School Counselor - SY

Danbury Public Schools is a diverse community located in the western part of Connecticut, serving more than 12,500 students across the city. We are committed to cultivating equity and excellence for all of our students, closing opportunity gaps, and preparing them for post‑secondary success.

The K‑12 school counselor provides academic, career, college access, affordability and admission, and social‑emotional competencies to every student annually by designing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive evidence‑based school counseling program across the district. The counselor plans and advises for individual students, delivers classroom lessons, and offers group and individual counseling to promote student success and mental health.

• Plan, deliver, and evaluate counseling interventions to close achievement, opportunity, and attainment gaps.
• Provide academic success skills such as organization, time management, and study skills to all students.
• Facilitate career development skills including assessments, career clusters, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, resume and cover letter creation, and job shadowing techniques.
• Teach college access, affordability, and admission skills, with special attention to first‑generation students, students with disabilities, and those needing financial resources.
• Offer social‑emotional skills such as anti‑violence, anti‑bullying, stress management, cultural diversity, and mood improvement strategies; ensure each student has an updated ACCESS & Accomplishments Plan.
• Maintain ethical practice by using decision‑making models and keeping stakeholders informed of the latest ACA, ASCA, and NACAC ethics codes.
• Coordinate orientation for new and transferring students and families.
• Apply developmental, learning, counseling, and education theories to practice.
• Use Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success standards (ASCA) throughout the school counseling program.
• Demonstrate understanding of cultural, social, and environmental influences on student success.
• Design and implement instruction aligned to Mindsets and Behaviors in classroom, group, and individual settings.
• Provide appraisal and short‑term counseling in classroom, group, and individual settings.

• Collaborate with teachers, school social workers, and school psychologists to optimize student success.
• Partner with multiple school systems as equity consultants on the master schedule, supporting access to challenging coursework, academic support services, and co‑curricular activities.
• Consult with teachers on culturally responsive interventions for struggling students.
• Participate in PPT/504 meetings, team meetings, and restorative justice settings.
• Refer students to appropriate school resources and counsel educators on student achievement.

• Maintain professional memberships in state and national counseling organizations (ASCA/CSCA, ACA, NACAC/NEACAC).
• Partner with families and community agencies/businesses to support student achievement and success.
• Refer students to external community resources as needed.

• Lead as a system change agent for equity by developing and implementing a comprehensive counseling program.
• Establish and maintain a School Counseling Program Advisory Council.
• Assist in the annual Equity Audit of school programs, policies, and practices.
• Use disaggregated data to plan interventions and inform best practices.
• Employ technology effectively throughout the counseling program.
• Annually update the school counselor/administrator agreement.
• Analyze disaggregated data to guide program decisions.
• Apply legal, policy, research, and trend knowledge to uphold professional standards.
• Create counseling program vision, mission, and belief statements aligned with school and district goals.
• Identify gaps in achievement, attendance, discipline, opportunity, and resources.
• Set annual student outcome goals based on data and implement action plans.
• Assess and report program results to the school community.
• Use time in accordance with national recommendations…