Substitute Counselor

Tacoma Public Schools

Expected

Start Date:

As soon as possible

Hours per day:

Salary Level: Salary Available at Salary Schedules - Substitute Hourly Rates

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.

• Implements the school guidance curriculum; conducts and/or assists in planning and facilitating guidance learning activities in the classroom; consults with and supports teachers in facilitating the infusion of guidance activities into their regular education curricula.
• Guides and counsels students individually and in small groups through the development of social and educational plans; provides and participates in orientation activities for students new to school; provides resources and information to assist in career awareness.
• Counsels students individually and in small groups to help them understand, overcome, and resolve academic, behavioral, social, and emotional concerns.
• Counsels families of students experiencing chronic academic, behavioral, social, and emotional problems; suggests referrals to appropriate district resources and/or appropriate community resources.
• Collects, organizes, and analyzes information about students through records, testing, interviews, and professional sources to appraise their interests, aptitudes, abilities, and personality characteristics for educational planning.
• Consults with teachers, staff, parents, and mental health professionals regarding meeting the development needs of students; provides guidance to teachers and staff in dealing with students with academic, behavioral, social, or emotional problems; assists teachers in identifying students with special needs and special abilities.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with various parent support groups, and governmental and community family service agencies; involves these groups in assessment, interventions, and program procedures; develops a network of social referral resources.
• Participates with teams in establishing and planning respective roles in modifying a student’s behavior; develops individualized student behavior management programs; makes recommendations; provides feedback to team members and parents.
• Maintains current knowledge of state and federal legislation related to education, including special education and Section 504; enhances personal knowledge through participation in case conferences, professional growth activities, professional organizations, and meetings.
• Maintains appropriate reports and records on each assigned student; protects each student’s confidentiality; provides specific reports according to procedures or as assigned.

• Performs 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.

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.

* Note additional requirement:
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…