Middle School Counselor

Job DescriptionJob DescriptionDescription:

AMPS (Amethod Public Schools) is a values driven organization. Our mission is to provide a rigorous college preparatory education and character development program that will prepare students from underserved communities to succeed in college and beyond. Our day-to-day work is driven within the organizational core values: Commitment to Distinction, Be Adaptable, Perseverance, Take Responsibility, and Students First. We are looking for team members who exude these values and a passion for our mission.

Position Summary

The School Counselor will be responsible for providing services related to the delivery of mental health care to assigned students that includes students who are struggling academically, with social/mental health matters, and/or SPED students. The School Counselor will provide consultation services to the school staff to support the overall mental health goals of the school and contribute to overall student success. The role requires that the individual understand the importance of social emotional well-being for students, and adapt culturally responsive approaches when dealing with a diverse population. The counselor is required to maintain professional standards and confidentiality of records relating to student treatment in accordance with the varied state and federal laws, ACSA Standards, and AMPS policies.Requirements:

Support School Community Members

• Uses the majority of the time (80%) to provide direct services to students through preventive and culturally responsive services, including individual student planning, and uses the remaining time in development and management, system support and accountability.
• Providing regular one-on-one counseling or group counseling to students and families;
• Providing crisis intervention as needed;
• Managing, tracking, and documenting student interactions and counseling schedule;
• Setting goals with students and tracking progress towards those goals;
• Working directly with students to help them successfully work towards high school graduation, college matriculation and self-sufficiency;
• Collaborating and communicating daily with supervisors, colleagues, and teachers to meet students’ needs.
• Develops and maintains a written plan for effective delivery of the school counseling programs based on the AMPS annual student achievement goals.

Demonstrate Commitment to School Culture

• Work collaboratively with your school team and those across AMPS
• Provides in-service training on topics related to the school counseling program and supporting student achievement
• Help develop school-wide culture that best fits the needs of our students, teachers and families
• Attend and participate in all staff meetings and communicate openly with staff
• Develop positive rapport with students and families
• Ensure a safe, positive environment in group and one-on-one counseling sessions.
• Enforce, uphold, and exhibit school’s values, student management policies and culture
• Support Site Director, Deans, and teachers when discipline issues arise.
• Consult with the school’s Administration Team to develop comprehensive supports and interventions to students who are presenting challenging behaviors

Preventative and Responsive Services

• Designs, implements and assesses the guidance curriculum.
• Utilizes responsive counseling, initiating individual and group sessions for students’ academic, social and personal concerns.
• Consults with families and staff to appraise student needs and interests and to discuss appropriate recommendations for educational options.
• Plans, coordinates and provides the classroom guidance sessions to meet the identified guidance and counseling competencies in the areas of academic achievement, career and educational development, and personal and social development to assist students in developing decision-making skills and identifying life goals.
• Assesses student needs and makes referrals to appropriate school resource personnel, social agencies, community agencies and alternative programs.
• Intervenes during crisis situations and participates on the school crisis team.
• Prepares students for the transition to the next level: high school and post high school activities/options.
• Plans and coordinates programs such as career and high school fairs, test skills preparation, improved/perfect attendance celebrations and other extensions of the counseling program to support students’ knowledge of post-secondary options.
• Assist students in navigating their academic, workplace and community experiences, through the use of individual student planning which includes individual graduation goals, student interviews and other planning tools.

Engage Families

• Establish and maintain strong communication lines with all parents and share progress consistently
• Be available for open houses, parent teacher conferences and other events involving parents and families
• Assists families in obtaining services for their children through an appropriate referral and follow-up process.
• Provide outreach information and education on mental health and substance abuse services and issues to students, families, community members, other professionals, school staff, and in community settings as necessary.
• Make him/herself available to students, parents and other staff members
• Design and coordinate student engagement, family engagement, and family education activities, including: Workshops to educate families, and/or students on specific issues, Professional Development sessions to educate staff, etc.

Maintain a Growth Mindset

• Pursue challenging professional goals each year
• Willing to offer support and receive constructive feedback from colleagues in order to create a professional working atmosphere that is conducive to change and improvement
• Participate in school-wide and individual professional development, including pre-service training over the summer and weekly during the academic year (held during school hours)
• Participate in internal and/or external training as required by the position, school administration, Director of SPED, and AMPS organization

Accountability

• Conducts at minimum a yearly program audit to review the extent and quality of program implementation.
• Prepares and submits a variety of requested reports and data, to ensure fulfillment of established program requirements.
• Uses all available data, including academic grades, discipline referrals and attendance data, to identify students in need and to deliver services.
• Interprets tests, student data and other assessment results appropriately within the counseling environment for the purpose of developing and implementing academic plans for individual students.
• May provide on-site management of counseling intern(s).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Pass Criminal Background Check
• Credential authorizing the employee to provide ERMHS services to pupils, such as Pupil Personnel Service (PPS) credential: completed or in progress
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation
• Understanding of ACSA Counseling standards
• Great communication skills
• Excellent knowledge of Google Classrooms (G Suite, Word, Dropbox, excel)

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience teaching in low-income schools
• At least two years of school counseling experience or extensive experience working in urban school settings
• Experience working in charter schools, preferred
• Bilingual (Spanish), preferred

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Required to use motor coordination with finger dexterity (such as keyboarding, machine operation, etc.) most of the workday.
• Required to exert physical effort in handling objects up to twenty pounds rarely.
• Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization’s facilities.
• Other duties that may be assigned

AMPS is strongly committed to hiring a diverse and multicultural staff, and we encourage applications from traditionally under-­-represented backgrounds. AMPS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnic origin, or any other reason prohibited by state or federal law.

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