School Counselor

Description

Position: School Counselor & 504 Coordinator

FTE: 0.54 FTE

Schedule: Tuesday–Thursday, 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., with adjustments as needed for student needs, meetings, professional development, and school operations. 

Salary: $29,400 for a full 10-month school-year appointment (approximately August 18–June 3). For the 2026–27 school year, compensation will be prorated based on the employee’s actual start date, anticipated to be in November.

Position Summary

The School Counselor & 504 Coordinator supports the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral development of students at Laramie Montessori Charter School. The counselor provides direct student services, consultation, coordination of supports, and collaboration with staff, families, and outside providers.

This position also serves as the school's primary coordinator for Section 504 processes, helping ensure eligible students receive appropriate accommodations and support and that required documentation, meetings, implementation, and review processes are completed.

The School Counselor works collaboratively within LMCS's Montessori environment and supports school-wide systems designed to promote student well-being, independence, belonging, and successful participation in the school community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Student Counseling and Social-Emotional Support

• Provide individual and small-group counseling and social-emotional support to students.
• Support students experiencing social, emotional, behavioral, or school-related challenges.
• Help students develop skills related to emotional regulation, problem-solving, relationships, self-advocacy, conflict resolution, and school success.
• Respond to student concerns and provide appropriate short-term support, referral, and follow-up.
• Collaborate with classroom staff to identify appropriate strategies and supports for individual students.
• Support students' successful participation in the Montessori classroom and broader school community.

Behavioral and School-Wide Student Support

• Collaborate with staff regarding student behavior, regulation, and social-emotional needs using Nautilus systems.
• Support implementation of LMCS school-wide behavioral and social-emotional practices.
• Assist staff in identifying proactive strategies, accommodations, environmental supports, and interventions.
• Participate in student re-entry, problem-solving, restorative, or support planning when appropriate.
• Help identify when students may need additional intervention, evaluation, or outside services.

Section 504 Coordination and Management

Serve as LMCS's primary coordinator for Section 504 processes, including:

• Receive and help coordinate referrals for students who may qualify for protection and accommodations under Section 504.
• Gather relevant educational, behavioral, medical, and other information needed by the 504 team.
• Coordinate and schedule initial eligibility, accommodation planning, and review meetings.
• Facilitate or participate in 504 team meetings.
• Maintain accurate and confidential 504 records and documentation.
• Develop and document 504 Plans based on decisions made by the student's 504 team.
• Distribute plans and ensure appropriate staff members understand required accommodations.
• Collaborate with teachers and staff regarding implementation of accommodations.
• Monitor implementation of 504 Plans and address questions or concerns regarding accommodations.
• Coordinate annual reviews and reevaluations within required timelines.
• Communicate with families regarding the 504 process, meetings, accommodations, and student needs.
• Collaborate with administration, teachers, health staff, special education personnel, and outside providers as appropriate.
• Maintain compliance with applicable Section 504 requirements, LMCS procedures, and district expectations.
• Help distinguish when student needs may be appropriately addressed through general education interventions, MTSS, Section 504, or referral for special education evaluation.

MTSS, SIT, and Student Problem-Solving

• Participate actively in LMCS MTSS, SIT, SAT, PLC, or other student-support processes.
• Assist teams in reviewing student strengths, concerns, interventions, and progress.
• Support development of measurable interventions and student support plans.
• Help staff identify appropriate social-emotional, behavioral, attendance, executive-functioning, or environmental supports.
• Assist with progress monitoring and follow-up regarding identified student needs.
• Coordinate services when students receive support from multiple school or outside providers.

Family and Community Collaboration

• Consult with families regarding student social-emotional, behavioral, and school-related needs.
• Build collaborative relationships between families, classroom staff, and student-support personnel.
• Communicate clearly and professionally regarding student supports while maintaining confidentiality.
• Coordinate with outside counselors, therapists, physicians, agencies, and other service providers when appropriate and when proper releases are in place.
• Help families access appropriate school and community resources.

Staff Consultation and Collaboration

• Serve as a resource to teachers and staff regarding student mental health, social-emotional development, behavior, regulation, accommodations, and school functioning.
• Collaborate with classroom leads, special education personnel, intervention staff, administration, and other members of the student-support team.
• Provide guidance regarding strategies that can be implemented within the classroom environment.
• Participate in meetings, professional learning, and school planning related to student well-being and support.

Records, Confidentiality, and Compliance

• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential student records.
• Maintain counseling and student-support documentation consistent with applicable laws, ethical standards, and school policies.
• Maintain organized records of 504 referrals, eligibility determinations, plans, meetings, reviews, and related documentation.
• Protect student and family confidentiality in accordance with FERPA and other applicable requirements.
• Complete required documentation, reports, and records within established timelines.

School Community Responsibilities

• Attend assigned faculty meetings, student-support meetings, trainings, conferences, and school functions.
• Participate in professional development relevant to the position.
• Participate in Montessori training provided by LMCS when appropriate and as scheduling and resources allow.
• Support school-wide programming, events, and initiatives.
• Contribute to a collaborative and respectful staff culture.
• Perform other duties related to the position as assigned by the Director/Principal.

Professional Expectations

The School Counselor & 504 Coordinator is expected to:

• Serve students and families in a competent, trustworthy, respectful, and professional manner.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Collaborate effectively with LMCS staff and administration.
• Follow LMCS policies, applicable Albany County School District policies, state and federal requirements, and professional ethical standards.
• Support the mission and educational philosophy of Laramie Montessori Charter School.
• Approach student support through a strengths-based, collaborative, and student-centered lens.

Requirements

Required Qualifications and Licensure

• Hold and maintain a current, valid Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) Educator License with a Professional Services/Related Services Endorsement as a School Counselor, or otherwise meet applicable Wyoming requirements for serving in the position.
• Meet Wyoming PTSB requirements for School Counselor endorsement, including:
  • Completion of a degree in School Counseling from an accredited institution of higher education; and
  • An Institutional Recommendation verifying completion of an approved School Counseling preparation program.
• Maintain all required Wyoming licensure and certification throughout employment.
• Complete all required background checks, fingerprinting, and other employment requirements established by Wyoming law, LMCS policy, and applicable school requirements.
• Demonstrate knowledge of school-based counseling practices and the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral development of elementary-aged students.
• Demonstrate knowledge of, or willingness to develop expertise in, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, including eligibility, accommodation planning, implementation, documentation, annual review, and procedural requirements.
• Demonstrate the ability to maintain accurate, confidential student records in accordance with FERPA and other applicable state and federal requirements.
• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively with students, families, classroom staff, administrators, special education staff, intervention personnel, and outside service providers.
• Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication, organization, documentation, and case-management skills.
• Ability to work effectively within LMCS's Montessori educational environment and support the school's mission, philosophy, policies, and student-support systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience as a school counselor in an elementary or K–6 school setting.
• Previous experience coordinating or managing Section 504 Plans.
• Experience with MTSS, SIT, SAT, PLC, or similar multidisciplinary student-support processes.
• Experience supporting students with social-emotional, behavioral, executive-functioning, attendance, or mental-health needs.
• Experience collaborating with special education teams and outside mental-health or community providers.
• Familiarity with Montessori philosophy and practices or willingness to participate in Montessori professional development.