School Counselor

Location:

Challenger Middle School

Recruiting Start Date:

04/21/2025

This posting will be open at least five (5) days after the recruiting start date.

Estimated Start Date:

08/10/2026A licensed School Counselor who adheres to the American School Counseling Association Model (ASCA) and is committed to designing and implementing a comprehensive counseling program. Will provide social/emotional support, implement college and career readiness, and guide academic planning for students. A strong understanding of the Career Cluster Model and the ability to facilitate meaningful career conversations focused on postsecondary development is essential. The counselor will advocate for students' needs, offering instruction that promotes mental health awareness, academic growth, and career success. They will maintain high ethical and legal standards while working to enhance the counseling program to foster positive mindsets and behaviors in all students. Collaboration with school staff, parents, and the broader community is crucial, ensuring the development of a holistic approach to counseling. Additionally, the counselor will demonstrate cultural awareness and work effectively with external agencies to support students' diverse needs.

The following statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and other key duties that may be required. The description may not include all functions performed by the incumbents in various locations. The district reserves the right to modify or change the duties or the essential functions of this job at any time.

• Reports consistently for work as scheduled

• Performs other duties as assigned

• Attains proficient or higher evaluations on established Performance Standards

• Aligns the school counseling program with the School Unified Improvement Plan

• Applies knowledge of the ways in which learning takes place, including the appropriate levels of intellectual, physical, social and emotional development of their students

• Complies with applicable state and federal laws, district administrative policies, procedures, practices, and location requirements

• Demonstrates a strong understanding of the Career Cluster Model and the ability to facilitate meaningful career conversations focused on postsecondary development

• Demonstrates high standards for ethical and professional conduct

• Demonstrates knowledge of effective services that reduce barriers to and support learning

• Demonstrates knowledge of their professions and integrate evidence-based practices and research findings into their services

• Demonstrates leadership and advocacy in the school, the community and their profession

• Demonstrates mastery of and expertise in school counseling

• Develops and implements services related to student needs, learning, and progress towards goals

• Engages students as individuals with diverse needs and interests, across a range of ability levels by adapting services for the benefit of students

• Ensures that students are supervised at all times

• Establishes and communicates high expectations and use strategies to support the development of critical thinking, problem-solving skills and self-advocacy

• Follows established policies and procedures regarding the health, safety, welfare, and education of students

• Fosters a safe, accessible, and predictable learning environment characterized by acceptable student behavior and efficient use of time in which each student has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults and peers

• Integrates and utilizes appropriate available technology to engage students in authentic learning experiences

• Leads counseling small group counseling and classroom lessons

• Links professional growth to professional goals

• Maintains accurate records

• Models and promotes effective communication

• Models appropriate conduct at all times

• Prepares students for graduation and post-secondary readiness through the creation, alignment, and monitoring of student schedules

• Provides information to students and guardians regarding academic programs, post-secondary opportunities and community resources

• Provides services aligned with state and federal laws, local policies and procedures, Colorado Academic Standards, the organized plan of instruction, and the individual needs of students

• Responds as directed and as necessary in safety and/or crisis situations

• Responds to a complex, dynamic environment

• Serves on building teams to include the crisis response team, MTSS team, and others as assigned

• Serves on the risk assessment team and conducts suicide assessments

• Supervises volunteers and paraprofessionals where applicable

• Understands and responds to diversity within the home, school, and community

• Uses effective conflict resolution

• Uses and integrates technology to support professional responsibilities, instruction, data interpretation, and student learning

• Uses feedback and reflects about professional practice to improve teaching and learning

• Utilizes formal and informal assessments to inform planning and service delivery

• Works collaboratively with the families and/or significant adults for the benefit of students

• Works with school counseling advocacy guidelines while informing all stakeholders of the school counselor role

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing

• Ability to create, access, input, retrieve, and manipulate information in various software systems

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals from many diverse backgrounds and professions including supervisors, administrators, coworkers, staff, students, parents, and the general public 

• Ability to follow oral and written instructions

• Ability to greet and interact with the public in a courteous and professional manner

• Ability to maintain confidentiality 

• Ability to manage simultaneous demands and set clear priorities 

• Ability to use technology to improve instruction and learning, and to interpret test data

