Job Title: Middle School Counselor and Student Support Manager

Reports to: Middle School Principal

Primary Role and Purpose:

The counselor develops, implements, and monitors a comprehensive school counseling program which is developmental along with preventative, addressing academic, career, social, and emotional needs of all students. 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Track and monitor attendance, tardies and referrals and serve for the RTI Process.
2. Provide connections with the community for social/emotional support systems.
3. Serve on the Instructional Leadership Team and provide weekly data reports to the Building Principal.

1. Promote personal/social development

• Foster students’ sense of self-esteem, efficacy, and personal dignity to develop positive attitudes as unique and worthy individuals.
• Help students identify and express feelings.
• Help students understand and apply the need for self-control and anger management.
• Be knowledgeable of outside resources and make referrals as appropriate.
• Help students understand the consequences of decisions as a means to get along with peers, parents, and authority figures.
• Assist students in understanding the emotional and physical dangers of abuses (ie. substance, sexual, physical).
• Address issues of stress and anxiety and teach students appropriate strategies for coping with peer pressure and managing life’s events.
• Consult and collaborate effectively with teachers, parent/guardians, administrators, and other educational/community resources regarding students concerns and needs.

1. Support classroom Instruction and Counseling Curriculum

• Work with teachers to select and/or develop a curriculum to promote positive personal/social growth and academic performance for the Advisory period.
• Work with teachers to initiate interventions that maximize learning by teaching study skills, enhancing test-taking skills, and motivating students to learn and achieve.
• Incorporate into the counseling program the life skills necessary to be successful in the twenty-first century.

1. Provide Crisis Intervention

• Involve appropriate school and community professionals to assist students and families facing crisis situations.
• Intervene appropriately and ethically with students who may be suicidal or homicidal.

1. Provide Individual and Group Counseling

• Counsel students on personal and social issues and facilitate development of long-term and short-term goals.
• Make referrals to appropriate professionals, when necessary, and provides follow-up.
• Implement developmentally appropriate and prevention-oriented group activities to meet student needs and school goals.

1. Provide Individual Student Planning

• Assist administrators and teachers in implementing the RTI procedures identifying at-risk students early, identifying appropriate instructional interventions, and monitoring progress.

1. School Responsibilities

• Develop the counseling budget.
• Keep parents informed in newsletters or by mail of test dates, local college events, and financial aid.
• Assist new students and orientate them to school procedures.
• Participate in staff and committee meetings, as assigned.
• Participate in parent/teacher conference days and open houses for prospective and incoming students.
• Support and participate in school activities and fundraising events.
• Supervise, lunch, hallways, and other common areas, as assigned.
• Maintain communication with parents through telephone calls, correspondence, and meetings.
• Maintain student records and protect confidentiality.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Counseling from an Accredited College or University in school counseling or another related counseling field
• Pass the ISBE Examination for School Counseling
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing, using proper grammar and vocabulary
• Provide proof of U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status
• Provide evidence that a criminal record history check has been conducted and clearance given
• Pass state required TB test

Desirable Qualifications:

• Charter School Experience