School Counselor

Description

The Academy’s School Counselor utilizes leadership, advocacy and collaboration to promote students’ success, provide preventative services and respond to identified student needs by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program that addresses academic, career and personal /Social development for all students. The counselor will consult and collaborate effectively with parents/guardians, teachers, administrators and other educational/community resources regarding students with identified concerns and needs. 

Position-Specific Responsibilities:

• Provide high quality support that aligns with the Academy’s educational vision and mission.
• Conduct individual and group counseling sessions to students with identified concerns and needs.
• Coordinate ongoing systemic activities designed to assist students in establishing personal goals and developing future plans.
• Provide indirect services on behalf of students as a result of the school counselors’ interactions with others including referrals for additional assistance, consultation and collaboration with parents, teachers, other educators and community organizations.
• Use available technology/community resources to enhance school counseling program.
• Implement an effective referral and follow up process
• Teach or co-teach classroom lessons on social-emotional learning, academic success, etc.
• Identify cases involving domestic abuse or other family problems affecting students’ development
• Provide assistance with conflict resolution and crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at school or home.
• Encourage parents/students to seek additional assistance from outside mental health agencies, when necessary.
• Observe and evaluate student’s performance, classroom behavior, social development and physical health.
• Active member of the Academy’s Crisis and MERT teams, PBIS Team, and Lighthouse Team
• Provide professional development to school staff and/or parents on mental health, SEL, etc.
• Assist middle school teachers and students with the completion of the Education Development Plan (EDP)
• Act as the Academy’s 504 Coordinator
• Work with students and their parents/guardians who are identified as truant or chronically absent
• Adhere to preferred practices prescribed by state and national school counselor associations.
• Demonstrate knowledge of state and federal laws pertaining to school counseling.
• Demonstrate personal growth and professional development.

Requirements

• Hold a School Guidance Counselor License issued by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE)
• Hold a Master’s degree in school counseling from an accredited college or university.
• Ability to effectively interact, collaborate, and communicate both orally and in writing with administration, staff, parents and students
• Satisfactory criminal background check and unprofessional conduct check as required by School Safety Legislation.
• Demonstrated high-level of organizational skills and ability to successfully manage and coordinate a number of projects and tasks.
• Ability to write reports requiring meaningful interpretation of data, technical precision and accuracy.
• Ability to work flexibly and cooperatively.