School Counselor

SCHOOL COUNSELOR

MISSION OF THE ROLE

The School Counselor fosters students’ social and emotional well-being and healthy, productive, and resilient interactions among students, between students and adults, and within the SEEQS community as a whole.​

OUTCOMES

• The Counselor uses a restorative approach to drive, promote, and maintain a healthy school culture, in which:
  • Students are known and valued as individuals, have a trusted person to go to when they need support, and feel supported in making mistakes, growing, and learning how to interact in the world.
  • Faculty and staff are supported in maintaining strong, safe, and healthy learning environments, including support for the social and emotional needs of all students.
  • Parents learn their students' developmental needs and how to support their health and well-being, including through challenges.

COMPETENCIES

• Experience with and commitment to implementing restorative practices
• Advanced skill in dealing with students and staff with diverse needs at various levels.  
• Understanding of adolescent physical, emotional, and intellectual development.  
• Ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with students, school personnel, parents, peers and other stakeholders.  
• Ability to communicate, interact, and work effectively and cooperatively with all people, including those from diverse ethnic and educational backgrounds.  
• Experience working with high-needs and high-risk students
• Enthusiasm for collaborating with other teachers and school leadership to best meet student needs

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum:

• Bachelors degree from an accredited educational institution
• Minimum two (2) years working with middle school-age students

Preferred:

• Master’s degree from an accredited educational institution in Counseling or related field
• Two or more years of experience as a school counselor
• Hawaii Teaching License
• Three or more years of experience working with middle school-aged students
• Experience with Special Education, including creating student support plans with objective, measurable goals

GOALS & RESPONSIBILITIES

SEEQS's school counselor can expect to:

• Support students through the challenges of middle school
  • Connect with students on a one-to-one basis as needed for counseling and supportive conversations
  • Offer counseling groups based on student needs (e.g. grief, study skills, organization, social, anger management, etc). 
  • Develop strategies, preventative approaches, and proactive plans for students who exhibit at-risk behaviors
  • Ensure appropriate documentation of student issues and follow-up
• Promote Healthy School Culture
  • Coordinate school-wide social-emotional learning (SEL) for all members of the school community
  • Work with the leadership team to design and implement activities, advisory plans, assemblies, and instructional strategies to bring the SEEQS vision and values to life
  • Collaborate with leadership team to align SEL program, counseling approaches, and disciplinary practices 
  • Facilitate restorative conversations among and between students and adults
  • Assist faculty and staff in working through concerns with individual students and classroom management, including planning staff development and trainings
  • Assist with developing and implementing student orientation
  • Participate in parent conferences, back-to-school nights and other opportunities for parents to discuss their child’s learning and behavior
• Contribute to Student Support Team
  • Manage, write/update, and coordinate all 504 plans
  • Attend and contribute to IDEA meetings as needed/requested
  • Work with Care Coordinators, teachers, and district/complex area service providers to ensure the implementation of and compliance with student support plans and legal documents. 
  • Work with the Coordinator of Student Support (CSS) to review school data and assessments to develop support plans for students 
• Promote Student Attendance
  • Develop and implement systems to promote student attendance
  • Communicate with families of students with issues of chronic tardiness or absenteeism, in accordance with the SEEQS attendance policies and procedures
• Other duties as assigned​ 

POSITION DETAILS 

The School Counselor role is a 10-month position paid over 12 months. The SEEQS work year generally follows the Hawaii DOE’s yearly calendar. Work hours are 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM.  

COMPENSATION

Pay rate is subject to the HSTA BU05 salary schedule. Employees also receive a generous benefits package provided to Hawaii State Government Employees.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE POSITION

​The role requires the employee to sit, stand, bend, stoop, reach above the shoulders, walk short distances, climb stairs, listen effectively, speak clearly, and visually observe staff and students on a routine basis. Accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

For more information on working at SEEQS and details on how to apply for this position, please visit: www.seeqs.org/work-at-seeqs

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