Job Description

General Statement of Duties


This position is responsible for the development, management and delivery of a comprehensive elementary school counseling program that addresses the academic achievement, social/emotional development, and career development needs of all students in alignment with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model, ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success and the Standards for School Counseling Programs in Virginia Public Schools. In addition, the counselor will participate in training and technical assistance with home school social work and school psychologist staff. Must have a Master's Degree in School Counseling.


Essential Duties


Help students navigate critical and emergency situations. This includes recognizing and responding to student mental and/or behavioral health crisis; completing suicide risk screenings; reporting suspected child abuse and neglect; participating in the threat assessment process; safety planning; offering short-term intervention, referral and follow up; and Tier I, II, and III crisis counseling supports in the aftermath of a school-community emergency/crisis. Work collaboratively with school-based mental health providers in assigned schools.


Facilitate individual counseling in the form of planned, goal-focused, short-term sessions to assist students in overcoming issues impeding success or expressing difficulties dealing with developmental tasks.


Provide ongoing small group counseling to students with similar developmental or situational challenges with the goal of achieving healthy personal adjustment and coping with the stress of changing/complex environments.


Provide school counseling curriculum through regular scheduled instruction in the classroom to promote the knowledge, attitudes and skills students need to achieve academic success, college and career readiness and social/emotional development, including lessons from a CASEL approved targeted curriculum, and lessons in wellness and movement.


Designs and implements positive program practices responsive to the identified behavioral and mental health concerns of individual children or groups of children in consultation and coordination with teachers (be at NBLC and in referring schools), administrative coordinator, education specialists, health specialist, exceptional education specialists, and early interventionists as needed.


Implements the goals, policies (including the Discipline Policy) and activities designed to meet the mental health objectives.


Provide brief, on-demand conflict resolution and mediation with small groups of identified students.


Provide developmentally appropriate activities and initiatives to promote post-secondary readiness for all students, to include college and career awareness and exploration.


Consult with professionals inside and outside of the school building to assist in identifying and addressing barriers to student achievement. Make appropriate referrals to community services as needed.


Gather and analyze relevant data to guide annual program planning, inform practice, and evaluate program impact on student achievement, behavior, and attendance.


Solicits parental information, observation, and concerns about their child's mental health.


Collaborate with school stakeholders to design and implement support services or programs that promote student achievement, attendance, and behavior and advocate for equity and access for all students.


Analyzing students' abilities, interests, skills and achievement to help them make decisions and develop immediate and long-range educational, career and personal goals.


Participates on Intervention Team, Child Find, Eligibility, Positive Behavior Interventions & Support (school climate), and VCSIP teams.


Provide parent/guardian workshops and trainings as needed.


Provide faculty/staff workshops and trainings as needed.


Participate in division, state, and national professional development activities as appropriate and incorporate learning into professional practice.


Performs other duties as required


Must possess thorough knowledge of appropriate counseling interventions in a school setting, with special emphasis on the study of interpersonal relationships, facilitative skills, brief counseling, group dynamics and group learning activities, family systems, multi-cultural and cross-cultural helping approaches, critical incident intervention techniques, threat assessment protocol, and educational and community sources for special school populations.


Must have a thorough knowledge of the curriculum, instruction, social-emotional, counseling/guidance theory and practice. Counseling skills must include problem identification/analysis skills and basic therapy resolution. Communication skills, both oral and written, must be highly developed to meet the diverse needs of the clientele, professional staff, and other community agencies. Must be able to organize and carry out student activity programs; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

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