Duties

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The frequency and percentage of time of duties may vary based on building assignment.

1. Support the school’s mission and demonstrate a measurable impact on the school’s goals including the support of the Capturing Kids Hearts (Social/Emotional Learning) process.
2. Advocate for the equity and access of all students, taking into consideration the unique needs of the school’s own diverse population.
3. Use responsive counseling strategies to establish relationships and collaborate with educators, students, families, and community partners which reflect recognition of and respect for each individual. And promotes an understanding and appreciation of diverse populations and cultures.
4. Collaborate on the development and management of the comprehensive school counseling program with the school administrators and District Directors.
5. Guide, coordinate and support other school staff in implementing school wide advisory programs.
6. Design, implement and assess the guidance curriculum.
7. Use data to develop and inform the school counseling program and evaluate the program’s impact on the school’s instructional goals.
8. Communicate and share the goals of the comprehensive school counseling program to stakeholders including students, families and community partners.
9. Develop and maintain a written plan for effective delivery of the school counseling programs based on state and local student achievement goals and aligned with the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) National Standards for School Counseling Programs.
10. Use the majority of the time (80%) to provide direct and indirect services to students through preventive and responsive services, including individual student planning, and use the remaining time in development and management, system support and accountability.
11. Provide school counseling supports around the three domains (academic, social/emotional, career) to students based on tiered need through a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS; formerly RTI) - Tier 1=universal core curriculum; Tier 2=data-informed, targeted supports; Tier 3=intensive supports.
12. Collaborate with administrators, staff, students, parents, community members, and other key stakeholders.
13. Participate in appropriate special education meetings, facilitate 504 meetings for a designated caseload of students, and work in coordinated effort to support the ‘Whole Child’ with the School Psychologist, Social Worker, Counselor, and the Director of Special Education and Student Services as needed.
14. Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings to review with teachers concerns arising from student behavior and/or academic performance.
15. Coordinate efforts with the School Principal, Assistant Principal, and other staff as needed in relation to student discipline referrals, assignment of consequences as necessary, and the utilization of student behavior data to make recommendations to the principal as needed.
16. Provide in-service training on topics related to the school counseling program and supporting student achievement.
17. Utilize responsive counseling, initiating individual and group sessions for students’ academic, social and personal concerns.
18. Consult with families and staff to appraise student needs and interests and to discuss appropriate recommendations for educational options.
19. Plan, coordinate and provide 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.
20. Assess student needs and make referrals to appropriate school resource personnel, social agencies, community agencies and alternative programs.
21. Prepare students for the transition to the next level: high school and post high school activities/options.
22. Conduct at minimum a yearly program audit to review the extent and quality of program implementation.
23. Use all available data, including academic grades, discipline referrals and attendance data, to identify students in need and to deliver services.
24. Interpret tests, student data and other assessment results appropriately within the counseling environment for the purpose of developing and implementing academic plans for individual students.
25. Intervene during crisis situations and participates on the school crisis team.
26. Actively participate in professional organizations, committees, etc. and stay informed of educational trends and developments, and encourage innovation and experimentation as appropriate.
27. Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Knowledgeable about local, state, and federal guidelines related to the position including but not limited to:
1. Developmental Counseling Model for Illinois Schools, Best Practices for School Counselors, 2023 Edition
2. Illinois Administrative Code Section 23.110?
3. ASCA School Counselor Competencies? 
4. ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors
5. IL DCFS Manual for Mandated Reporters? 
6. Illinois Social Emotional Learning Standards 
7. ASCA Standards for Students ??
8. Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
2. Strong computer and program application skills (Mac Environment, Google Apps) and operating knowledge of typical office equipment; e.g. telephone, copier, fax machine, e-mail, etc.
3. Ability to learn the student information system
4. Ability to analyze data to inform work and decision making, analyze and evaluate available data, assess student needs and develop and implement procedures and policies to support student achievement.
5. Commitment to Equity: Passionate about closing the achievement gap and ensuring that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, receives an excellent education.
6. An interest in working with people and a desire to develop positive relationships with colleagues
7. Increases the effectiveness of surrounding teams through collaboration, constant learning and supporting others; sensitive to diversity in all its forms; respects and is committed to learning from others
8. Treats others with respect, works with integrity and ethics, and demonstrates teamwork skills
9. Demonstrated ability to work independently on projects and assignments as needed
10. Problem-Solving: Approaches work with a sense of possibility and sees challenges as opportunities for creative problem solving; takes initiative to explore issues and find potential innovative solutions.
11. Adaptability: Excels in constantly changing environments and adapts flexibly in shifting projects or priorities to meet the needs of a dynamic transformation effort; comfortable with ambiguity and non-routine situations.
12. Excellent communication skills and the ability to follow written and verbal directions
13. A demonstrable interest in continuous improvement in the work environment, strong initiative, clear ability to troubleshoot, problem solve, and perform multiple concurrent tasks and is driven by a desire to produce quantifiable student achievement gains.
14. Ability to manage multiple tasks with frequent interruptions, to use time efficiently, to demonstrate attention to detail, to follow instructions and respond to management direction
15. Ability to maintain confidentiality of employee, student, school board, and other sensitive district information
16. Ability to attend work regularly and punctually and complete duties in a timely manner with attention to detail
17. Ability to promote and follow Board of Education policies, and building and department procedures

