Elementary School Counselor

Overview

Position Title:

Elementary School Counselor

Department:
Instructional Services

Reports To:

Principal

FLSA Status:
Exempt

Master's degree in school counseling

Valid South Carolina certification/licensure standards
Must have current government issued identification

8 Hours/190 Days
Certified Salary Schedule
The terms of employment detailed in this job description are based on full time employment during the school year. Conditions of employment adjusted for part time employees or individuals who are hired for less than an entire school year.

Through leadership, advocacy and collaboration, professional school counselors promote equity and access to rigorous educational experiences for all students. Professional school counselors support a safe learning environment, work to safeguard the human rights of all members of the school community, and address the needs of all students through culturally relevant prevention and intervention programs that are a part of a comprehensive school counseling program.

Assists in other school and district programs as assigned.

• Supports and upholds the mission, vision and strategic goals of Lexington County School District One towards increased outcomes for students.
• Interacts, communicates and collaborates with all stakeholders effectively.
• Establishes a safe, supportive, positive and productive working and learning environment.
• Operates general office and technology equipment needed for daily activities.
• Maintains confidentiality regarding all employee and student information.
• Participates in all professional meetings and training sessions as required.
• Requests and maintains materials needed for daily responsibilities and essential functions; provides for safe storage and proper use of all tools, equipment and materials.
• Upholds the ethical and professional standards of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and other applicable professional counseling associations.
• Promotes the development of the school counseling program based on ASCA National Model, the South Carolina Comprehensive School Counseling and Career Guidance Model, South Carolina Education and Economic Development Act and school board policies. The South Carolina state model highlights six defined standards for school counselors.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Core Program Components are Define, Manage, Deliver and Assess.

Define
:
Three sets of school counseling standards define the school counseling profession. These standards help new and experienced school counselors develop, implement and assess their counseling program to improve student outcomes. These are composed of Student Standards which are ASCA mindsets and behaviors for students success: K-12 college and career readiness for every student. Professional standards include ASCA ethical standards for school counselors and ASCA school counselor professional standards and competencies.

Manage
:
To be delivered effectively, the school counseling program must be efficiently and effectively managed. Program focus, program domains and planning tools guide the design and implementation of a school counseling program that gets results. Program focus is composed of beliefs, vision statements and mission statements. Program domains incorporate learning to live (social/emotional), learning to learn (academic) and learning to work (career).

Program planning includes school data summary, annual student outcome goals, action plans (classroom and group and closing the gap), lesson plans, annual administrative conference, use of time, calendars (annual and weekly) and school counselor advisory council. No more than 20% of a school counselor's time should be spent in program planning and school support activities.

Deliver
:
School counselors deliver developmentally appropriate activities and services directly to students or indirectly for students as a result of the school counselor's interaction with others. These activities and services help students develop the ASCA mindsets and behaviors for student success and improve their achievement, attendance and discipline. Direct student services are composed of instruction, appraisal and advisement, and counseling. Elementary school counselors also ensure the delivery of district leadership lessons and Erin's law lessons.

Indirect student services include consultation, collaboration and referrals. A minimum of 80% of a school counselor's time should be spent in direct and indirect student services. The national and state model identifies the appropriate and inappropriate activities for school counselors. School counselors serve all students and activities will provide brief, solution focused strategies and interventions. Time allocations may be adjusted by district or schools when supported by data.

For elementary, instruction time allocation is 35-45 percent, appraisal and advisement is 5-10…