School Counselor - Soldiers Memorial Middle School

A Tennessee public school counselor for grades 5–8 is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing a comprehensive school counseling program . Operating under the framework of the Tennessee Comprehensive School Counseling Model , this certified position addresses the distinct academic, social-emotional, and career readiness developmental needs of late elementary and middle school students.

Job Summary The grades 5–8 school counselor works collaboratively with students, families, faculty, and administrators to foster a safe, supportive learning environment. The role emphasizes providing preventive and developmental services, coordinating critical transitions (elementary to middle, and middle to high school), and managing academic placement and behavioral data. Essential Roles and Responsibilities

• Direct Student Counseling : Conduct short-term, goal-oriented individual and small-group counseling sessions focusing on emotional regulation, peer relations, and conflict resolution.
• Core Curriculum Delivery : Design and facilitate preventative classroom guidance lessons on topics such as digital safety, anti-bullying strategies, and social-emotional development.
• Academic Planning : Coordinate student schedules, monitor transcripts, and resolve immediate academic issues that interrupt classroom learning.
• Career Readiness : Guide students through early career exploration platforms, explicitly assisting them in developing Collegefortn.org profiles.
• Grade-Level Transitions : Create specific orientation and bridging activities for incoming 5th graders and rising 9th graders transitioning to high school.
• Crisis Response : Actively participate in the school and district crisis teams to handle emergency mental health interventions and urgent safety situations.
• Multidisciplinary Collaboration : Consult regularly with school psychologists, social workers, and behavior analysts to build tiered intervention plans.
• Data Management : Input, track, and analyze student interaction metrics and behavioral trends using state student information systems like ASPEN or district databases.
• Community Referrals : Help families navigate and secure external mental health assessments, serving as a liaison to local health agencies.
  
  

Education - Master's degree in school counseling from an approved educator preparation program.

Licensure - Valid Tennessee Department of Education Professional School Counselor License

Endorsement - Valid School Counselor PreK-12 endorsement

IdentoGo - Official state fingerprinting, TBI, and FBI criminal background checks

Professional & Physical Expectations

• Time Commitment : Generally contractually bound to a 10-month (typically 200 days) school calendar, matching standard school operation hours.
• Mobility : Routine pacing through classrooms, hallways, and cafeteria settings to observe, consult, and evaluate student dynamics.
• Communication : High-level communication fluency to relay standardized testing interpretations and emotional metrics clearly to parents and stakeholders.