Qualifications

• Demonstrate a clear sense of how to contribute to our:
• District Motto - “Children at their Best!” 
• District Mission - Empowering children to be their best today to lead a better tomorrow.
• District Vision - Ensure an environment that cultivates confident, compassionate, and innovative learners to actively shape and enrich the world. 

• Aligned to the Gower School District 62 Belief Statements as follows:
• Commit to personal, social, and academic growth resulting in continuous improvement and high achievement
• Build strong relationships across our community to foster a culture where everyone thrives
• Ensure an emotionally and physically safe, supportive environment for all
• Model respect and demonstrate empathy and kindness in all interactions
• Provide all students with equitable access to resources, opportunities and experiences through collaboration
• Committed to building positive relationships with students
• Committed to parent involvement and communication
• Committed to collaborating with other staff and a team approach to achieve goals
• Committed to a process of ever developing self-awareness, skills, and professional growth
• Demonstrates a strong sense of cultural competency and equity
• Demonstrates the ability to plan and prepare for high quality instruction aligned with the Illinois Learning Standards
• Demonstrates the ability to design and deliver "just right" instruction to meet the needs of every learner 
• Demonstrates the ability to integrate technology to enhance and support high quality instruction and student learning 
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrates strong organizational skills and a strong sense of professionalism
• Demonstrates an interest in contributing to building and District committees and/or extracurricular activities

Salary/Benefits

Salary: According to Collective Bargaining Agreement with Gower Education Association

Additional Notes

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS or CERTIFICATIONS:

1. Meet all Illinois State Board of Education Licensure Requirements and hold a current and properly registered Professional Educator’s License (PEL), specifically:
1. Each applicant shall hold a master's or higher degree awarded by a regionally accredited institution of higher education in school counseling.
1. Pass the IL School Counselor Endorsement Test
2. The following coursework is also required as part of the program: structure, organization, and operation of the educational system, with an emphasis on P-12 schools, growth and development of children and youth, diversity of Illinois students and the laws and programs that have been signed to meet their unique needs, and effective management of the classroom and learning process.
1. ?Completed an internship of at least 600 clock hours (at least one semester in length) with at least 240 hours of direct service work.
2. If the applicant has at least two years of teaching experience, the internship requirement is reduced to 400 clock hours with at least 240 hours of direct service work.
3. Completed a supervised counseling practicum of at least 100 clock hours that included at least 40 hours of direct service work.
4. Neither the above referenced coursework of practicum are required if the applicant holds a valid out-of-state license in school counseling or an educator license with stipulations endorsed for school counselor and can provide evidence of one year of full-time experience as a school counselor.
2. Valid driver’s license
3. Criminal background check required for hire; employment contingent on appropriate results.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS: The physical demands, work environment factors and mental functions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move a minimum of 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.  The employee will drive occasionally to various district locations and to other meetings.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  In the work environment, the employee is regularly exposed to video/computer monitor display and regularly works inside a typical interior office environment, which includes wireless access points, climate control, and typical office-building lighting.  The employee occasionally works outside and around the building grounds/campuses for student supervision and/or other duties. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate and involves unscheduled interruptions.

MENTAL FUNCTIONS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to compare, analyze, communicate, coordinate, synthesize, use interpersonal skills, compile, compute, evaluate, and negotiate. The employee is occasionally required to instruct and copy.

Terms of Employment:  The School Counselor is considered a Gower Middle Teacher and the terms of employment are described in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Gower Education Association and the Board of Education.

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Status: Exempt.

Evaluation: Performance of this job will be evaluated annually by the School Principal(s) based on building assignment and in accordance with provisions of Board policy. 

How to Apply

To Apply:   

1. Apply online at www.gower62.com, click on the Employment button.
2. Applicants invited for an interview will be asked at that time to provide: Resume, three (3) signed letters of current references, and copies of all college and graduate school transcripts. Note: Unofficial copies of transcripts are acceptable. Official copies will be required if hired.

Link to District/Third Party Online Application Web Page

https://www.applitrack.com/gower/onlineapp/default.aspx

School District

www.gower62.com

Position Website

https://www.applitrack.com/gower/onlineapp/default.aspx

ILearn Link

ILearn

Report Card Link

District Report Card