School Counselor

Position Overview:

The School Counselor is a full-time role at Reaching All Minds Academy (RAMA).  The ideal candidate would be sensitive to the needs of students in grades K-8 from low socio-economic backgrounds and with severe learning challenges.  The ideal candidate would be an excellent communicator, building relationships with students, parents, staff, and service agencies.

The School Counselor will be a member of the Support Services Team, and report directly to RAMA’s Principal and Director of Curriculum.  This position will be a full-time (45 hours per week), 10 month position.  The School Counselor will be required to be at RAMA Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.  

Reaching All Minds Academy is a charter school in Durham County with the mission to prepare students to become productive citizens with the skills needed to solve complex problems, think critically, exhibit positive social competencies, and to function in a highly technological and global society. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Hold a Master’s degree in school counseling from an accredited college or university or a Master’s degree in an equivalent field with school counseling licensure add-on
• A minimum of 3 years of experience as an elementary or middle school counselor
• NC licensure in school Counseling from NC Department of Public Instruction

Required Skills:

• Knowledge of multiple counseling approaches
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work with culturally diverse populations in meeting individual needs to support academic achievement and student development
• Demonstrated ability to work as a member of team and independently with students, parents, and staff
• Demonstrated ability to assist students in acquiring skills that maximize their social and personal development
• Demonstrated ability to utilize all aspects of the Google Suite
• Spanish fluency a plus

Core Responsibilities:

Develops and Maintains a Comprehensive School Counseling Program:

• Develops and maintains a written plan for effective delivery of the school counseling program based on the NC Comprehensive School Counseling Standard Course of Study and current individual school data
• Uses data to develop comprehensive programs that meet student needs.
• Communicates the goals of the comprehensive school counseling program to administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community agencies
• Maintains current and appropriate resources for administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community agencies
• Provides direct services to students to ensure their academic and social emotional success
• Provides professional development to RAM Academy staff to aid in supporting students
• Discusses the comprehensive school counseling program with the school administrator, seeking feedback and areas of improvement, as needed.

Delivers a Comprehensive School Counseling Program:

• Implements developmentally appropriate and prevention-oriented group activities to meet student needs and school goals, incorporating into programs the life skills that students need to be successful in the twenty-first century.
• Assists all students, individually or in groups, with developing academic, career and social/emotional skills, goals, and plans.
• Accurately and appropriately interprets and utilizes student data.
• Collaborates with parents/guardians and educators to assist students with educational, career, and life planning.
• Provides individual and group counseling to students with identified concerns and needs.
• Consults and collaborates effectively with parents/guardians, teachers, administrators, and other educational/community resources regarding students with identified concerns and needs.
• Implements an effective referral and follow-up process as needed.
• Accurately and appropriately uses assessment procedures for determining and structuring individual and group counseling services.

• Provides appropriate information to school personnel related to the comprehensive school counseling program.
• Assists teachers, parents/guardians, and other stakeholders in interpreting and understanding student data.
• Participates in professional development activities to improve knowledge and skills.
• Uses available technology resources to enhance the school counseling program.
• Adheres to laws, policies, procedures, and ethical standards of the school counseling profession.

Accountability:

• Conducts a yearly program audit to review the extent of program implementation and effectiveness.
• Collects and analyzes data to guide program direction and emphasis.
• Measures results of the comprehensive school counseling program activities and shares results as appropriate with relevant stakeholders.
• Monitors student academic performance, behavior, and attendance and facilitates appropriate interventions.
• Performs related duties as assigned.