• Ability to work days, hours, locations, and assignments as directed by the supervisor within the position responsibilities 

• Ability to work independently without direct supervision

• Adheres to a comprehensive school counseling program

• Commitment to the education of students as a primary responsibility

• Communicates effectively with students and adults in a wide variety of settings

• Computer proficiency including office productivity applications

• Demonstrates citizenship, compassion, courage, discernment, excellence, honesty, hope, integrity, patience, perseverance, reliability, respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness 

• Demonstrates effective organizational and time management skills

• Detail-oriented 

• Energetic, creative, innovative, flexible 

• Excellent cooperative, collaborative, and problem-solving skills

• Grade level, content/subject area, and inquiry-based skills

• Knowledge of the American School Counseling Association Model

• Knowledge of Career Cluster Model

• Knowledge of Career Technical Education

• Knowledge of concurrent enrollment

• Knowledge of Individual Career and Academic Planning (ICAP)

• Knowledge of Multi-Tier Systems of Supports

• Knowledge of Section 504 plans

• Knowledge of and experience with how technology integration supports learning

• Knowledge of Colorado Academic Standards, curriculum, standards-based instruction, assessment, and differentiation

• Knowledge of effective classroom and positive behavior management

• Knowledge of Special Education, other educational programming, and associated legal requirements as related to the needs of the students assigned to the teacher

• Knowledge of the academic, emotional, physical, and social development of students

• Promotes a positive climate, culture, and community

• Strong organizational, interpersonal, written, listening, and verbal communication skills

• Student-centered and relationship-focused

• Understanding of data privacy laws and their implications for the educational community

• Willingness to participate in ongoing training as required

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a staff member typically encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. They are included for informational purposes and are not all-inclusive.

• The noise level in the work environment may alternate among quiet, moderate, and loud. 

• The incumbent is frequently required to interact in person and through communication methods with the students, public, and/or other staff.

• The incumbent is required to work scheduled school/work hours and/or days.

• The incumbent may be required to work extended school/work hours and/or days as directed.

• The incumbent operates primarily independently and frequently with others in a professional school environment indoors regularly and outdoors occasionally. 

• The incumbent routinely uses standard classroom and office equipment. 

• The incumbent is directly responsible to provide for the health, safety, and welfare and education of students, ensuring students are under supervision at all times.

Physical Demands: The following are some of the physical demands commonly associated with this position. They are included for informational purposes and are not all-inclusive. All physical demands, if listed, are considered essential functions.

• Sits, stands, walks, stoops, kneels, and crouches/squats while performing duties

• Has oral and auditory capacity enabling interaction interpersonally and/or through communication devices

• Uses eyes, hands, and finger coordination enabling the use of equipment and writing utensils

• The job is very active and regularly requires periods of standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing while on duty. While performing the duties of this job, the school counselor is regularly required to talk and hear. 

• Typical demands require staff to lift and carry up to 20 pounds, and may be higher for some assignments depending on position and student need; climb stairs, ladders, and/or stools; reach, hold, grasp and turn objects; use fingers to operate computer keyboards; feel the shape, size and temperature of objects; and physically restrain students when necessary.

• The incumbent frequently is required to use hands and fingers, handle or feel; and to reach with hands and arms. 

• The position requires the ability to speak and to be understood, to use normal or aided vision and hearing, and to detect odors.

Cognitive Functions: The following are some of the cognitive functions commonly associated with this position. They are included for informational purposes and are not all-inclusive. The staff member may be required to analyze, communicate, compare, compile, compute, coordinate, copy, evaluate, instruct, negotiate, synthesize, reason, and use interpersonal skills.

Meets subject, grade level, and/or content area qualifications consistent with Colorado Department of Education and Academy District 20 requirements - Academy District 20, Special Services Provider License: Initial - Colorado Department of Education, Special Services Provider License: Professional - Colorado Department of Education

Compensation Range:

$52,020.00-$83,163.00

(Based on education and experience at 100% FTE)

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

37.5

Hours per Day:

7.5 hour(s) per day

Number of Days per Year:

183 Days M-FFull-time - Regular

For more information on our benefits, please visit Employee Benefits | Academy District 20 (asd20.org).

FLSA Status:

United States of America (Exempt)[email protected]