Description

Disclaimer : This position is a 3 year maximum grant funded position and will end on or before June 30, 2024

Job Summary :

School counselors are uniquely qualified to address the academic, personal / social, and career development needs of all students by designing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive school counseling program that promotes and enhances student success.

Roles and Responsibilities :

School Leadership

• Support the school's character development program and ensure it builds and reinforces positive self-identity and necessary character strengths
• Provide leadership to all staff and students in supporting a positive, structured, and achievement- oriented classroom culture
• Model the school's core values in daily interactions with staff, students, and families
• Collaborate with fellow members of the school leadership team to implement and sustain programs for students and families that recognize and celebrate achievement and continuous growth
• Participate in and deliver professional development and training on issues related to school counseling
• Collaborate with fellow school counselor or culture coach to enforce a system to accurately monitor student attendance;

create Scholar Attendance Improvement Plans (SAIPs) for students with difficulty attending school; collaborate with school principals regarding attendance information in preparation of enforcement of truancy charges

Maintain compliance with the Pennsylvania Department of Education's mandate of the Career Education and Work Standards, including documenting and reporting all CEW evidence and ensuring each scholar has 100% completion of the required number of artifacts / evidence.

Academic Skill Building and Collaboration

• Develop and lead class guidance lessons, small groups, and individual counseling sessions related to academic skill building (including, but not limited to : emotional regulation, organization, study skills, etc.)
• Participate as a member of intervention teams, such as SAP and MTSS to support student success
• Collaborate with staff and parents to help students overcome academic barriers
• Support teachers, administrators and other school personnel, as needed, to develop, implement and monitor progress of behavior interventions for students and groups of students
• Facilitate the creation of student's 504 Service Agreements

Career Awareness / Preparedness

• Prepare and teach classroom lessons related to career awareness
• Collaborate across the counseling department to improve school-wide career awareness initiatives
• Facilitate career awareness activities, including, but not limited to, coordination of student visits to colleges / universities / technical schools, arrangement of college / career awareness activities for students and families, and arrangement financial aid information sharing activities for students and families

Student Support

• Develop and lead class guidance lessons, small groups, and individual counseling sessions related to social / emotional needs (including, but not limited to : social skills, coping, friendships, conflict resolution, changing families, self-awareness, self-esteem, etc.)
• Conduct risk assessments, monitor student safety, and coordinate additional support services for students / families as needed
• Enforce the school's bully prevention program by supporting classroom lessons and individual student needs as needed
• Observe student behaviors and assist in the development of positive behavior support plans and behavioral intervention strategies in the classroom and school environment
• Serve as the building 504 Service Agreement Coordinator; facilitate 504 Service Agreement meetings and coordinate the development of a plans to determine aids, services, and accommodations required by students
• Act as building Homeless Liaison : monitor and support students who are in transition or displaced, report required data to Propel's Homeless Liaison
• Participate in team and parent meetings to discuss social / emotional / behavioral barriers to student success and develop intervention strategies to support achievement
• Support the transition of students (e.g. : entering kindergarten, new students, transitioning from elementary to middle school to high school to post-high school)
• Coordinate service learning and work-study opportunities
• Facilitate post-secondary planning with students to include administration of career interest surveys, review of student transcripts, development of career / vocational plans, and assistance to students in the completion of college entrance, financial aid and scholarship applications

Systems Support

• Lead behavior MTSS grade level meetings in collaboration with instructional leadership and support the implementation of research-based behavioral responses
• Work in collaboration with support staff and leadership team to support a positive school culture and develop and maintain a system for collecting and tracking behavior MTSS data
• Prepare and present formal reports to support PBIS and school culture efforts; submit formal reports as required for continued participation in the Pennsylvania Positive Behavior Support Network
• Accurately monitor and analyze daily discipline records to proactively address school's needs and to evaluate the effectiveness of behavior management strategies
• Support teachers in establishing effective classroom management systems and developing students' positive social behaviors
• Assist teachers in establishing effective classroom management systems and developing students' positive social behaviors
• Attend and participate in staff and other school activities and meetings as appropriate
• Liaise with the leadership team in carrying out organizational goals as necessary
• Maintain records and deadlines in a timely fashion
• Be highly present and visible during school hours relentlessly ensuring a positive school environment
• Coordinate Mentoring Program : enroll students, assign mentors, supervise mentoring, plan and supervise large group events throughout the year, etc.
• Participate with leadership team and building staff to plan, problem solve, and support one another on an ongoing basis
• Participate in building activities to support School-Based Mental Health Partnership and serve on the Student Assistance Team, participate in monthly meetings, and bridge communication and supports to school staff
• Collaborate with specialists on school-wide initiatives such as internet safety, drug and alcohol prevention curriculums, bully prevention initiatives, etc.

Family and Community Engagement

• Communicate regularly with families to develop a supportive home-school relationship
• Coordinate and participate in parent meetings to support student behavior and achievement
• Provide referrals to community support agencies as needed
• Develop and coordinate collaborative partnerships with outside organizations that support student needs
• Inform parents of counseling updates and initiatives through newsletters, website, email, etc.
• Actively engage with the school community by attending annual events
• Articulate Propel's Promising Principles to the greater community

Qualifications & Skills :

Required :

• A valid Educational Specialist I Elementary School Counselor K-6 (1836) or Educational Specialist I Elementary & Secondary School Counselor PK-12 (1839)*
• High level of personal organization and planning
• Ability to develop rigorous lesson plans and assessments
• Strong communication and relationship building skills
• Willingness to participate in on-going Professional Development
• A commitment to the Promising Principles of Propel.
• Strong interpersonal skills, cultural competency, high degree of emotional intelligence and self-awareness with the ability to reflect and adapt to diverse environments.
• Skilled in the use of Google Suite and willingness to experiment and work with new technologies.

Physical Demands :

• Must be able to walk around the classroom at least 75% of the time while engaging with scholars.
• The person in this position constantly operates a computer and other technology in the classroom to support instruction.
• The person in this position frequently communicates with various internal and external stakeholders regarding curriculum, instruction and assessment.

Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations

When deemed age and / or developmentally appropriate, assist students in daily personal tasks (i.e.-tying shoes, assisting with coats, escorting to busses, and etc.)

Disclaimer :

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee.

Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Organizational Overview

Propel Schools is the largest network of public charter schools in Allegheny County consisting of 13 schools and approximately 4,000 scholars.

Our mission is to provide high-quality schools to underserved communities. Each of our schools provide a rigorous academic environment and small class sizes where educators focus on providing each scholar with support and individualized attention.

With one of the top starting teacher salaries in Allegheny County, a customizable benefits package and extraordinary career and professional development opportunities, Propel Schools is one of the area's premier education organizations.

Last updated : 2024-04-27