Special Education Counselor (26-27)

NORTHWEST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Job Title: Special Education Counselor (0311)

Reports To: Special Education Coordinator/Director

Dept. /School: Special Education

Wage/Hour Status: Exempt                                      

Duty Days: 189

Pay Grade: A27

Date Revised: 09/2024

Primary Purpose:

Plan and provide counseling services to special education students who demonstrate an educational need. Evaluate students and provide therapeutic interventions to eliminate or reduce problems or impairments that interfere with a students’ ability to derive benefit from the educational program. Support crisis prevention, response, and postvention for students and staff. Work to connect students and their families to community resources.

Qualifications:   

• Master’s degree in social work from a Council on Social Work Education (CWSE) accredited program 
• Valid Texas licensure as a master social worker (LMSW) granted by the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners - Alternatives such as Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) may be accepted in place of LMSW if the candidate has requisite training and/or experience to fill both counseling and social work duties 
• Knowledge of the needs of students who have emotional/physical disabilities, including general knowledge of curriculum and instructional adaptations necessary to meet those needs  
• Knowledge of childhood and adolescent development, mental health, emotional disturbances, human behavior, substance use and abuse, counseling strategies and techniques, and cognitive development  
• Individual and group counseling skills 
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary service team 
• Knowledge of prevention and intervention strategies, including behavior management 
• Strong consultation skills for collaborating with teachers, other school staff, parents, and outside agencies/providers
• Practicum fieldwork and/or internship in a school setting (preferred) 
• Practicum fieldwork and/or internship in counseling or social work supervised by a licensed professional 
• Experience working with children or adolescents in a mental health setting (preferred)

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

1. Assume responsibility for the organization and operation of work within the area of supporting students and staff working with special education students following federal program guidelines as directed by the district and as specified in 34 Code of Federal Regulations §300.208 (a)(1)  
2. Support students that have severe educational, emotional, social, and behavioral needs  
3. Conduct individual and group counseling services  
4. Deliver push-in service to promote generalization of social, coping, and problem-solving skill/strategies Collaborate with classroom teachers to deliver class-wide social skills instruction 
5. Coordinate and integrate school and community resources and refer school staff and parents to community resources when appropriate 

Crisis Intervention  

1. Assess seriousness of student threat to self or others and intervene according to the Student Safety Plan and the district’s emergency notification plan  
2. Respond quickly and appropriately in crisis situations  
3. When appropriate, consult with school professionals, parents, and outside agencies in developing crisis intervention plans for students  
4. Directly counsel with students in crisis when necessary and appropriate  
5. Coaching students before and during crisis to promote utilization of healthy coping strategies Coaching staff during crisis to support utilization of de-escalation strategies 
6. Provide appropriate follow-up to students who have been in crisis  
7. Obtain and maintain Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Texas Behavior Support Initiative (TBSI) training and participate as a member of the program Core Team 
8. Participate in after school debriefing as postvention for any program crisis events 
9. Participate in the ARD process to determine appropriate counseling supports, interpretation of assessment data, placement, and goal setting 

Evaluation  

1. Conduct counseling evaluations in a thorough and timely manner  
2. Prepare thorough and understandable evaluation reports and counseling IEPs 
3. Communicate results of evaluation to ARD/IEP Committee members in an effective manner 

Consultation with Professionals  

1. Consult with staff concerning the student’s counseling goals and objectives, and amount and method of delivery of services, including outside agencies when necessary  
2. Collaborate with staff and other program related services providers to develop IEP’s, behavior intervention plans, Student Safety Plans, and support implementation of evidence-based social, emotional, and behavior interventions.
3. Provide consultation to teachers, administrators, parents, and school staff concerning academic, emotional, social, and behavioral needs of student  
4. Collaborate with outside agencies and outside services providers to support the student and family needs 

Professional Growth and Development  

1. Attend and actively contribute to team meetings  
2. Attend Special Education Counseling, and Social Work staff development and professional continuing education trainings to improve skills 
3. Be willing to share new knowledge gained from conferences and one’s area of expertise with staff 

Relations with Administrative and Supervisory Staff  

1. When appropriate, seek guidance from special education administrators and supervisors regarding matters involving their areas of authority, knowledge, or expertise  
2. Accept feedback, suggestions, and directives from special education administrators and supervisors in a cooperative and constructive manner  
3. Attempt to work cooperatively and constructively with the special education staff and home campus staff 
4. In communicating with administrators and supervisors, assert professional opinion in a manner that conveys respect of others’ opinions and professions  

Preparation and Planning 

1. Maintain appropriate, data driven professional records  
2. Use time effectively and perform required responsibilities as scheduled 
3. Submit assessment, forms, and data requested by Special Education in a timely manner 

Standard for Behavior/ Professional Conduct  

1. Follow ethical guidelines of licensing entity when providing counseling services to a variety of students in different environments  
2. Follow the policies and procedures outlined by TEA for the provision of Special Education Counseling services  
3. Proceed in a professional manner when resolving conflicts that may be perceived to occur between TEA policies, local guidelines, and the ethical guidelines for Special Education Counselor  
4. Protect the student’s right of confidentiality and limit information to other professionals working with the student  
5. Follow attendance policy as assigned by supervisor  
6. Follow rules, regulations, and policies of Northwest ISD and follow directives from supervisor  
7. Perform other functions that may be assigned by the Administration and/or supervisor 

SHARS/ MAC / RMTS:

Northwest ISD participates in the School Health and Related Services (SHARS) and MAC programs which allows our district to request Medicaid reimbursement for certain health-related services. The Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee determines SHARS services. 

As a special education staff member, you will be required to train and bill for SHARS reimbursements for students on your caseload. Trainings will be provided for SHARS, for RMTS (Random Moment in Time Studies), where staff are chosen randomly to answer a few questions, and for MAC (Diagnosticians and non-Personal Care Providers only). Training will be provided at the beginning of each school year as well as on an “as needed” basis for new hires.

Supervisory Duties:

N/A

Equipment Used:

Personal computer, printer, fax machine, copier, calculator, and shredder. 

Working Conditions:

Able to maintain emotional control under stress. Position requires frequent standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing, keyboarding, overhead reaching, and pulling. Move small stacks of textbooks, media equipment, desks, and other classroom or adaptive equipment. May be required to lift and position students with physical disabilities. Must have the ability to lift and carry 50 pounds or more; control behavior through physical restraint; and assist non-ambulatory students. Exposure to biological hazards. 

This document describes the general purpose, and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned, alternative methods of performing your duties, or skills that may be required.

Salary : $68,875 - $91,635