School Counselor Specialist

About Us

At the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), we go beyond merely offering jobs – we actively seek out extraordinary individuals to join our team. As the primary agency entrusted with overseeing K-12 public education in Oklahoma, we are steadfastly devoted to making a meaningful impact on the districts and students we serve. Our exceptional team at OSDE is renowned for its commitment to superior customer se rvice, innovation, and unwavering dedication to shaping a brighter future for students across the state. We work hand-in-hand with over 500 school districts and maintain a close partnership with the legislature, ensuring that each Oklahoma student receives the exceptional education they deserve. If you're in search of a fulfilling career that allows you to make a profound difference in the lives of children, you've arrived at the right place. Join us in our mission to empower students and elevate the standard of education in Oklahoma. For further insights into OSDE, please visit our website at www.sde.ok.gov.

Position Overview

As a School Counselor Specialist for the Oklahoma State Department of Education, you will bring expertise in all facets of school counseling, staying informed about current trends and best practices across the academic, career, and personal development domains. This role requires in-depth knowledge of Oklahoma's Accreditation Standard VI and Advisement and Counseling Services. In this position, you will collaborate with interagency departments and external organizations to provide guidance and technical assistance to school districts. In this role you will be supporting academic advisement, developing graduation pathways, utilizing Individual Career Academic Plans (ICAP) to enhance student post-secondary planning, implementing Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), and assisting in crisis response to schools. This role will also support the development of comprehensive school counseling programs in Oklahoma school districts. Your efforts will directly contribute to fostering effective counseling practices and improving outcomes for Oklahoma’s students.

Please note: this role does not allow for any form of remote work, including telecommuting or hybrid arrangements. The nature of this position necessitates a consistent in-person presence. Prospective candidates should be aware that the responsibilities associated with this role require physical presence at the designated workplace in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counseling or related field [official transcripts required upon hire];
• Five (5) years of experience in school counseling services as a high school counselor
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Possession of a valid counseling certificate or counseling license.
  
  

Special Requirements

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without sponsorship now or in the future;
• Successful completion of a pre-employment background check;
• Must possess a valid driver’s license from a U.S. state or territory to perform necessary job-related travel.
  
  

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Comprehensive Counseling Expertise: Demonstrate a profound understanding of current trends, and all three counseling domains. Apply best practices and leverage research to optimize counseling programs for students at every grade level.
• Regulatory and Standards Compliance: Ensure compliance with Oklahoma's Accreditation Standard VI, Advisement and Counseling Services, and associated requirements. Stay abreast of Oklahoma graduation and transcript requirements, providing informed guidance to students.
• Evidence-Based Interventions: Apply knowledge of evidence-based interventions to promote academic, career, personal, and interpersonal development.
• Program Development: Develop and implement comprehensive counseling programs aligned with national and state standards.
• Assessment and Intervention: Skillfully assess student needs and design appropriate interventions, ensuring tailored support for each individual.
• Consultation and Collaboration: Provide expert consultation and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on academic support areas, including coursework transcription and Individual Career Academic Plans (ICAPs).
• Partnership with Stakeholders: Work closely with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health Services, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, and other professional organizations as required.
• Initiative Development: Spearhead impactful initiatives to address identified student, family, school, and district needs, aligning with the objectives of the Student Support Office.
• Strategic Planning: Assist individuals, schools, and districts in crafting long-range plans, goals, and objectives related to student development, trauma-informed practices, graduation rates, and the success of at-risk students.
• Professional Demeanor: Maintain a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude at all times; ability to build and maintain positive work relationships; demonstrate integrity and ethical conduct in all aspects of your work; ability to display a high level of professionalism in communication, behavior, and appearance; ability to accept constructive feedback to increase performance.
• Attendance: Regular and reliable in-person attendance is required to ensure quality teamwork, performance, productivity, and collaboration; ability to demonstrate a commitment to your work and team by committing to punctuality and dependability in the work environment; this includes arriving to work on time, being present, engaged, and available to colleagues, internal and external customers.
• Innovation: Ability to identify and address the evolving needs and challenges of the education landscape; ability to think critically, explore new ideas and embrace innovative approaches to improve educational outcomes for all students; apply creativity, resourcefulness, and forward-thinking in finding solutions to complex problems and driving positive change in the field of education.
• Efficiency: Ensure our resources are utilized effectively, and our operations are streamlined; optimize our processes, eliminate redundancies, and leverage technology to enhance productivity and performance; proactively identify opportunities for efficiency gains and implement best practices.
• Superior Customer Service: Willingness to go above and beyond to provide outstanding assistance that exceeds expectations, ability to create positive experiences and build relationships based on trust and satisfaction; maintain a positive and helpful attitude using the appropriate language, tone, and behavior to reflect the agency in a way that leaves a positive and favorable impression.
  
