interfere with learning.
12. Accept and make referrals to teams; processes, screens, and provides interventions for students at-risk.
13. Serve as a member of the Child Study Team and Crisis Management Team.
14. Possess knowledge of mental health diagnoses, supports, and interventions.
15. Mediate conflict resolution meetings when necessary.
16. Serve as building contact for students experiencing emotional distress.
17. Attend the elementary school grade level team meetings to address the needs of individual students.
18. Work with teachers and other staff members to familiarize them with the general range of services offered by the counseling department and to improve the educational prospects of individual students.
19. Register new students to the school and orient them to school procedures and the school’s varied opportunities for learning.
20. Review the records of new students and ensure all documentation needed is provided.
21. Work with the appropriate individuals regarding new students’ transferred documents for planning purposes and appropriate academic placement.
22. Assist parents in interpreting test data.
23. Fulfill the state requirements for career readiness as it applies to the Elementary School.
24. Coordinate services for students and families for school-based educational groups, outside counseling, psychological evaluations, etc.
25. Attend workshops and conferences for local, state, and national school counselor organizations, updates for testing, maintenance of licensure, etc. as requested.
26. Take an active role in interpreting the school’s objectives to students, parents, and the community at large.
27. Assist the administration with the scheduling process as requested.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the South Fayette Township Board of Education and the South Fayette Education Association.

EVALUATION:

Performance of this job will be evaluated by the building level administration, director of student support services, and communicated to the superintendent for review.