Elementary School Counselor - Lake Ridge

POSITION:Elementary School Counselor

CATEGORY:Certified

LOCATION:Lake Ridge Elementary School

REPORTS TO:School Principal

SUMMARY:Promotes student success, provides preventive services, and responds to identified student needs by implementing a comprehensive developmental school counseling program that addresses academic, career and social/emotional development for all students. To enable students to derive the fullest benefits from school by promoting their sense of self and by working to ameliorate mental health problems that may interfere with their adjustment to school and the education program offered to them.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop a site-based counseling program that aligns with the ASCA model for school counseling programs.
• Provide classroom guidance lessons based on counselor essential content guidance lessons.
• Provide additional classroom guidance lessons specific to building demographics and needs.
• Provide topical counseling groups for those students who need more intervention and who are “group appropriate”.
• Provide short-term individual counseling and make appropriate, timely referrals for continued services in the community.
• Provide consultation to parents regarding school-related student difficulties or crises impacting the school.
• Serve as the site based homeless liaison and collaborate and consult with district McKinney-Vento/Homeless Liaison.
• Assist new and transitioning students in acclimating to the school setting.
• Assist in the development and implementation of building-wide screening and referral processes.
• Support programming across the disciplines and grades to develop the achievement of building-level goals and to create a positive and safe learning environment for students and staff.
• Provide consultation regarding students who are experiencing educational or behavioral difficulties.
• Case manage students with a 504 Accommodation Plan.
• Participate in the evaluation, classification and placement of students that are eligible for school-based services including but not limited to behavior plans, behavior assessments and
  504 Accommodation Plans.
• Serve as a case manager as assigned and maintain appropriate case records.
• Serve as a consultant to parents, school personnel, and community groups on child development and mental health topics.
• Keep the staff and community informed of the schools’ mental health services.
• Observe students in the school setting i.e. classrooms, specials, etc.
• Cooperate with community health and social welfare agency personnel.
• Assume responsibility for his/her own continuing professional growth and development by such efforts as attendance at professional meetings, membership in professional organizations, enrollment in advanced courses, and by reading professional journals and other publications.
• Maintain contact with service and community agencies to obtain and provide relevant information.
• Assist in building-level intervention process, such as but limited to RTI/MTSS/PBIS/.
• Provide consultation, coordination and referral support for the school staff and parents.
• Provide conflict resolution/mediation for school staff, parents and students.
• Provide consultation, coordination and referral support for students associated with federal programs.
• Coordinate with community agencies providing services in the school (i.e. Mentoring Network, Mental Health Provider).
• Regularly meet and collaborate with administration regarding the implementation of the counseling program and review data that supports the counseling program.
• Maintain a roster of current referral resources for parenting education, mental health support, and other appropriate community-based guidance.
• Assist in crisis intervention, management and referral.
• Seek assistance should emergencies arise.
• Assume responsibility for his/her own continuing professional growth and development by such efforts as attendance at professional meetings, membership in professional organizations, enrollment in advanced courses, and by reading professional journals and other publications
• Adhere to all state, federal and district laws and policies pertaining to students’ education and well-being.
• Follow professional guidance…