Position: School Guidance Counselor (8th Grade) Watertown Middle School (SY 24-25)

Position Type: Full time

Department: Guidance

Location: Watertown Middle School

Reports to: Principal/Director of Student Services

Affiliation: WEA Unit A

Apply on the WPS website: https://watertownps.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx

Summary:

Watertown Public Schools seeks an outstanding school counseling professional who is passionate about advocating for students and supporting their success in the academic, personal/social, and career domains. The school counselor will work under the supervision of the building Principal and Director of Student Services.

The Guidance Counselor, through the process of individual and group counseling, helps students to understand their aptitudes, capabilities, and limitations in making personal decisions, educational plans and occupational choices. The Guidance Counselor is also responsible for developing, organizing, directing, supervising, and evaluating guidance and related programs.

Primary Functions:

• Assist students across the domains of academic achievement, personal/social development, and career/college readiness
• Consult and collaborate with teachers, staff, and families to support students and meet their needs in the school setting
• Deliver the school counseling curriculum in a classroom setting
• Promote an understanding and appreciation of diverse populations and cultures
• Provide individual and small group counseling in a variety of settings
• Monitor and advise students and their families as to progress toward promotion/graduation
• Prepare students for their post-secondary activities

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide individual planning sessions to students to support their progress towards academic and post-secondary goals as well as social/emotional development
• Support the development of students’ coping strategies to improve academic success and outcomes
• Assist with the transition from middle to high school and high school to post-secondary opportunities
• Consult and collaborate with other school personnel in gathering and sharing information regarding students, and in establishing plans for interventions and supports, as needed
• Assist families in addressing school-related challenges and issues
• Refer students and families to special programs, resources, and outside agencies, as needed
• Design, deliver and revise school counseling curriculum using diverse strategies and settings throughout the school year
• Coordinate programs such as career and college fairs, evening programming for students and families, scholarship opportunities, fields trips, and other extensions of the counseling curriculum
• Articulate the school counseling program to students, families, staff, and community members
• Participate in student support team meetings, special education meetings, and crisis intervention
• Use data to inform counseling and interventions
• Advocate for equal access to programs and services for all students
• Assist with standardized testing (MCAS, PSAT, SAT, etc.) as a proctor for test coordinator
• Manage schedules for students on caseload
• Enroll and orient new students on an as-needed basis
• Adhere to ethical standards of state and national school counselor associations
• Demonstrate knowledge of state and federal laws pertaining to school counseling
• Demonstrate knowledge and experience with individual counseling
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Principal or Director of Student Services

Qualifications (Required):

• MA DESE School Guidance Counselor License at the appropriate level.
• Master's Degree in counseling, education or related field.

Qualifications (Preferred):

• Knowledge of a second language, Spanish and Portuguese preferred
• Experience working with students or in an educational setting

Equal Opportunity Employer

Watertown Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Grade levels:

• 8th grade

Ability to Relocate:

• Watertown, MA 02472: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person