Director of School Counseling

REPORTS TO:
Associate Principal for Curriculum/Principal

SUPERVISES:
Licensed and Non-Licensed Staff in Counseling Department

Assigned Activity Sponsors

POSITION OBJECTIVE:
The Director of School Counseling provides strategic leadership and oversight for the comprehensive school counseling program, ensuring its alignment with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model and the Illinois Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE) Framework. This role is responsible for the overall vision, management, and evaluation of a data-driven program that supports students across all grade levels in their academic, career, and social-emotional development, fostering successful secondary school and post-secondary transitions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with General Administrative Endorsement preferred but not required

• Masters Degree in School Counseling or related field

• Teacher Evaluator designation

• Teaching or administrative experience in content area

• Experience working successfully in a diverse, multicultural environment

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and evaluate school counseling staff

• Strong team-building skills and the ability to foster a collaborative departmental culture

• Ability to read, interpret, and explain materials from Board policy, administrative procedures, professional journals, and legal documents, including Illinois School Code

• Ability to problem solve, make independent decisions, and effectuate change

• Good verbal and written communication skills

• Demonstrated leadership ability to work with high school students and adults

• Experience developing and implementing departmental goals, policies, and procedures

• Deep understanding of adolescent development, mental health, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed practices

• Expertise in academic advising, college/career planning, and postsecondary readiness

• Ability to design and oversee a comprehensive school counseling program aligned with ASCA National Model

• Skilled in conflict resolution, mediation, and restorative practices

• Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data to
  1) inform programs and interventions and
  2) produce high-quality presentations and documents

• Experience using student outcome data to improve academic, social-emotional, and college/career supports

• Familiarity with school information systems and counseling data management platforms

• Ability to deal with difficult situations courteously, tactfully, and with discretion and good judgment

• Ability to interact effectively with a variety of audiences and individuals

• Current knowledge of best practices in business, operations, and human resources

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Serve as a member of building leadership team

• Provide high-quality leadership to coordinate and improve the student academic and support services provided to students and families.

• Provide leadership and vision for implementing systems and practices that promote inclusion, equity, and anti-racism throughout the school.

• Lead and serve on the building administrator's leadership team, providing knowledge and expertise about school initiatives and programs, Professional Learning Communities, and the School Improvement Goals.

• Assists the building leadership team in the overall administration of the school

• Supervise various student events throughout the year including weekends and evenings

• Models mutual respect; integrity; professionalism; multicultural awareness; gender, racial, and ethnic equity; and the values, beliefs, and attitudes that inspire others to perform to their highest potential.

• Performs special projects and assignments at the direction of the Principal and/or designee.

Program Leadership & Management (ASCA: Management, Accountability):

• Develop, implement, and continuously evaluate a comprehensive school counseling curricular program for all students based on the ASCA National Model (Foundations, Management, Delivery, Accountability).

• Lead the counseling team in setting annual program goals and objectives, ensuring alignment with district strategic plan, school improvement plans and student data.

• Oversee the collection, analysis, and interpretation of extensive student outcome data (academic, attendance, discipline, post-secondary enrollment) to demonstrate program effectiveness, identify achievement/opportunity gaps, and inform program adjustments.

• Supervise and evaluate all counseling certified staff, including College Counselor, Career Counselor, School Counselors, and non-certified staff.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with school administration, faculty, parents, and extensive community stakeholders (e.g., numerous colleges, diverse businesses, military, community organizations).

• Works in a supportive role with colleagues (e.g. cooperative course planning,…