Professional School Counselor Specialist

Job Summary: Provide professional development and technical assistance to school personnel to meet district needs regarding effective programs and compliance with state and federal laws. Provide professional development and technical assistance to support Professional School Counseling Contracted Services, ESC Title IV, Part A Basic Services, Title IV, Mental Health and Behavior, and Effective Advising Framework. This is done within the framework of the philosophy and objectives of the ESC as established by Board policy, consistent with the statutes and standards of the Texas Education Agency, and in accordance with the regulations and procedures.

Qualifications:

Education/Training:
Bachelor's Degree or required license
Prefer a Master's Degree in a related field

Experience:
At least 5 years of related experience.

Knowledge / Skills:
Ability to build, develop, and inspire teams
Task execution (result-oriented)
Build and cultivate relationships
Excellent communication, Financial knowledge

Ability to plan and lead workshops and/or special projects

Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively

Knowledge of current laws, rules, and regulations

Ability to interpret and implement current policies and procedures

Demonstrate proficiency in the use of computers and standard applications

Effective interpersonal skills

Strong organizational skills

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:
Must be able to maintain emotional control under stress
Work with frequent interruptions; irregular hours
Frequent regional travel; occasional statewide travel

Major Responsibilities and Duties:
1. Provide leadership in the implementation of regional functions, grants, statewide initiatives, Social-Emotional Learning, Mental health statewide networks and projects, and Commissioner’s Priorities in the area of College and Career Readiness.
2. Plan and facilitate regional professional development for Region 7 customers based on requests and needs assessment data from district/regional data sources, including local education school personnel serving students in state and federal programs.
3. Provide professional development, technical assistance, and leadership to Region 7 customers in understanding and maintaining compliance with current federal and state laws, rules, and regulations related to the roles and responsibilities of school counselors.
4. Provide professional development and technical assistance, which may include At-Risk populations, Graduation Plans, Dropout Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention, Bullying and Violence Prevention, Discipline, Counseling and Guidance, Social-Emotional Learning Supports, the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Program, and state and federal accountability.
5. Analyze state and regional data to collaboratively develop the Center for State and Federal Programs Continuous Improvement Plan.
6. Demonstrate effective leadership in collaboration with LEAs, ESC 7 staff, other ESCs, and TEA through program assistance and activities designed to promote improved student performance and services.
7. Provide professional development and technical assistance for College and Career Readiness, Graduation Plans, Master Schedules, Transcript Review, and PEIMS coding for Special Programs.
8. Serve as a counselor resource with opportunities to network for discussions related to best practices, cutting-edge research-based programs, and the latest updates from the Texas Education Agency regarding the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs.
9. Provide professional development and technical assistance in the assigned areas including academic learning, the Effective Advising Framework, the Title IV, Part A Mental Health and Behavior, and the ESC Title IV, Part A Basic Services.
10. Support the continuous improvement of ESC 7 through activities such as collection and analysis of needs assessment, customer satisfaction, training and technical assistance, and district data for us in planning services and supporting the development of ESC staff.
11. Through effective leadership and collaborative networking provide support to LEA personnel to support student performance related to student progress.
12. Assist the coordinator with grant documentation and compliance requirements for ESC 7, as requested.
13. Monitor assigned budgets, complete amendments, and approve expenditures necessary to support the assigned programs.
14. Participate in ESC staff meetings and department meetings.
15. Participate in formal and informal professional development activities based on needs assessment data, job description, performance evaluation, and job goals.
16. Provide Psychological First-Aid technical assistance during a crisis situation.
17. Provide support with improving student outcomes and achieving accountability targets.
18. In collaboration with other ESCs, will research, develop, and produce professional development materials, tools, resources, and training-of-trainers guides that will be distributed to all 20 ESCs.
• Regular and reliable attendance.
• Other duties as assigned.

The above statements are intended to describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not intended to represent an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

Funding
All Region 7 employees are at-will employees. Because your assignment is funded by grants, federal funding, and/or special funding, your continued employment is expressly conditioned on the availability of funding for the position. If funding becomes unavailable due to loss of state/federal funding or due to financial constraints of Region 7 ESC, your position is subject to immediate termination.

Salary : $80,732 - $111,482