Substitute School Counselor

2026-27 - Substitute School Counselor

North Thurston Public Schools District-wide – Lacey, Washington. Open in Google Maps.

• Job
• Final date to receive applications:
  Posted until filled
• Posted:
  May 12, 2026 7:00 AM (UTC)
• Starting Date:
  To Be Determined

Employment starts: 2026-27 School Year.

Valid Washington State Educational Staff Associate (ESA) Certificate Required

Substitute Counselor Pay Rates

• Full Day: $200.00/day
• Half Day: $110.00/day
• Long Term Full Day: $220.00/day
• Long Term Half Day: $115.00/day

Position Summary

The school counselor works with the principal in carrying out the school’s guidance and counseling program, providing proactive leadership to engage stakeholders and support students’ academic, career, personal, mental health, and social development. The counselor may be assigned at the elementary, middle, or high school level. The district serves a diverse community; more than 50% of students come from culturally diverse backgrounds.

• Implement the district’s counseling and intervention program, serve as a resource for staff, administrators, and parents to create a positive school climate and support students’ self-concept.
• Consult with district administration and building staff about curriculum development to meet student needs.
• Participate in or lead development of positive behavior support systems and intervention strategies.
• At the elementary level, provide early identification and intervention of students’ academic and personal/social needs, liaise with outside agencies for child safety and welfare, and attend IEP meetings when needed.
• At the middle school level, provide a comprehensive developmental counseling program to support adolescents, help students explore interests, integrate learning, and foster identity development.
• At the high school level, assist students with transition to adulthood, evaluate strengths and career choices, and provide decision‑making skills; support students facing high‑risk behaviors.
• Provide school orientation, grade‑level transition planning, and student schedule management.
• Determine student placement, guide course selection, and coordinate identification of students with educational handicaps.
• Give academic, vocational, and personal counseling to students.
• Help students improve study skills, test‑taking strategies, organization, decision‑making, and coping skills; address substance abuse, violence, or other at‑risk behaviors.
• Offer individual and small‑group counseling for peer mediation and crisis intervention.
• Collaborate with the cross‑district counseling team to implement ACA standards and a comprehensive counseling plan.
• Coordinate referrals of families to special in‑district and out‑of‑district services; assist staff training on high‑risk youth and interactions.
• Make classroom and community presentations on study skills, goal setting, career awareness, substance abuse education, parenting, school‑to‑work, and multicultural/diversity awareness.
• Maintain adequate student records and school data for program coordination.
• Follow Board policies and stay updated on changes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Experience working with culturally diverse families and communities, or demonstrated commitment to community engagement.
• Master’s degree in school counseling and required state certification as an Educational Staff Associate in counseling work in Washington State.
• Ability to apply a variety of evidence‑based personal and family counseling models.
• Leadership skills to plan, organize, and facilitate staff meetings, planning processes, and community projects.
• Strong assessment, analytical, and diagnostic skills.
• Positive relationships with students, staff, parents, and the community.
• Human relations skills with sensitivity to others’ needs.
• Understanding of unique characteristics of middle and high school students.
• Clear oral and written communication.
• Teamwork skills to solve student learning and behavior problems.
• High ethical standards.
• Ability to provide direct counseling to groups of identified students.
• Appropriate intervention in crisis situations.
• Maintain open, stable, interpersonal…