Counselor Eligibility

Position: Counselor Eligibility Application 2026-2027
Job Description

This is a PFT union represented position. The salary currently ranges from $55,771 to $101,967, depending on level of education and years of experience. The salary you receive in your offer letter will be a quote. In order to receive the salary quoted, your educational institution(s) and previous employer(s) must verify your credentials and experience. This is non-negotiable.

There are two (2) different counselor classifications - School Counselor and Behavioral Health Counselor. Should you meet minimum requirements, you will be screened by The Office of Prevention & Intervention to determine eligibility for both classifications. Please note, you MUST pass the screen with Prevention & Intervention to be hired into a School Counselor or Behavioral Health Counselor role.

This application is for external hires interested in joining the School District as a counselor, and current employees who are interested in reclassifying to become a counselor. If you are a current School Counselor who wants to be screened for the Behavioral Health Counselor classification, please submit your request here:
Google Form

Job Summary

Provides counseling services that foster the academic, personal, social, and career development of all students. Provides individual/group counseling and guidance for students and implements broad based programs that deal with decision making, conflict resolution, self esteem, coping strategies, and other issues. Serves as both the primary agent for addressing issues that impact students at risk of failing to attain their full academic potential and the school-based resource for dealing with child abuse/neglect and crisis prevention/intervention.

Acts as a liaison between the school and various community/governmental agencies that may provide services to students and their families and participates on the school's multidisciplinary committee.

Essential Functions for all School Counselors

• Provides general school counseling and guidance programs/services including individual and group counseling and guidance;
• Implements broad based programs dealing with decision-making, conflict resolution, self esteem, coping strategies, and other issues;
• Plans and provides classroom guidance focusing on social and emotional issues, family and/or peer relationships, and decision-making;
• Provides formal and informal counseling services to students and their parents concerning issues that are affecting or may affect the students' school adjustment;
• Serves as the primary agent for addressing issues that impact students at risk of failing to attain their full academic potential;
• Serves as the school-based resource for dealing with child abuse/neglect and crisis prevention/intervention;
• Participates in team interventions with other staff to support students;
• Participates on the school's multidisciplinary committee that includes other staff members;
• Collaborates with parents, teachers, and other staff members in the planning and implementation of a comprehensive educational program for students;
• Makes referrals to outside agencies as needed and provides ongoing follow-up services to students and their families;
• Gathers and disseminates information on critical issues such as student substance abuse, child abuse/neglect, suicide prevention/intervention, preteen/teen pregnancy, and homelessness;
• Keeps abreast of current techniques and trends in school counseling and guidance for elementary, middle, and/or high school students;
• Prepares and maintains student counseling records;
• Prepares reports on students, correspondence, and statistical summaries;
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with representatives of various community/governmental agencies to facilitate the availability and accessibility of services to meet the needs of students and their families.

For Behavioral Health Counselors (in addition to the above)

• Provides behavioral health support and fosters a safe and successful learning environment for students;
• Participates in interagency team meetings to address student's behavioral health needs;
• Provides direct and indirect counseling services to students and their families to address social, emotional, and behavioral health needs;
• Serves as the primary agent for addressing transition of students to and from psychiatric placement and participates in discharge planning meetings;
• Serves as primary liaison and collaborates with school-based behavioral health providers;
• Observes students who have behavioral concerns to inform behavior and safety planning and develops behavior, safety and crisis plans for students;
• Establishes a continuum-of-service resources guide for students and families to access behavioral health and other community-based supports that address social and emotional needs;
  Provides support to students and families to access behavioral health resources.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

For both School Counselor and Behavioral Health Counselors

• Master's degree from an accredited college or…