  

Essential Competencies

• Effective Communication: Ability to clearly and concisely express ideas, while also listening actively to others and demonstrating understanding; Ability to demonstrate empathy by showing respect and understanding for the feelings and perspectives of others while paying close attention to non-verbal cues; Ability to adapt communication style to suit the needs of the audience and situation.
• Take a proactive approach and work independently: Be resourceful and self-motivated, prioritize work effectively by managing your time well, anticipating challenges, developing creative solutions, paying close attention to detail, and taking ownership of your work.
• Collaborate as a team player: Ability to work effectively with others towards a common goal. Including being open-minded, respectful, and responsive to others’ ideas and perspectives. Sharing knowledge and experience while being committed to achieving the teams’ objectives and understanding the importance of working collaboratively to achieve success.
• Demonstrate excellent planning and organizational skills: Ability to set clear objectives, create a plan of action, break down complex tasks into manageable components, delegate tasks when necessary, and establish a realistic timeline to meet deadlines consistently while developing contingency plans to ensure adaptability to changing circumstances.
• Possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills: Ability to analyze complex situations, identify key issues, patterns, connections, and develop effective logical solutions; Ability to think critically, anticipate potential problems, and develop innovative solutions to address them.
• Ability to function well in an, at times, stressful, fast-paced, and deadline-driven environment: Ability to work under pressure and in situations where time is limited whilst remaining calm and focused, prioritizing tasks, and adapting to changing circumstances.
• Ability to build strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders: Ability to identify opportunities for collaboration, leverage resources effectively, and negotiate mutually beneficial outcomes. Possess strong interpersonal skills to resolve conflicts and manage difficult conversations constructively and professionally.
• Knowledge of technology and ability to use it to maximize efficiency and services: Ability to identify opportunities to leverage technology to streamline processes, automate tasks, and improve customer experiences; Familiarity with software, hardware and other relevant technological tools while being able to learn new technologies as they emerge.
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

Location: Oliver Hodge Building, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• Work Environment includes:
• Office Setting: Climate-controlled office setting with exposure to moderate noise; the employee is frequently required to talk, walk, and stand; this position requires long periods of sitting and daily use of computer and phone. Must be able to remain in a stationary position 75% of the time.
• Physical Demands include:
• Ability to stand, reach, and bend 50% of the time;
• Operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine/printer, and office telephone 75% of the time;
• Ascends/descends stairs 25% of the time;
• Ability to lift to 25 lbs.
• Cognitive Requirements:
• This role requires clear and accurate communication, strong analytical skills, and the ability to evaluate information and make timely decisions.
• Sustained focus and attention to detail are essential, along with memory retention of policies, procedures, and facts over various time frames.
• Adaptability and mental flexibility are also necessary to handle changing information, work conditions, and unexpected challenges.
  

TRAVEL

30% in-state/out-of-state travel may be required to conduct, facilitate, and/or attend meetings and trainings.

EEO STATEMENT

The Oklahoma Department of Education provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, OSDE complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.