Position: Counselor (1.0 FTE)

Building: Emmons Lake Elementary

Reports To: Building Principal/Special Programs Director

Certification: MDE School Counselor License or Endorsement (NT), OR 

School Social Worker License with MDE Approval

Pay Rate: Per the CEA bargaining agreement

Start Date: 24-25 School Year

Position Summary

The Student Support Specialist champions student success and achievement through collaboration with school staff, students, and families. This role ensures that children and their families receive access to basic human services, mental health, and health care services as well as guidance toward essential social and emotional wellness. This position is shared between 2 elementary buildings.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Uses data to develop and inform the social-emotional support program and evaluates the program’s impact on the school’s instructional goals.
• Collaborates on the development and management of the comprehensive social-emotional program with the school administrator or instructional leader.
• Identifies and assesses academic impact resulting from emotional difficulties through systemic analysis of factors in the home, school, and community.
• Participate in planning and implementing prevention programs to address the social and affective needs of students.
• Provides direct services through a variety of evidence-based, best practice methods (e.g. individual and/or small group instruction).
• Participates in 504 and IEP planning meetings.
• Serves as the 504 case manager for students on their caseload.
• Participates in the Student Assistance Team to plan and monitor tiered interventions for students identified at risk.
• Provides crisis intervention including suicide risk assessments when necessary.
• Assists in coordinating and delivering Tier 1 Social-Emotional Learning for all students.
• Facilitates SRSS Assessment and Data Analysis to guide Student Support Decisions
• Conducts staff development sessions on behavioral-emotional-environmental issues affecting student participation in the learning process.
• Serves as a liaison between families and the school to positively promote collaborative processes in educational planning for students by encouraging parent/guardian participation in the school setting.
• Maintains required clinical records and submits appropriate documents for reporting.
• Meet regularly with the school administration to review the necessary services needed to support students and families.
• Identify, recruit, and connect local resources to meet schools’ human service, behavioral health, and medical health needs.
• Coordinate services for students and families as requested by the school staff. Coordinate high-level and complex cases and situations.
• Monitors students' progress to identify issues and take appropriate action for increasing student success.
• Assess, counsel, educate, and advocate for and support referred families.
• Prioritize providing direct services to students through preventive and responsive services, including individual student planning, and use the remaining time in development and management, system support, and accountability.
• Duties as assigned by the supervisor. 

Employment Qualifications

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CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, OR REGISTRATIONS:

• MDE School Counselor License or Endorsement (NT), OR 
• School Social Worker License with MDE Approval (Candidates without existing approval must have completed an approved course of study leading to approval as a School Social Worker.)

OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

REQUIRED:

• Flexible schedule to meet the position requirements. Availability both during the school day and evenings for student/family contact.
• Ability to work in a stressful environment, a positive attitude that can handle high frustration levels.
• Strong collaborative, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills: written, verbal, and nonverbal.
• Ability to work with school, human service, behavioral health, and medical health professionals.
• Ability to learn and understand and work effectively within the dynamics of various agencies and public schools.
• Able to work with a diverse group of people. Possess and demonstrate an understanding of various cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

Physical Demands: 

• Must be able to physically lift students (minimum of 60#)
• Must be able to stoop, bend at the knees, kneel.
• Must be able to withstand exposure to all types of weather.
• Must be able to physically restrain students, when required.
• Must be able to aid students with standing, transferring, and walking.

Work Environment: 

The physical demands 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 essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

Statement of Non-Discrimination:

The Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, (including sexual orientation and transgender identity), disability, age, religion, height, weight, marital or family status, military status, ancestry, genetic information, or any other legally protected category, (collectively, "Protected Classes"), in its programs and activities, including employment opportunities.