POSITION SUMMARY
The professional counselor is a student advocate, leader, collaborator, and a system change agent. Counselors support students in the areas of academic achievement, career, and social / emotional development ensuring today’s students become productive, well-adjusted adults.
School Counselors uphold the ethical and professional standards of ASCA and other applicable professional counseling associations and promote the development of the school counseling program.
Performs related work as required. Works with general supervision.
QUALIFICATIONS :
Education & Experience :
Appropriate Wisconsin Department of Instruction Certification
Master’s Degree
Key Skills and Abilities :
Communicates and cooperates with colleagues, students, administrators, families and members of the community to maintain a positive working relationship.
Able to perform duties with awareness of all District requirements and School Board policies.
Commit to high standards, ethical principles, social justice, honesty, fairness, and treating others with dignity and respect.
Evaluate mental health, cognitive and academic functioning, adaptive skills, and the impact of environmental variables when assessing the whole child.
Promote equitable education and positively influence outcomes that directly affect the lives of children, youth, families, and school communities.
Identify challenging objectives and evaluate the effectiveness of individual student progress and the effectiveness of organizational processes and professional practices.
Able to effectively use a variety of technologies, including but not limited to, word processing, presentation software, student / grading database, email systems, internet, instructional technology tools and ability to adapt to changes in technology.
Ability to read, analyze, interpret and apply student data.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :
Communication and Collaboration
Establishes rapport with parents, teachers, administrators, and other relevant individuals.
Builds effective collaborative relationships with students, staff, administration, families and community members and agencies.
Collaborates to help students establish goals, develop and use planning skills.
Implements an effective referral process with administrators, teachers, parents, and other school personnel.
Supports and collaborates in other school programs.
Assessment
Along with stakeholders, uses evaluation data from the counseling program to make decisions regarding revisions to the school counseling program when necessary.
Uses data to advocate for systemic change in response to the changing needs of the school and community, creating an optimal learning environment.
Develops appropriate interventions for students as needed and monitors student progress in multiple ways.
Program Planning & Management
Plans, organizes and delivers the school counseling program.
Assists in the implementation of school screenings, programs, interventions, and progress monitoring as part of the student services team.
Serves as a resource in positive universal behavior practices.
Program Delivery
Develops and / or utilizes materials and instructional strategies to meet student needs and school goals and teaches the counseling curriculum units effectively.
Encourages staff involvement to ensure the effective implementation of the counseling curriculum.
Counsels individual students and groups of students with identified needs / concerns.
Promotes equity, access, and academic success for every student.
Organizes and promotes educational and career success, which may include student choice of classes and special programs.
Utilizes effective interventions by applying culturally responsive, trauma-sensitive, and evidence-based interventions that support student success within a multilevel system of support.
Serves as a member of school safety team or response crisis team, to provide support and assistance to students and families as they navigate crisis and emergency situations.
Professionalism
Adheres to ASCA Ethical Standards; modeling ethical behavior and professional growth.
Demonstrates strong interpersonal relationships with students, staff, and parents.
Engages in local leadership opportunities, advocates on behalf of students, with students, and for the school counseling profession.