Counselor Middle School

Starting Date: Immediately

Plan, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive school counseling program at Venus Middle School. Counsel students to fully develop each student’s academic, career, personal, and social abilities and address the needs of special population students. Deliver guidance curriculum in various group sizes, educate students on skills to address troublesome circumstances, support them in challenging situations, and assist with resources to navigate crises.

• Education/Certification: Master’s degree in counseling from an accredited college or university; valid Texas school counselor certificate.
• Special Knowledge/
  
  Skills:
  
  Knowledge of counseling procedures, student appraisal, and career development; excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills; ability to instruct students, manage behavior, and present information in one‑on‑one, small group, and large group settings to students, parents or guardians, and district staff.

• Plan, organize, implement, and deliver structured group lessons according to the district’s guidance curriculum to improve students’ interpersonal and intrapersonal effectiveness, personal health and safety, post‑secondary planning, and readiness.
• Teach the guidance curriculum using effective instructional strategies and structured groups, adapting instruction for diverse student populations.
• Collaborate with students, staff, parents or guardians, and the community to identify priorities and integrate guidance lessons into content area curriculum.
• Create a balanced curriculum with intentional activities, materials, guest speakers, and engaging delivery techniques, including technology tools.

• Respond to problematic or critical incidents using developmental guidance theories and techniques.
• Implement preventive activities to remove barriers to students’ educational, career, personal, and social development.
• Provide remediation practices for students coping with challenges, give feedback, and guide future decisions.
• Use specialized skills to support students in crisis situations and maintain a safe school environment.
• Offer continued support through individual counseling, small group counseling, consultation, or referrals to external services.
• Serve as an impartial, non‑reporting resource for interpersonal conflicts and bullying discussions.
• May serve on district or campus behavioral threat assessment and safe‑and‑supportive schools team.

• Design developmental, age‑appropriate counseling services and provide related literature to students, teachers, and administrators.
• Assist students and their guardians in monitoring academic, career, personal, and social progress.
• Act as a student advocate, leader, collaborator, and systems change agent to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion of special populations.
• Interpret standardized test results, offer career activities, provide transition strategies, and guide goal setting, including graduation plans and post‑secondary information.

• Collect, summarize, and interpret testing data to design interventions and address student needs.
• Conduct annual program audits for accountability and action planning.
• Participate in campus‑based improvement planning and goal setting.
• Provide training and consultation to staff and parents/guardians to foster student development.
• Communicate the counseling program’s management system and action plans to staff, parents/guardians, and the community.
• Engage in staff development and continuing education to improve counseling skills and identify best practices.

• Compile, maintain, and file all reports, records, and documents.
• Comply with federal and state laws, Board regulations, and district policies.
• Adhere to legal, ethical, and professional standards for school counselors.
• Follow district safety protocols and emergency procedures.

Supervise assigned counseling aide(s) and administrative assistant(s).

• Tools/Equipment Used: Personal computer and peripherals; standard instructional equipment.
• Posture: Prolonged sitting; frequent standing, kneeling/squatting, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting.
• Motion: Frequent walking.
• Lifting: Regular light lifting (less than 15 pounds); occasional physical restraint of students.
• Environment: Work inside, may work outside.
• Mental Demands: Maintain emotional control under stress; may work prolonged or irregular hours.

Venus Independent School District is an equal opportunity employer.