Professional School Counselor - Valerius Elementary [2025-26 School Year]

JOB TITLE: Professional School Counselor

CLASSIFICATION: Certified

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Building Principal

RECEIVES GUIDANCE FROM: Building Principal, Dean of Students, Director of Teaching & Learning

Please review the UCSD Actions of Excellence to gain an understanding of the expectations for UCSD employees.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION: The Urbandale counselors work cooperatively with parents, teachers, administrators and the Urbandale Community in providing needed social/emotional support and direction to students. Counselors strive to ensure that all students have a positive school experience in which they develop a healthy self-esteem, the skills to interact and communicate productively in a global and technological society, and the maturity to make wise decisions in their daily lives and future planning. It is the counseling goal to encourage and nurture students as life-long learners, to use their unique potential in constructive, responsible and satisfying ways.

QUALIFICATIONS

(Skills, Knowledge, Abilities, Education, Certification/Licensure, Experience, Equipment)

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Ability to communicate within the structure of the organization as well as the community. Clearly articulate goals and expectations to adults and students.
• Ability to organize and think clearly while communicating, organizing, and evaluating.
• Knowledge of district organizational structure and function, as well as laws, rules and regulations pertaining there to.
• Knowledge of Career and College Readiness
• Working knowledge of the ASCA Model
• Equity and growth Mindset
• Ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders.
• Knowledge of the Iowa Teaching Standards
• Knowledge of special education and section 504
• Knowledge of Federal Rights and Privacy Act and other civil rights regulations

Education

• Earned master’s degree in counseling or Board of Educational Examiners approved alternative.

Certification/Licensure

• Required: K-8 Professional School Counselor
• Consideration may be granted to those candidates who may be eligible for a Class G Counseling or conditional licensure

Preferred knowledge, skills, and/or attributes

• Experience supporting elementary students in academics, social, emotional, behavior and mental health is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience and strong understanding of MTSS and ability to design, implement, and monitor interventions.
• Demonstrated ability to support high achieving students.
• Understanding of the PLC framework with a proven ability to collaborate with stakeholders and colleagues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven regular/consistent communication with students, parents, and other stakeholders.
• Data driven decision making skills to ensure access to grade level standards for all students.
• Understanding/application of continuous improvement mindset.
• Demonstrated experience exhibiting the Actions of Excellence within UCSD
• Knowledge and effective implementation of classroom management

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Demonstrates effective implementation of the ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors in a comprehensive school counseling program.
• Implements 'quality' principles and tools to create student-centered learning environments and improve overall quality and meaningfulness of learning opportunities.
• Establish rapport with children through informal contacts.
• Work with individual children in a counseling setting using techniques that apply to the age/development of the child.
• Provide crisis counseling in times of need.
• Provide small group counseling with students using various methods
• Provide developmental classroom guidance to all students focusing on areas such as: acceptance of self, effective communication, coping skills, problem solving skills, understanding feelings, reducing racial/ethnic stereotyping, peer relationships, family relationships, substance abuse and dealing with loss.
• Assist teachers in developing a team approach to planning and implementation college and career readiness and social, emotional, behavior, and mental health supports in the classroom.
• Assist in orientation of new students in the school and its procedures.
• Provide follow-up on individual referrals.
• Initiate and administer 504 plans in collaboration with the Dean of Students.
• Consult with staff members involving case studies/staffing in an effort to bring about a better adjustment for each child.
• Consult with teachers individually concerning the child's progress.
• Consult with teachers to develop management strategies to meet the needs of individual students.
• Maintain a working knowledge of the testing program, supporting State Assessment planning
• Ability to make parental contacts and set up visits to increase parent awareness to the programs available to students.
• Consult with educational specialists such as school psychologists, learning disabilities specialists, AEA specialists, social service and mental health specialists.
• Consult with community referral agencies.
• Consult with parents to provide opportunities for their participation in parent education programs.
• Promote positive attitudes and awareness of the guidance program within the school district/community.
• Conduct assessment of the students’ needs/concerns using various instruments, such as: inventories, surveys of staff and community and sociograms.
• Be an active member in professional organizations.
• Meets professional responsibilities as outlined in the Professional Growth Assessment Plan, Employee Handbook, and Board policy.
• Develops, with supervisor, a plan for professional growth.
• Maintain a reliable attendance record.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Repetitious bending, lifting, and hand movement.
• Ability to work while standing, moving and/or walking.
• Drug, tobacco, and alcohol-free while working.
• Must be able to see and hear within normal limits with or without corrective lenses or hearing aids.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Majority of work is performed in an office or school setting.
• Occasional meetings outside the school day.
• Occasional exposure to body fluids, fumes, noise, and hazardous materials and emergency situations.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Per Board Policies and the UEA Master Contract.
• Performance evaluated per Board Policy and the Professional Growth Assessment Plan.

No student enrolled in the Urbandale Community School District shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in the District's programs on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, religion, marital status (for program), ethnic background, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, age (for employment) or socio-economic background (for program). The policy of the District shall be to provide educational programs and opportunities for students as needed on the basis of individual interests, values, abilities and potential. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district office at 11152 Aurora Ave, Urbandale, IA or call 515.457.5000. The district's Equity Coordinator is Ms. Stephanie Davis, daviss@urbandaleschools.com.