Position Title: Elementary School Counselor/Dean of Students  FLSA Status: Exempt

Responsible to: Building Principal                                              Supervises: Students

Evaluated by: Building Principal/Assistant Principal

Terms of Employment: 183 - 203 days

Evaluation Period:

·        Formative evaluations throughout the school year as per WCS Performance and Assessment Procedures.

·        Annual summative evaluation prior to July 1.

Purpose of the Position: 

Provide a comprehensive counseling and guidance program for elementary students; consult and collaborate with teachers, parents, and staff; and provide support to other elementary educational programs.

Minimum Requirements: The following are the qualifications and minimum requirements necessary for a person to perform this job.

• Valid Guidance Counseling or Teaching License
• Strong organizational and leadership skills
• Knowledge of school law
• Excellent communication skills both oral and written
• Ability to use all applicable technology

Essential Functions of the Position: The following functions have been determined by Wa-Nee Community Schools to be essential to the successful performance of this position.

·        Deliver structured developmental grade-level core curriculum that aligns with the ASCA National Standards in academic, career and personal/social development.

·        Consult, collaborate and serve as a resource for parents, teachers, and staff in understanding the needs of all students.

·        Guide and counsel students through the development of academic, college/career, and personal/social life plans

·        Plan, evaluate, and revise the school counseling program based on the ASCA National Model: review the school counseling program annually with other district school counselors and administrators within the district; establish a planning calendar for school counseling program activities; evaluate the site school counseling program.

·        Monitor student progress and use data to identify and provide appropriate interventions for students determined to be at risk (attendance, behavior, or achievement). Plan, organize, and lead relevant intervention meetings (IEP, 504, SAT, RtI, ILP, Homeless).

·        Provide skill building group counseling sessions for students based on topics of assessed need. Consult, collaborate and serve as a resource to teachers/parents/guardians/other professionals to understand and meet the needs of students.

·        Collaborates with middle school staff and assists in smooth student transition from elementary to middle school. Calculates student progress toward successful completion of educational program. Discuss test results with students and parents and their implications for educational and career planning.

·        Counsel small groups and individual students. Provide individual assistance to students regarding the academic career (life plans) and personal/social needs. Conduct structured, goal-oriented counseling sessions to meet the identified short-term need of individuals and groups of students.

·        Monitor student progress and use data to provide services to those determined to be academically at risk and provide appropriate interventions including parent/student meetings, crisis intervention, and utilizing the of the Safe Schools Coordinator.

·        Consult, collaborate, and be a resource to teachers in understanding and meeting the needs of students. Take a leadership role in the infusion of school counseling and guidance content into the curriculum; parent education programs; assist families with school-related problems and issues; make information available to parents by way of various technological means.

·        Refer students and their parents to appropriate specialists, special programs, or outside agencies, when appropriate; consult and collaborate with school system specialists such as school psychologists and school nurses; consult with and refer to community-based resources including psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, service agencies, community partnerships, and others when applicable.

·        Participate in and contribute to the effective delivery of educational services: cooperate and collaborate with other professionals in enhancing the education of students; establish and maintain effective relationships with instructional departments; communicate with administrators, teachers and staff, students, parents; serve on or take a leadership role in school wide committees, and the community regarding the counseling and guidance program and its role in the educational program.

·        Plan, evaluate, and revise the school counseling program based on the ASAC National Model: review the school counseling program annually with other district school counselors and administrators within the district; establish a planning calendar for school counseling program activities; evaluate the site school counseling program.

·        Pursue professional growth and participate in local and national school counseling related conferences.

·        Abide by the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counseling.

·        Utilize technology and data-based systems to make decisions regarding the school counseling program. Use data to develop strategies for closing the achievement gap. Use data to promote equity in order to access academic activities and to evaluate and publicize the program.

·        Serve as a student advocate and systems change agent.

Secondary Functions of the Position: The following functions, while important and necessary to the position, have been determined by Wa-Nee Community Schools to be marginal to the successful performance of this position.

• Perform other duties and responsibilities as needed or as directed by the Building Principal or Superintendent.

Knowledge of:

• Policies, procedures and functions of Wa-Nee Community Schools Board of Trustees and the Indiana Department of Education
• Applicable software and applications

Ability to:

• Plan, organize, and schedule priorities.
• Use independent judgment and initiative in making sound decisions and in developing solutions to problems.
• Discreetly handle confidential and politically sensitive matters.
• Make independent decisions in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Tactfully and courteously respond to requests and inquiries/complaints from the general public and staff.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, and the community.

Equipment Used:

• General Office Equipment (computer, telephone, copier, fax machine).

Place Where Work is Performed:

• Assigned school building

Physical Demands:

·        Must be able to sit and/or stand for long periods of time.

·        Must be able to stoop, kneel or crouch.

·        Must be able to hear and speak clearly.

·        Must be able to lift items of 20 lbs. regularly/50 lbs. occasionally.

How this Job Description was developed:

This job description was developed by the HR Department.