Anticipated School Counselor

Requirements

Master’s degree in school counseling and current ISBE Professional Educator License (PEL) with a School Counseling Endorsement.

Principal.

Principal.

As a vital member of the school’s educational leadership team, professional school counselors provide comprehensive developmental supports within the academic, personal/social, and career domains to ensure that today's students become the productive, well‑adjusted adults of tomorrow. School counselors are uniquely trained professional educators with a mental‑health perspective who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today’s diverse student population. They provide proactive leadership to engage all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help all students achieve success in school.

The framework is aligned to the American School Counselor Association National Model for School Counseling Programs and outlines a comprehensive counseling program that delivers services equitably to all students in the building.

The school counselor will conduct an annual needs assessment and data review to identify critical areas of student need. The school counselor will then create targeted program goals aligned to the school‑wide goals, mission, and vision. This ensures that school counseling services address critical areas of demonstrated need, resulting in improved academic achievement.

In order to reach all students, the school counselor will design, conduct, and co‑teach learning activities in classroom, large group, and/or school‑wide settings, based on the academic, career, postsecondary and social/emotional needs of the students so as to facilitate the infusion of school counseling as an integral component of the total education curricula. Activities may include classroom guidance, high‑school, college, career fairs, tours, grade‑level or school‑wide team‑building activities.

In collaboration with students, staff, and families, the school counselor will create an academic plan that ultimately results in the successful obtainment of a diploma and postsecondary option(s) of choice. Activities may include facilitation of completion of the Individual Learning Plan in Naviance; transition activities (i.e., orientations, high‑school application process); events to inform families of test results and their implications for educational planning;

advisement to ensure students are on track to the next grade level or phase in life.

In collaboration with students, staff, and families, the school counselor will provide responsive services to address students’ barriers to academic achievement. Activities may include facilitation of small groups; structured, short‑term, goal‑oriented individual counseling sessions; participation in building‑level student assistance teams; facilitation of conferences with students, teachers, and families; consultation with teachers, families, and external partners regarding the developmental needs of students;

school‑wide support during crisis or emergency situations; participation in IEP/504 Plan teams. Please note that school counselors do NOT provide therapeutic treatment of a mental, emotional, or bodily disorder.

Indirect services are provided on behalf of students as a result of the school counselor’s interactions with others. Activities may include referral of students/families to district and community resources; sharing strategies that support student achievement with parents, teachers, other educators, and community organizations; serving as a student advocate to promote student development within the three domains; serving as the school’s resident expert on student development;

reaching out to other experts and stakeholders to obtain information on students’ needs; teaming/partnering/serving on committees and advisory boards; creating…