Job Title: Counselor, Elementary 

Department: Student and School Services - Counseling

Pay Grade: Teacher's Salary Schedule Plus $550 Counselor Stipend and 5 Additional Days

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports to: School Principal, in collaboration with the Director of Counseling

GENERAL PURPOSE

Responsible for providing support to the instructional process with specific responsibility for implementing the three components of the Missouri Comprehensive School Counseling Program: Personal/Social Development, Academic Development and Career Development.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Assists students in the transition from elementary to middle school for the purpose of ensuring continuity of services.
• Coordinates with teachers, parents, students and in-district or community agencies for the purpose of providing/receiving requested information and/or making recommendations towards meeting the developmental needs of students.
• Counsels students, parents, and guardians and teachers for the purpose of enhancing student success and meeting the immediate needs of students.
• Implements comprehensive school counseling curriculum, assigned programs and/or projects for the purpose of conforming to district and state curriculum and/or instructional objectives.
• Monitors student progress for the purpose of identifying issues and taking appropriate action for increasing student success.
• Reports health and safety issues to administrative personnel and/or appropriate agencies (e.g. fights, suspected child or substance abuse, inappropriate social behaviors, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining students’ personal safety, a positive learning environment and complying with regulatory requirements and established guidelines.
• Responds to a wide variety of inquiries from students, parents, and staff for the purpose of resolving problems, providing information and/or referring to appropriate personnel.
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

• Master's degree in job-related area, required.

• Job related experience with increasing levels of responsibility is required.

Certificates, Licenses and Other Special Requirements

• Missouri K-8 Counseling Certification, required.
• Ability to gain and maintain "Highly Qualified" status as defined by Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, required.
• Must pass a Criminal Background Clearance, the results of which must be satisfactory to the District, required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of basic math, including calculations using fractions, percentages, and/or ratios; read technical information, compose a variety of documents, and/or facilitate group discussions; and analyze situations to define issues and draw conclusions.
• Knowledge based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: appropriate codes, policies, regulations and/or laws; age appropriate activities; lesson plan requirements; stages of child development; and behavioral management strategies.
• Skill to perform multiple, technical tasks with a need to routinely upgrade skills in order to meet changing job conditions.
• Skill based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job, including: applying assessment instruments; operating standard office equipment including using pertinent software applications; and preparing and maintaining accurate records
• Ability to analyze situations to define issues and draw conclusions.
• Ability to schedule a number of activities, meetings, and/or events; gather, collate, and/or classify data; and use job-related equipment.
• Ability to work with others under a wide variety of circumstances; working with data utilizing defined but different processes; and operate equipment using defined methods.
• Ability to work with a significant diversity of individuals and/or groups; work with data of widely varied types and/or purposes; and utilize job-related equipment.
• Ability to analyze issues and create action plans.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to apply critical thinking/problem solving to improve work processes.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality; set priorities; meet deadlines and schedules; work with detailed information; and adapt to changing priorities.
• Ability to set high expectations for self and others; set and monitor progress toward goals; and utilize and offer effective feedback to continuously improve.
• Ability to work as part of a team; adapt to changing priorities; and apply logical processes and analytical skills.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• Work environment is primarily inside, where the noise and temperature levels are moderate.
• The work is sedentary work which requires exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
• Must possess the physical ability to work primarily with fingers, perceive the nature of sounds, make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes, express or exchange ideas by the spoken word, substantial movements (motions) with the hands, wrists, and/or fingers, and discern letters or numbers at a given distance.
• Additionally, the following physical abilities are required: balancing, crouching, grasping, handling, hearing, kneeling, manual dexterity, mental acuity, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, talking, visual acuity, and walking.