Substitute Counselor

Tacoma Public Schools

Expected

Start Date:

As soon as possible

Salary: Substitute Counselor: $27.20 per hour;
Substitute Counselor - TPS Retiree: $28.667 per hour

Benefits: NONE

This position provides a comprehensive guidance program for students; provides individual and group counseling; consults with teachers, staff, and parents to enhance their effectiveness in helping students successfully deal with behavioral, social, and emotional issues, and achieve academic success.

• Implement the school guidance curriculum; conduct and/or assist in planning and facilitating guidance learning activities in the classroom; consult with and support teachers in facilitating the infusion of guidance activities into their regular education curricula.
• Guide and counsel students individually and in small groups through the development of social and educational plans; provide and participate in orientation activities for students new to school; provide resources and information to assist in career awareness.
• Counsel students individually and in small groups to help them understand, overcome, and resolve academic, behavioral, social, and emotional concerns.
• Counsel families of students experiencing chronic academic, behavioral, social, and emotional problems; suggest referrals to appropriate district resources and/or appropriate community resources.
• Collect, organize, and analyze information about students through records, testing, interviews, and professional sources to appraise their interests, aptitudes, abilities, and personality characteristics for educational planning.
• Consult with teachers, staff, parents, and mental health professionals regarding meeting the development needs of students; provide guidance to teachers and staff in dealing with students with academic, behavioral, social, or emotional problems; assist teachers in identifying students with special needs and special abilities.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with various parent support groups, and governmental and community family service agencies; involve these groups in assessment, interventions, and program procedures; develop a network of social referral resources.
• Participate with teams in establishing and planning respective roles in modifying a student’s behavior; develop individualized student behavior management programs; make recommendations; provide feedback to team members and parents.
• Maintain current knowledge of state and federal legislation related to education, including special education and Section 504; enhance personal knowledge through participation in case conferences, professional growth activities, professional organizations, and meetings.
• Maintain appropriate reports and records on each assigned student; protect each student’s confidentiality; provide specific reports according to procedures or as assigned.

• Perform related guidance duties as assigned.

May be required to deal with angry and distraught students/parents; may be exposed to childhood diseases; may be required to travel to one or more schools.

Education and Experience (Required): Master’s degree in school counseling from an accredited college or university; prior counseling experience is desired or any combination of experience and training (education) which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and ability required to perform the work.

Valid Washington State ESA Counselor Certificate.

• Knowledge of childhood social, emotional, physical, and academic development.
• Knowledge of Section 504, IDEA, and other state and federal regulations regarding the identification and placement of students in special education.
• Knowledge of community support resources and family service agencies.
• Ability to obtain, clarify, and exchange information.
• Ability to assess guidance curriculum needs and implement the guidance curriculum.
• Ability to lead and facilitate individual and group activities based upon brief psycho-educational models.
• Ability to act as a liaison with community family service agencies and other support resources.
• Ability to…