Description

Incarnate Word High School, an all-girls Catholic high school, a sponsored Ministry of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, seeks a Full-Time Counselor for the 2024-2025 school year. Candidate must have current licensure. The school seeks to maintain a fully and authentically Catholic environment.

Mission Statement: Incarnate Word High School prepares confident young women dedicated to a community of faith, compassion, integrity, service, stewardship, and academic excellence.

REPORTS TO:

This position reports to the Senior Director of Counseling Services Incarnate Word High School (IWHS).

JOB SUMMARY: A counselor in the IWHS Counseling department works collaboratively with the Senior Director of Counseling Services to support the mission of the school by providing a comprehensive, developmental counseling program that, through the model of pastoral care, participates with the whole school, to support the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word (CCVI) mission and the evangelizing mission of the Church. As an integral member of the counseling department, this counselor will provide, through a Christ-centered, solution-focused approach, the developmental guidance necessary to help facilitate intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual growth of our students, so they can more effectively handle their lives and their interactions with others. FLSA: Exempt.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

General:

• Supports and upholds the philosophy of Catholic education and the mission of the school
• Acts as a witness to Gospel values by modeling the teachings of the Catholic Church
• Maintains good relationships and works cooperatively with many people, such as principals, Clergy and religious, archdiocesan officials, department heads, supervisors, fellow teachers, teacher aides, students, parents, secretaries, and custodians, in planning activities and policies relating to the school
• Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Director of Counseling Services
• Continues to acquire professional knowledge and learn of current developments in the educational field by attending seminars, conferences, workshops, or professional meetings
• Encourages parental involvement in students' education and ensures effective communication with students and parents
• Supports and adheres to the policies and procedures of the school, the CCVI, Archdiocese of San Antonio, including the Religious Standards for Catholic School Employees

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Job-Specific

• Knowledge and understanding of the basic teachings of the Catholic Church
• Knowledge of child development, learning, mental processes, and emotional/behavioral functioning
• Knowledge and skill in application of counseling theories and appropriate theoretical approaches/techniques for use in a Catholic school
• Ability to communicate effectively with students and parents in both written and verbal form
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others in the school community
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth
• Ability to organize and coordinate work and to handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Skill in job appropriate technology
• Skill in critical thinking and planning
• Skill in handling crisis situations and critical incidents 

SPECIALIZED RESPONSIBILITIES, SKILLS AND DUTIES:

• Guidance and Formation

o With the Director of Counseling, plans and coordinates the delivery of classroom lessons to implement guidance curriculum effectively to promote the spiritual, academic, career, educational, personal, social, and emotional in accordance with the student’s developmental needs; collaborates to promote continuous improvement of this program.

• Counseling

o With the Director of Counseling, serves as a mental health advocate for students and assesses their counseling needs

o With the Director of Counseling, serves as an advocate for students in the areas of academic advising, personal graduation planning, and college guidance

o Uses effective techniques within the framework of accepted theories deemed most appropriate for the Catholic school counseling setting, (solution-focused brief therapy) to provide individual and/or small-group preventive/responsive or crisis counseling

o Uses student data (grades, test results, other information) to assist in academic, personal/social, and career counseling

o Provides counseling and guidance to assist parents in their role as primary educators, to ensure the mental health and wellness of their children

o Provides counseling and guidance to assist students and parents in the college application process and the parent’s role in supporting the students through all aspects of college search and career exploration.

• Consultation

o Assists parents and school personnel in understanding and responding to developmental needs of students to promote healthy social, emotional, behavioral, academic, physical and spiritual development.

o Demonstrates knowledge of relevant and available community resources (including those available to students for the college guidance and application process) and consults with the Director of Counseling regarding appropriate referrals for students/parents.

o With the Director of Counseling, coordinates and presents instructional and informational programs or sessions to groups of parents, teachers and/or staff on topics such as school safety, bullying prevention/kindness promotion, child abuse reporting, suicide awareness and prevention, drug awareness, adolescent behavior/brain development, and Catholic parenting, as well as topics and programs for all aspects of college guidance, the college search process, CollegeBoard, and scholarship opportunities.

o With the Director of Counseling, interprets relevant data and assessment information in efforts to foster an understanding of student development, individual behavior, the student’s environment, and the needs of individual students and specific groups of students. Interpret standardized test results and other available student data to promote sound decision making with students and others involved in student development.

• Coordination

o Assist Director of Counseling, faculty and administration in the identification of students in need of additional support

o Utilizes standardized tests results and other assessment data to guide students, staff, and parents in individual goal setting and planning.

o Works with the Director of Counseling to coordinate PSAT/SAT and AP exams; includes collaborative work with department chairs and Associate principal to ensure all aspects of standardized testing are communicated appropriately and completed successfully

o With the Director of Counseling, works to coordinate referrals to community resources as appropriate and utilizes a professional process when referring students and parents to special programs and services.

o Effectively works with the Naviance system or other college search and data system, to assist students with individual college guidance and planning, and coordinates with college representatives for campus visits, presentations, resources, etc. for the students and parents.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS;

• Licensure: (preferred but not required) Professional licensure from one of the four licensing boards under the Texas Behavioral Health Council
• Technology: Proficient in word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and internet use for educational purposes and multimedia presentations
• Experience: A minimum of three years’ high school counseling experience is required; at least one year counseling in a Catholic school is preferred

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, Master's degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or related mental health field
• Licensure: (preferred but not required) Professional licensure from one of the four licensing boards under the Texas Behavioral Health Council
• Licensure: (preferred but not required) Professional licensure from one of the four licensing boards under the Texas Behavioral Health Council

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Required to work some nights and weekends for events
• Required to manage high to moderate levels of stress
• Required to work in standard classroom, office, and school conditions

MENTAL/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Required to lift or carry supplies, textbooks, furniture, and equipment
• Required to maintain composure and avoid inappropriate displays of anger
• Required to sit, stand, bend, stoop, reach, grab, pull, hear, see, and speak on a daily basis
• Required to perform repetitive physical tasks such as computer keyboarding, writing, and reading
• Required to monitor students in a variety of locations including those with noise, activity, and inclement conditions