Elementary Counselor

Primary Purpose:
Work with school faculty and staff, students, parents, and community to plan, implement, and evaluate a
comprehensive developmental counseling program. Counsel students to fully develop each student’s
social and emotional development, student and staff crisis response, and developing, implementing, and
monitoring programs to support student and staff overall mental health needs.

Qualifications:
Education/Certification:

• Master’s degree in counseling or related field
• Valid Texas counseling certificate

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Knowledge of counseling procedures, student appraisal, and socio-emotional development
• Ability to instruct and manage student behavior
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Rapoport Academy has publicly named equity in education a focus of the district. We recognize the close link between the elimination of disparities, educational success, and personal success in college, career, and life. Therefore, candidates with experience serving diverse or underrepresented populations are preferred.

Experience:

• Three years experience as a classroom teacher

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Counseling:

• Counsel individual students and small groups with presenting needs and concerns.
• Support staff during times of emotional stress.
• Provide IEP-required counseling services.

Consultation:

• Consult with parents, teachers, administrators, and other relevant people to enhance their work with students.
• Work with school and community personnel to bring together resources for students.
• Maintain a communication system that effectively collects and disseminates information to other professionals as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with other school professionals and representatives of community resources.
• Use an effective referral process to assist students and others in using special programs and services.

Assessment (related to mental health diagnosis and supports):

• Participate in the planning and evaluation of campus testing programs.
• Interpret tests and other appraisal results appropriately and communicate to school personnel, students, and their parents.
• Maintain the confidentiality of student assessments.

Program Management:

• Plan school counseling programs to ensure that they meet identified needs, priorities, and program objectives.
• Implement a comprehensive and balanced program.
• Develop and coordinate a continuing evaluation of the counseling program and individual activities and make changes based on findings.
• Educate the school staff, parents, and community about the counseling program through a public information program.
• Compile, maintain, and file all required physical and computerized reports, records, and other documents.

Administration:

• Comply with policies established by federal and state law, State Board of Education rules, and board policy in counseling areas.
• Comply with all district and campus routines and regulations.
• Maintain a positive and effective relationship with supervisor and peers.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues, students, and parents.

Professional:

• Adhere to ethical and legal standards and model behavior that is professional, and responsible.
• Participate in professional development to improve skills related to job assignments.
• Perform any and all duties as assigned.
• Successfully advances district initiatives.

Working Conditions:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Frequent district-wide travel to multiple campuses as assigned. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Compensation

The starting salary is $55,000 for a licensed counselor and $50,000 for a counseling intern.