School Counselor

Starting Salary: $60,000 /year and UP↑ based on experience
Environment:
Alternative Education Program, High School

Ombudsman Educational Services, a growing, dynamic organization with a social mission to offer hope, is seeking a School Counselor to join our award-winning Alternative Education team and perform meaningful work in a culture that welcomes innovation, encourages creative expression, and offers limitless potential for personal and professional satisfaction!

If you thrive in a dynamic, student-centered, support-focused environment, seek a career with meaningful impact, and possess a compassionate spirit, a creative mindset, and unwavering commitment to student success — We Should Talk!

As a School Counselor, you are primarily responsible for helping High School students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally through individual and group counseling, collaborating with educators, parents, and other professionals to create a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment that strengthens connections between home and school.

‖ Responsibilities Include:

• Providing individual and group counseling sessions to help resolve interpersonal or family problems that interfere with school performance, including crisis intervention consultation as needed.
• Conducting interviews with students, family members, and school personnel to gather information required to assess student social, emotional, and behavioral adjustment to school and the community.
• Maintaining regular contact with students' parents/guardians to inform of student's progress, areas of difficulties, and any changes or situations in home life that may affect school performance.
• Developing and updating Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and Positive Behavior Intervention Plans (PBIP) as needed in adherence to company, school, state, and federal regulations and procedures.
• Attending and participating in IEP team meetings, facilitating at the discretion of the school district. Actively participating in other team meetings when necessary to address specific student and parent concerns.
• Collaborating with education and social services professionals to develop appropriate agency services for students and their families.
• Providing case management functions for students, including coordination of parent meetings, emergency transportation requests, disciplinary actions such as detention/suspension, and coordination with outside therapists.
• Collaborating with teachers, parents/guardians, district personnel, and service providers to find effective solutions to learning and behavior problems, always establishing and maintaining effective public relations and projecting a positive company image.
• Ensuring the use of positive teaching methods by conducting monthly climate data through direct observation of classroom staff's implementation of IEP goals and Positive Behavior Intervention Plans.
• Providing guidance, consultation, and assistance to teachers in developing classroom schedules, maintaining student data systems, and facilitating student transition plans to ensure appropriate curriculum, schedules, and services based on each student's IEP and other goals.
• Assessing student progress through review of classroom data collection and recording systems, providing training and guidance to staff accordingly to address student needs.
• Functioning as a role model for effective teaching and communication, reinforcing the school's emphasis on behavior analytic, empirical approaches, data-driven decision making, and positive reinforcement to maximize student and staff performance.

‖ Qualifications Required:

• Master’s degree or higher in educational counseling, social work, or a closely related field.
• Licensed currently or in the process of obtaining a school counselor, school social worker, or related credential.
• Licensed currently or in the process of obtaining an IL professional educator (PEL) endorsement.
• Minimum 2 years of experience working with individuals with emotional disorders and/or challenging behaviors, preferably in an educational setting.
• Prior experience working with at-risk students in an alternative and/or special education program highly…