School Counselor K-12

Position Summary

The K–12 School Counselor supports the academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and college/career development of students across all grade levels. The counselor works closely with students, families, teachers, administrators, and community partners to promote student success, wellness, attendance, positive behavior, and readiness for life beyond school.

This position provides direct student support, small group and classroom guidance, crisis response, family communication, and coordination of school-wide counseling initiatives. The counselor also assists with student transitions, intervention planning, career exploration, graduation planning, and referral services when additional support is needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Student Support and Counseling

• Provide individual and small-group counseling to support students’ academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and personal needs.
• Support students dealing with grief, conflict, anxiety, peer issues, family concerns, attendance challenges, behavior concerns, or school adjustment.
• Provide short-term, school-based counseling and refer students/families to outside agencies or mental health providers when long-term or intensive services are needed.
• Maintain appropriate documentation of student contacts, concerns, interventions, referrals, and follow-up.

Classroom Guidance and Prevention

• Develop and deliver age-appropriate classroom guidance lessons for grades K–12.
• Provide lessons and activities related to character education, conflict resolution, bullying prevention, emotional regulation, study skills, goal setting, decision-making, and career awareness.
• Support school-wide initiatives focused on student wellness, positive school culture, attendance, behavior, and student engagement.

Academic and Career Development

• Assist students with academic goal setting, course planning, career exploration, and postsecondary readiness.
• Support middle and high school students with Individual Graduation Plans, career pathways, college preparation, scholarship awareness, military options, workforce readiness, and technical college opportunities.
• Collaborate with teachers and administrators to identify students who may need academic intervention, attendance support, or additional resources.
• Assist with transition planning between grade bands, including elementary to middle school, middle to high school, and high school to postsecondary options.

Crisis Response and Student Safety

• Provide support during student crisis situations, including emotional distress, safety concerns, grief, family emergencies, or traumatic events.
• Follow school procedures for mandated reporting, suicide/self-harm risk concerns, threats, abuse/neglect concerns, and other urgent student safety matters.
• Participate in crisis response planning and support students and staff during emergency or sensitive situations.
• Communicate promptly with administration regarding serious student concerns.

Family and Staff Collaboration

• Communicate with parents/guardians regarding student concerns, supports, referrals, and progress.
• Collaborate with teachers, administrators, support staff, and outside agencies to develop appropriate supports for students.
• Participate in parent conferences, intervention meetings, MTSS meetings, attendance meetings, behavior support meetings, and other student support meetings.
• Serve as a resource for staff on student wellness, trauma-informed practices, social-emotional needs, and student support strategies.

Attendance, Behavior, and Intervention Support

• Assist with identifying students with attendance concerns and support family outreach when appropriate.
• Participate in intervention planning for students with recurring academic, behavioral, social-emotional, or attendance challenges.
• Help coordinate supports for students experiencing homelessness, family hardship, grief, crisis, or other barriers to school success.
• Support restorative practices, conflict resolution, and positive behavior interventions when appropriate.

Compliance and Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain confidentiality in accordance with school policy, ethical standards, and applicable laws.
• Maintain accurate and secure counseling records.
• Participate in professional development related to school counseling, student mental health, mandated reporting, trauma-informed practices, and college/career readiness.
• Follow all school policies, procedures, and reporting requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director, Principal, or designee.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in School Counseling, Guidance Counseling, or a related field.
• Valid School Counselor certification or eligibility for certification.
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development.
• Ability to work with students across K–12 grade levels.
• Strong communication, confidentiality, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with students, families, staff, administrators, and community partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a K–12 school setting.
• Experience with MTSS, crisis response, college/career readiness, graduation planning, or student support services.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practices and social-emotional learning.
• Experience supporting diverse student populations and families.