School Counselor

The School Counselor is responsible for utilizing leadership, advocacy, and collaboration to promote student success, provide preventive services, and respond to identified student needs by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program that addresses academic, career, and social-emotional development for all students.

The School Counselor has an important role on the educational leadership team towards ensuring the best learning environment for students at Divine Savior Academy. The School Counselor provides valuable assistance to DSA personnel and students at all academic levels.

Values

The core values of Divine Savior Ministries are the following:

• Walk with God: I follow Jesus in all areas of my life and am active in a Christian community.
• Lead with a servant's heart: I find ways to positively influence and help those around me. 
• Thrive through cooperation: I choose to work with others towards a common goal, so we can go further together.
• Practice a growth mindset: I see my challenges as opportunities to learn and believe I can improve over time.
• Live boldly and confidently: I trust God has a good plan for me, so I take big chances and try new things.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in School or Mental Health Counseling or related field
• State certification or licensure in School or Mental Health Counseling
• Experience conducting individual, group and family counseling
• Experience teaching social-emotional skills curriculum to High School students
• Experience in identifying at-risk youth and intervening or referring as necessary
• Fluent English and Spanish are highly preferred.

Duties

• Maintains strict confidentiality and professional and ethical standards as required by the State Licensing Board and the School Counseling profession
• Ongoing development of a comprehensive school counseling program for High School students that address and improve emotional, behavioral and social development of students
• Implements developmentally appropriate and prevention-oriented activities to meet student needs and school goals.
• Serves as a liaison between school parents, teachers and staff
• Provides direct care to students through classroom school guidance program, individual counseling, risk assessment, minute meetings and small group counseling
• Provides consultation to parents on areas of concern and make referrals to community services as necessary
• Provides counseling, support and consultation to DSA faculty and staff
• Identifies and monitors at-risk students providing support and counsel to student and families
• Observes students to evaluate areas of strength, weakness or special education needs and refers families to support services
• Completes Educational support plans for students with diagnosed educational needs and ensures implementation in the classrooms
• Maintains confidential records of students psycho-educational plans, public school IEP/504 plans and educational support plans
• Provides crisis intervention and referral
• Collaborates with various academic departments (ESE,ESL & ELL), Principals, Teachers, and outside providers for additional services to benefit students
• Consults with Admissions department regarding incoming students with special educational needs
• Attends and participates in DSA meetings, staff development, and consultations
• Participates and develops school wide projects that relate to social emotional development
• Organizes or performs presentations for student and parent education or faculty enrichment
• Provides appropriate information to school personnel related to the comprehensive school counseling program
• Conducts annual assessment of counseling program to review extent of program implementation, effectiveness, and areas of growth
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Excellent listening and interpersonal skills
• Independent worker, takes initiative, energetic
• Flexible
• Excellent collaboration skills to serve as a liaison between school personnel, teachers, and other professionals
• Bilingual English/Spanish

Physical Requirements

• Light physical effort.
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time.
• Ability to use hands and arms.
• Must be able to see and hear and speak frequently.
• Ability to use repetitive movement of fingers and hands for keyboarding.
• Must be able to occasionally walk in the facility.
• Ability to occasionally handle average-weight objects up to 10 pounds
• No or very limited exposure to physical risk.

Reports to:

• Head of Schools/ Principal