What are the responsibilities and job description for the School Counselor position at St. Mary's County Public Schools?
Release Date: April 6, 2026 Application Deadline: April 20, 2026
Requisition: 11937
Current benefited staff of SMCPS who submit a timely application and meet the minimum qualifications for the position shall be granted an interview and shall be considered to fill the vacancy prior to external applicants being considered. Questions regarding your application and/or candidacy should be directed to the Department of Human Resources.
Position: School Counselor
Location: Esperanza Middle School
Salary: The salary for this EXEMPT position will be based on EASMC Teacher Career Ladder for ten-month employees.
Effective: August 2026
APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
Qualified applicants, including current employees of St. Mary's County Public Schools, must complete a TalentEd online application. In addition to the online application, any supporting documentation (unofficial transcript and/or copy of the certification, where applicable) must be scanned and uploaded to the TalentEd application. The online application and any support documentation must clearly demonstrate that the applicant meets the minimum qualifications, including information about the applicant’s background, experience, and professional qualifications. Failure to submit all required documentation will result in your application being considered incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be forwarded to the selection committee for review. All online applications must be completed no later than April 20, 2026. Following a screening of credentials, interviews will be scheduled. Please contact the Department of Human Resources with questions. (301-475-5511, ext. 32187)
NATURE OF WORK:
This is a professional position to provide students with a school counseling program that promotes academic, career, and social/emotional development and academic achievement outcomes.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Ability to professionally relate to and collaborate with co-workers, students, and community members
- Ability to understand and maintain confidentiality
- Ability to use technology effectively to complete tasks
- Ability to report to work daily and on time
- Ability to organize, supervise, coordinate and establish priorities of tasks to be completed
- Ability to work independently in the absence of detailed instructions and to follow complex oral and/or written instructions
- Ability to communicate orally or in writing, courteously and tactfully, with staff, students, parents, and the community in a timely manner
- Possess excellent time management skills and the ability to take initiative and make decisions within assigned responsibility in a challenging, fast-paced professional environment and be flexible in work responsibilities and hours
- Possess knowledge of the programs, policies, and procedures of the St. Mary’s County Public Schools
- Possess an in-depth knowledge of the ASCA Comprehensive School Counselor program
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Delivers a developmental school counseling program (K-12) to students to include: individual and group counseling, and classroom guidance
- Provides career, social/emotional, and academic development to students in accordance with ASCA professional standards
- Consults with staff and parents
- Connects students with services provided through the local school district and community agencies, and remains aware of state laws and local district policies related to students with special needs, including limits to confidentiality and notification to authorities as appropriate
- Facilitates short-term groups to address students’ academic achievement, postsecondary and career exploration, and social/emotional well-being
- Informs parents/guardians and school administration when a student poses a serious and foreseeable risk of harm to self or others
- Collaborates as needed to provide optimum services with other school and community professionals with legitimate educational interests (e.g., school nurse, school psychologist, school social worker, speech-language pathologist), following all local, state, and federal laws
- Collaborates with all relevant stakeholders, including students, school faculty/staff, and parents/guardians, when students need assistance, including when early warning signs of student distress are identified
- Provides a list of outside agencies and resources to students and parents/ guardians when students need or request additional support
- Assists students, through individual and small group sessions, to understand and accept themselves and others, resolve conflicts, overcome crisis situations, etc.
- Coordinates and implements student career development in conjunction with the school counseling program
- Provides culturally responsive counseling to students in a brief context
- Provides career awareness, exploration, and postsecondary planning and decision-making to support students’ postsecondary options, including but not limited to college/university, career and technical school, military, or workforce
- Consults with school staff as a resource to change the disruptive behavior of students
- Helps with such issues as child abuse, suicidal tendencies, and substance abuse
- Take part in professional development activities
- Cooperates with students and staff
- Maintains open lines of communication with students, staff, and parents
- Performs other related and non-related job duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required:
- Master’s degree in School Counseling/School Guidance and Counseling and completion of an approved pathway outlined by MSDE
- Three (3) semester credits in Special Education
TERM OF EMPLOYMENT:
Full-time, ten-month position.
SALARY GRADE RANGE: The salary for this EXEMPT position will be based on EASMC Teacher Career Ladder for ten-month employees.
BARGAINING UNIT ELIGIBILITY: EASMC
Updated 10.2024, 04.2025