Interim Elementary School Counselor

Job Description: School Counselor

Department: School Principal

Last Revised: 2026

Job Summary

The School Counselor is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive school counseling program that supports the academic, career, and social-emotional development of all students. The School Counselor provides direct and indirect services to students through individual counseling, small-group counseling, classroom instruction, consultation, and collaboration with families, teachers, administrators, and community agencies. The School Counselor promotes a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment that fosters student achievement, personal growth, positive relationships, and college and career readiness in accordance with Tennessee Department of Education standards and the Tennessee Comprehensive School Counseling Model.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

1. Develops, implements, manages, and evaluates a comprehensive school counseling program aligned with the Tennessee Comprehensive Model, state requirements, and district goals.
2. Provides individual and small-group counseling to address students' academic, social-emotional, behavior, and developmental needs.
3. Delivers developmentally appropriate classroom counseling lessons focused on academic success, social-emotional development, positive relationships, decision-making, and college and career readiness.
4. Assists students in developing academic goals, effective study habits, organizational skills, and strategies for improving attendance, engagement, and academic achievement.
5. Provides academic, career, and postsecondary planning services, including educational transitions, course selection, graduation planning, and exploration of college, career, technical education, and workforce opportunities, as appropriate to the assigned grade levels.
6. Collaborates with teachers, administrators, parents, and other school personnel to identify and address barriers to student learning and promote academic and personal success.
7. Participates in school-based student support teams, including Response to Instruction and Intervention (RTI2), attendance, behavioral support, and other multidisciplinary teams, as appropriate.
8. Uses student achievement, attendance, behavior, and other relevant data to identify student needs, establish counseling program goals, implement interventions, and evaluate program effectiveness.
9. Provides short-term counseling, crisis intervention, and appropriate referrals for students experiencing mental health crises, in accordance with applicable laws, district policies, and established procedures.
10. Collaborates with school administrators and designated personnel in responding to student safety concerns, including bullying, harassment, threats, suspected abuse or neglect, and students experiencing mental health crises, in accordance with applicable laws, district policies, and established procedures.
11. Identifies students who may require additional academic, behavioral, social-emotional, or mental health support and coordinates appropriate school-based or community referrals.
12. Promotes positive school climate, student belonging, respectful relationships, conflict resolution, and practices that support student well-being and success.
13. Maintains accurate and confidential student counseling records and documentation in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, professional ethical standards, and district policies.
14. Communicates effectively with parents and guardians regarding student progress, concerns, available resources, and appropriate interventions while maintaining required confidentiality.
15. Collaborates with special education personnel, Section 504 teams, English learner personnel, and other student support providers to assist in meeting the diverse needs of students.
16. Supports schoolwide initiatives related to student attendance, chronic absenteeism, academic achievement, positive behavior, student engagement, and college and career readiness.
17. Assists students and families with transitions between grade levels, schools, and postsecondary opportunities, as appropriate.
18. Participates in professional learning communities, faculty meetings, school improvement planning, professional development, and district initiatives related to student success.
19. Maintains professional competence through continuing education, professional learning, and adherence to applicable school counseling ethical standards.
20. Establishes and maintains positive working relationships with students, families, staff, community agencies, and other stakeholders.
21. Performs such other duties as may reasonably be prescribed by the principal and consistent with the professional role of the School Counselor.
22. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Education and Experience

• A master's degree in school counseling and appropriate Tennessee Department of Education licensure/endorsement.

Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

Required Licenses or Certifications

• Valid Tennessee educator license with School Counselor endorsement (487), appropriate for the assigned position.
• Must meet all applicable Tennessee Department of Education requirements for school counselor licensure and continued professional practice.

Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

Key Competencies

Specific capacities and abilities may be required of an individual in order to learn or perform adequately a task or job duty.

Knowledge of

• Tennessee Comprehensive School Counseling Model and applicable state school counseling standards and requirements.
• Principles, theories, methods, and techniques of school counseling and student development.
• Academic, career, and social-emotional development of children and adolescents.
• Counseling interventions, crisis response, student safety, and referral procedures.
• Federal and state laws governing student privacy, confidentiality, child protection, and educational services.
• School improvement practices, student achievement data, attendance interventions, and multi-tiered systems of support.
• Postsecondary education, career pathways, and graduation requirements, as applicable to assigned grade levels.

Skill in

• Planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive school counseling programs.
• Providing individual counseling, small-group counseling, and classroom counseling instruction.
• Building positive relationships with students from diverse backgrounds and with varying academic, developmental, and social-emotional needs.
• Identifying student needs and implementing appropriate interventions and referrals.
• Analyzing student data to establish goals, monitor outcomes, and improve counseling services.
• Crisis intervention, conflict resolution, consultation, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Oral and written communication, documentation, and professional collaboration.

Ability to

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community partners.
• Maintain student confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment within applicable legal and ethical requirements.
• Respond calmly, appropriately, and professionally to sensitive situations and student crises.
• Understand and implement verbal and written instructions, rules, regulations, and district procedures.
• Manage multiple responsibilities and prioritize student needs in a busy school environment.
• Demonstrate cultural responsiveness and support equitable access to educational opportunities for all students.
• Utilize technology, student information systems, and appropriate computer programs to support counseling services and maintain records.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

The physical demands and working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the listed functions.

• The essential functions of this position must be performed on-site at the assigned work location. This role is not designated as a remote or hybrid position.

• Physical presence at work is an essential function of this position.

• This job may require lifting of objects that exceed 25 lbs. Other physical demands that may be required are as follows:

• Pushing and/or pulling
• Climbing
• Stooping and/or kneeling
• Reaching
• Talking
• Hearing
• Seeing

• Adaptability to performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure; accepting responsibility for the direction, control, or planning of an activity; dealing with students; generalizing, evaluations, or decisions based on sensory or judgmental criteria.
• Ability to understand instructions and underlying principles; reason and make judgments; understand meanings of words and the ideas associated with them; perform arithmetic operations quickly and accurately; move the hands easily and manipulate small objects with the fingers; make visual comparisons and discriminations and see slight differences in shapes and shadings of figures; perceive or recognize similarities or differences in colors or shades or other values of the same color.
• Low to medium degree of discomfort due to exposure to temperature, fumes, dirt, dust, noise, and cleaning chemicals.
• This role works in a dynamic and engaging classroom environment designed to foster student learning, growth, and development. The classroom will be organized to support a range of instructional activities, with appropriate resources and materials available for hands-on learning.
• This position manages a diverse group of students, guiding them through the academic curriculum while maintaining a positive and structured classroom atmosphere. The role involves adapting instructional methods to accommodate various learning styles and abilities, ensuring that each student has the opportunity to succeed. The teacher will maintain effective classroom management practices to create a respectful and collaborative environment that promotes student engagement and achievement.
• The position also requires effective communication with parents and colleagues to support the holistic development of students and ensure alignment with school goals. Collaboration with other staff members and participation in school-wide initiatives will be essential to ensure a cohesive educational experience for all students.
• Regular assessment of student progress and the implementation of individualized support plans will be key components of the teacher's responsibilities. The teacher will be responsible for creating a safe, inclusive, and nurturing learning space that encourages exploration and academic curiosity.

Terms Of Employment

Salary and work year to be established by the Board.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so assigned.