SCHOOL COUNSELOR - MSK
As School Counselor, you will deliver measurable results in helping students overcome challenges that impede their learning and assist them in making academic, career, and social-emotional gains.Reports to: School Principal
The School Counselor has the following responsibilities:
- Supporting student academic, social and emotional well-being through individual, group, and classroom activities
- Designing and delivering School Counseling programming that improves student outcomes
- Collaborating with families, teachers, administrators, and the community for student success
- Planning and facilitating school-wide initiatives such as our Social/Emotional Advisory Curriculum and Step-Up Day/Transition Activities
- Taking a leadership role and advocating for student needs at planning and support meetings
- Highlighting the strengths of our learners by developing and supporting student recognition and enrichment initiatives
- Assessing student risk factors and making referrals to outside agencies when necessary
- Using data informed practices to support student growth
- Maintaining confidentiality of student cumulative records within the School Counseling Department
- Performing other tasks as assigned to promote a positive school climate
Qualifications: Proven record of effectively meeting students’ needs in the areas of academic, social emotional, and career interests. An ability to connect with students, teachers/staff and families to best support students being able to overcome and endure challenges in order to achieve academically. Master’s Degree in School Counseling. Must possess a Maine certification in School Counseling. Previous experience working with middle school students and staff is preferred. Strong communications skills and adherence to appropriate boundaries and confidentiality.Responsibilities:
Student Centered
- Meets with students individually and in small groups for support
- Assists students in evaluating their aptitudes and abilities through the interpretation of individual standardized test scores and other pertinent information
- Registers new students and orients them to school procedures and the school’s varied opportunities for learning
- Provides Tier 1, 2 and 3 interventions to help students be successful
Communication
- Actively participates in grade level team meetings to address student needs
- Facilitates the delivery of advisory lessons that enhance the knowledge of self and others
- Collaborates with families, teachers, and outside providers to best support student success
- Acts as an active member of MTSS A/B teams to assist in the implementation of services
- Participates in 504 meetings and serves as a school resource for students and families
Leadership
- Remains readily available to students and provides counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity
- Assists in the planning of field trips to schools and colleges
- Guides students in their participation in school and community activities
- Provides school students and families with necessary resources to have needs met (clothing, food, shelter, safety, etc.)
- Leads, advocates and collaborates to promote equity and access for all students by connecting the School Counseling program to the RSU 21 mission and Middle School of the Kennebunks improvement goals
- Fulfills other tasks assigned by the principal to promote a positive school climate
Competencies
- Coaching orientation: you create impactful individual and district-wide learning experiences
- District representative: you promote our strategies coherently and persuasively; you present our value convincingly and creatively and can defend it when questioned; you balance an aggressive approach with respectful boundaries
- Content mastery: you internalize fully even the most complex content; you can explain the issues confidently and answer questions accurately, comprehensively and instructively
- Relationship-oriented: you recognize the deep importance that relationships with colleagues and stakeholders play in our work; you build rapport and trust with others; you’re comfortable with and adept at navigating a diversity of personalities and work styles
- Role model: your performance inspires others; you embody the desired work ethic and/or approach that is required to achieve our district mission; others learn from the high standards you hold for yourself
- Active listener: you’re a strong, active listener; you can read body language and between the lines to pick up both on what’s being said and what’s not being said; you can identify the nuance of what’s being suggested, however obliquely, and articulate it strategically for others
Reasonable Accommodations: RSU 21 will provide accommodations to an individual with a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or applicable law, who has made the district aware of their disability, unless doing so would cause an undue hardship to the district. Terms of Employment: Salary to be established by the Board. Work year includes school contract year plus up to 10 additional days to be scheduled by the Principal and School Counseling Department.Evaluation: Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board’s policy on Evaluation of Professional Personnel.This position will remain open until a qualified candidate is secured.
Revised Date: 3/20/2024