School Counselor

Title: School Counselor

Location: CICS Longwood- 1309 W 95th St, Chicago, IL 60643

Reports To: Principal/Assistant Principal

Salary: Starting at $55,000, commensurate with experience

Employee Type: Regular Full Time

Start Date: August 2026

Distinctive Schools creates diverse, joyful, welcoming communities rooted in social justice and rigorous learning. We support all learners to be engaged, curious, and to achieve their full potential. Our students become confident advocates, creative problem-solvers, and collaborative leaders.

Position Overview

The School Counselor will serve as a vital team member of the school's educational leadership team, to provide comprehensive, developmental support within the academic, personal/social, arts and career domains to ensure that students become the productive, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow. The School Counselor will work with students, administrators, teachers, families, community organizations, and other stakeholders to promote student success and respond to identified student needs.

The School Counselor will implement a comprehensive school counseling program that addresses college, career, and personal development for all students. In addition, the School Counselor will be responsible for advising and/or planning with students and families as it relates to college and career goals.

School counselors are uniquely trained professional educators with a mental health perspective who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today's diverse student population. As such, the School Counselor will also team with the Student Support Team to proactively implement programs and services to help all students achieve success in school.

Responsibilities

Development and Management of a Comprehensive School Counseling Program

• Develop and maintain a written plan for effective delivery of the school counseling program based on the Developmental Counseling Model for Illinois Schools, current school achievement plan, and current individual school data with a focus on arts integration
• Communicate goals of the comprehensive school counseling program to administrators, teachers, students, and families
• Maintain current and appropriate counseling/college/career/arts resources for students and families
• Be accountable for the implementation and management of the school counseling program
• Use data to develop comprehensive programs that meet student needs
• Assist teachers, families, and other stakeholders in interpreting and understanding student data
• Adhere to laws, policies, procedures, and ethical standards of the school counseling profession
• Delivery of a Comprehensive School Counseling Program
• Implement the components of the comprehensive school-approved counseling program in coordination with AIM’s CREATIVE framework and Be You expectations
• Integrate Distinctive School’s SEL curriculum, assessment and plan into whole class, individual and small group lessons
• Implement developmentally appropriate and prevention-oriented activities to meet student needs and school goals
  
  

Individual Student Planning

• Develop individual college, career, arts, and personal goals and plans for caseload of students
• Collaborate and assist students and families with high school, scholarship, college entrance, and financial aid applications
  
  

Preventive and Responsive Services

• In collaboration with the Student Support Team, provide counseling, in consult and collaboration, with families, teachers, administrators, and other educational/community resources to caseload students with identified concerns and needs
• Implement an effective referral and follow-up process for caseload students as needed
• Monitor caseload students’ academic performance, behavior, and attendance and facilitate appropriate interventions
• Accurately and appropriately use assessment procedures for determining and structuring necessary individual and group counseling services for Tiers I, II, and III
  
  

Accountability

• Measure and analyze data results of the comprehensive school counseling program activities, and share results as appropriate with relevant stakeholders to help guide program direction and emphasis
  
  

Additional Responsibilities

• Host family meetings to communicate college going processes, financial aid application, scholarship information, etc.
• Support the middle school transition to high school via retention and HS decision making strategies
• Design staff professional development in coordination with the Student Support Team focused on trauma-informed instruction, SEL, and restorative practices
• Other duties as assigned
  
  

Requirements (minimum)

Education: Master’s Degree in School Counseling

Qualifications

• Valid Professional Educator License or equivalent in state of employment (IL or MI)
• Valid School Counselor’s License or equivalent
• Candidate must be able to demonstrate the academic progress of students under their leadership and articulate the methods used to achieve those results
• Technology demands:
• Proficient in cloud based software solutions - GoogleSuite
• Travel to campuses and professional trainings as needed
  

Physical demands

• Majority of work is performed in a general office environment. Position requires availability for extended hours plus non-traditional hours required to perform job duties. Also requires participation and attendance at organization-sponsored events and meetings
• Generally, the job requires 30% sitting, 50% walking, and 20% standing
  
  

Benefits

• 25 paid holidays, upfront sick leave, and an accrual-based personal time bank
• 12 weeks family paid leave
• Comprehensive Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• 403b match
• Fully match up to 3%
• 50% match up to 5%
• Professional development including tuition reimbursement
• Gym and wellness discounts
• And more
  

Description Disclaimer: Since no job description can detail all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a job, duties and responsibilities that may be inherent in a job, reasonably required for its performance, or required due to the changing nature of the job shall also be considered part of the jobholder's responsibility.

EEO: Distinctive Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other personal characteristic protected by applicable law.

Distinctive Schools is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Distinctive Schools will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact talent@distinctiveschools.org or call 773.828.4191