Counselor Full-time Standard

SCHOOL COUNSELOR

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

Under direction of the School Principal or Counseling Coordinator, the counselor will implement a comprehensive equitable school counseling program by creating services and activities to support the State of Nevada's School Counseling Model. The program, comprehensive in scope, preventative in design and developmental in nature focuses on what all students PK-16 should know, understand and be able to do in three domain areas: academic, career and personal/social. School counseling programs help all students achieve academic and behavioral success in school and develop and understanding of the connection between school and the world of work. This includes the value of a job across the lifespan. The counselor performs counseling activities, which includes helping all students develop specific academic and career development skills, establishing the school counseling program, supporting social and emotional development, working with the community, and networking with all professionals at the school and within the counseling community. School Counselors shall devote not less than 80 percent of time providing direct or indirect services to pupils.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Helps all students develop skills in the areas of academic-personal-social growth, educational planning, and career and vocational development.
• Establishes the school counseling program based upon the American School Counseling Association (ACSA) model and develops activities and resources to implement and evaluate the program.
• Provides direct counseling services.
• Assists with restorative practices
• Educates and advocates for trauma sensitive and informed schools.
• Analyzes data concerning the academic, career, social and emotional development of pupils to identify issues, needs and challenges of pupils.
• Address needs relating to the academic, career, social and emotional development of all pupils.
  • Assists students with investigating career opportunities.
  • Counselors support all stakeholders to help all students become career and college ready.
  • Assists students with acquiring skills that maximize their personal and social development.
  • Assist students with developing skills that support academic achievement and lifelong learning.
• Advocate for equitable access to a rigorous education for all pupils and work to remove systemic barriers to such access.
• Deliver school counseling lessons through large-group, classroom, small-group and individual settings to promote pupil success.
• Provide to individual pupils services relating to academic planning and goal setting.
• Provide peer facilitation, crisis counseling and short-term counseling to pupils in individual and small-group settings.
• Provide referrals to a pupil and the parent or legal guardian of a pupil, as needed, for additional support services provided by the school or within the community.
• Participate on committees within the school and the school district, as appropriate.
• Participate in planning for and implementing a response to a crisis at the school including participation in the school improvement process and supports staff progress towards educational goals.
• Works with the community to assist students and families in need of services outside the school's resources.
• Networks with all professionals at school and within the counseling community to monitor and assess needs of students at the site.
• Maintains confidentiality, facilitates and /or participates in conferences with teachers, students, and parents.
• Consults with and serves as a resource for the community.
• Maintains student records and uses Infinite Campus (IC) appropriately.
• Complies with school and district policies and state and federal laws.
• Attends trainings and ongoing professional development.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Experience: Any combination of education/experience that could likely provide the required knowledge in qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills would be:

Education: Master's Degree or a more advanced degree in school counseling or related field from a regionally accredited college

Licenses/Certificates: Possession of, or the ability to obtain a valid Nevada educator license with a school counselor endorsement.

OTHER JOB REQUIREMENTS

None.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

None.

COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES

Knowledge of/ Skill in/Ability to:

• Child development.
• Behavior and characteristics of students.
• Interpersonal relations.
• Effective instructional practices.
• National Model Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success
• Federal education school law.
• National school counseling model and state school counseling program standards.
• Legal and ethical standards of school counseling.
• Career development models.
• Application of local resources.
• Use of technology in education.
• Signs and symptoms of substance abuse.
• Listening and communicating.
• Implementing and supporting collaborative decision making.
• Working with culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with teachers, administrators, and other staff members.
• Working with school age children and parents.
• Collecting and analyzing data and drawing logical conclusions.
• Effective instructional methodology in the classroom.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS

The work environment and exposures 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 the essential functions.

The environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meetings and training rooms, libraries, residences, or commercial vehicles, e.g., use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of fire regulations and traffic signals. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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.

The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying of light items, such as paper, books, or small parts; or driving an automobile. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

THIS JOB SPECIFICATION SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED TO IMPLY THAT THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE THE EXCLUSIVE STANDARDS OF THE POSITION. INCUMBENTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW ANY OTHER INSTRUCTIONS, AND TO PERFORM ANY OTHER RELATED DUTIES AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THEIR SUPERVISOR.

The Washoe County School District is committed to providing a safe and respectful learning and working environment for all students, staff, and visitors. The District prohibits bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, and/or discrimination based on an individual's actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veterans or military status, marital status, disability or the presence of any sensory, physical or mental handicap in any of its educational programs/activities and employment, or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The District prohibits discrimination against any youth group listed in Title 36, as a patriotic society, (i.e. Boy Scouts of America) from access to public school facilities use.