Anticipated Director of Counseling

Anticipated Director of School Counseling

Position Overview
The Director of School Counseling is responsible for providing leadership, coordination, and oversight of the school district’s comprehensive school counseling program. This role focuses on promoting student academic success, career and college readiness, social-emotional development, and equitable access to counseling services for all students. In addition to their leadership duties, the Director will maintain a small K-12 student counseling caseload to remain directly connected to the daily work of school counseling. This direct student support ensures that the Director stays informed about the evolving needs of students, families, and counselors, while modeling best practices for the team. The Director collaborates with district and school leadership to ensure the delivery of high-quality, data-driven counseling services aligned with the district's mission, vision, and strategic goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Program Leadership and Development

• Develop, implement, and oversee a comprehensive, data-driven K-12 school counseling program that supports student academic achievement, career exploration, social-emotional development, and post-secondary readiness.
• Establish district-wide counseling program goals aligned with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model and the district's mission.
• Provide leadership, training, and support to school counselors to ensure consistent and high-quality delivery of services across all schools.
• Promote a culture of equity, inclusion, and access by ensuring counseling services meet the needs of all students, particularly underserved and at-risk populations.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of counseling services and recommend improvements as necessary.

Direct Student Support and Small Caseload

• Maintain a small K-12 student counseling caseload to remain directly connected to the daily work of school counseling, allowing the Director to:
• Provide direct academic, social-emotional, and career guidance to a small group of students.
• Model best counseling practices for school counselors across the district.
• Stay informed of current student and family challenges, ensuring that district policies and counseling services are responsive to their needs.
• Balance caseload responsibilities with district leadership duties to maintain real-world perspective on the day-to-day experiences of school counselors and students.
• Substitute for counselors during times of critical staffing shortages or emergencies as needed.

Student Support and Interventions

• Collaborate with school counselors to design and implement multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) for academic, social-emotional, and career development interventions.
• Partner with families, community agencies, and mental health providers to support student well-being and access to resources.
• Oversee district-wide efforts for suicide prevention, crisis response, and threat assessments in collaboration with district leadership.
• Ensure the availability of culturally responsive mental health services and advocate for student access to mental health care.

College and Career Readiness

• Lead the development of a comprehensive K-12 college and career readiness program that includes career exploration, academic planning, and post-secondary guidance.
• Collaborate with high school counselors to expand student access to dual enrollment, internships, work-based learning, and career technical education (CTE) opportunities.
• Ensure that counselors are trained to provide guidance on financial aid, scholarships, and post-secondary pathways.
• Oversee the administration of college and career readiness assessments such as SAT, ACT, and career inventories.

Supervision, Evaluation, and Professional Development

• Supervise, coach, and evaluate school counselors, social workers, and other related personnel across the district
• Provide ongoing professional development for school counselors to ensure they remain current on best practices, legal requirements, and ethical standards.
• Facilitate district-wide professional learning communities (PLCs) for school counselors to promote shared learning, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.
• Promote collaboration between school counselors and other student support personnel, such as social workers, school psychologists, and nurses.

Data Collection and Analysis

• Establish systems for collecting, analyzing, and reporting data related to student academic achievement, behavior, attendance, and post-secondary outcomes.
• Use data to identify gaps in student access to services and develop targeted interventions to close those gaps.
• Regularly report counseling program outcomes to district leadership, the school board, and other stakeholders.

Collaboration and Community Partnerships

• Collaborate with school principals, special education teams, student services staff, and district leadership to align counseling services with broader district goals.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with local mental health agencies, social service organizations, higher education institutions, and workforce development programs to expand resources and opportunities for students and families.
• Advocate for district policies and practices that promote mental health, social-emotional learning (SEL), and equity.
• Serve as a resource to families in accessing community-based services, crisis support, and post-secondary planning.
• Work closely with community-based mental health providers, juvenile justice programs, child welfare agencies, and family support services to develop coordinated interventions that support student well-being, crisis response, and long-term success.
• Advocate for comprehensive wraparound services, ensuring that students and families have access to counseling, mental health treatment, housing assistance, and other critical supports that address barriers to learning.
• Facilitate cross-agency collaboration, serving as a district liaison in regional task forces, coalitions, and advisory boards focused on student mental health, social-emotional learning (SEL), and post-secondary readiness.
• Provide ongoing training and resources to school counselors and staff on how to effectively connect families with community-based services, navigate referral processes, and foster trust between schools and service providers.

Compliance and Policy Implementation

• Ensure compliance with state and federal laws, district policies, and professional ethical standards related to school counseling services.
• Lead the development and implementation of district policies related to student mental health, crisis response, and academic guidance.
• Provide guidance to the Superintendent and School Board on matters related to student mental health, equity in access to services, and policy implications.

Qualifications:
Education and Certification

• Master’s degree in School Counseling, Educational Leadership, Social Work, Psychology, or related field.
• Valid School Counselor Certification issued by the New Hampshire Department of Education (or equivalent certification).
• Administrator certification preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience as a school counselor or related role in K-12 education.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in a school or district setting preferred.
• Experience leading or coordinating student services, mental health supports, or post-secondary readiness programs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep knowledge of the ASCA National Model, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), social-emotional learning (SEL), and trauma-informed practices.
• Experience providing direct counseling services to students in academic, social-emotional, and career domains.
• Ability to balance administrative leadership with direct student support.
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and access in counseling services.

Working Conditions:.

• This position requires travel between district schools
• The role involves a balance of district leadership and direct student support.
• Some evening or weekend work may be required for events, parent meetings, or professional development.

FLSA Status:       Exempt

Pay Rate: Follow Negotiated Pay Rate (See Administrator's Agreement)