Guidance Counselor

Job Summary:  Reporting directly to the middle school principal, the Middle School Counselor supports students in grades 5–8 through critical academic, personal, and developmental transitions. This role drives early career exploration, introduces high school and post-secondary pathways, and collaborates with families, teachers, and community partners to promote academic success and personal growth.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain open accessibility to provide individual guidance and counseling services to all students.
• Advocate dedicatedly for students and their families while taking all necessary precautions to ensure student safety and well-being.
• Assists students with development of their Individualized Learning Plan (ILP)
• Facilitate outreach efforts to provide services to students, parents/guardians and staff. 
• Helps students map out academic, career, and personal goals through regular reviews with educators and families.
• Assists with mediating peer conflicts and helps students develop healthy communication skills.
• Schedule students in appropriate courses.
• Consult with students, parents and staff to assist students with academic/career planning. 
• Obtains, organizes, files and displays guidance materials; catalog and prepare for use by students; maintain displays and bulletin boards.
• Member of School MTSS Team.
• Guides process for purchase of additional intervention materials
• Promotes the use of Tier I classroom interventions - researched-based interventions in Tier II—and Tier III—Intensive Level. 
• Plans and delivers ongoing staff development for teachers and paraprofessionals with respect to RTI.
• Implements  interventions for individual students or small groups:
• Provides a clear definition of the student problem(s), 
• Selects appropriate evidence-based intervention strategies or programs, 
• Uses data to determine if the intervention is effective
• Measures success of the intervention to ensure that it is implemented with integrity. 
• Connect students, parents/guardians and staff with specialized referral agencies. 
• Understand, evaluate, and interpret academic performance data. 
• Interpret information about students to the student, their parents/guardians, and staff. 
• Implement individual and group counseling methods that are appropriate.
• Conduct career and educational planning activities. 
• Participate in in-service activities promoted by the district.
• Submit required reports promptly and accurately.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Experience:
• Five years’ experience in a Middle School setting is preferred.
• Student Counseling & Advocacy.
• Intervention & Support.
• Career and occupational resources, trends, and opportunities.
• Modern office practices, procedures, and equipment.
• Basic research methods.
• Student learning styles.
• RTI theory and practice.
• Education:
• Master's degree required.
• Certification & Licensing:
• Must meet the current RI Department of Education requirements and or certifications.

Please Note: We encourage internal movements that increase innovation, and encourage employees to stay and grow within our District. Please note that all assignments are subject to change based on the needs of the District. Additionally, school year positions, both certified and non-certified, posted during the school year are temporary unless otherwise indicated to allow for internal movement at the close of the respective school year. This position is dependent on Student enrollment.

Westerly Public School District is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.