Job Description

Job Description

** In order to be considered you must apply on our school website at:

POSITION SUMMARY

A Special Education (SPED) School Counselor is a professional who provides individual and group counseling services to students with special needs, focusing on addressing their unique social, emotional, and academic challenges, collaborating closely with special education teachers and other team members to develop and implement individualized education plans (IEPs), complete functional behavior assessments (FBAs), and behavior intervention plans (BIP) while advocating for the student’s needs within the school environment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be required and assigned.

1. Implement the approved district SPED counseling program to assigned students.
2. Ensure that all activities conform to district guidelines.
3. Establish and maintain a positive counseling environment and respond to the individual needs of students.
4. Set high expectations and standards for student achievement and behavior as appropriate to age and level of development.
5. Take all reasonable and necessary precautions to protect students, equipment, materials and facilities.
6. Obtain advance approval of the Principal for expenditures and special activities.
7. Attend staff meetings and serve on committees.
8. Strive to maintain and improve professional competence by participating in district-initiated staff development.
9. Maintain accurate, complete and correct records as required by law, school district policy and school administrative requirements.
10. Use appropriate technology for both counseling and management functions.
11. Provide individual and small group counseling.
12. Provide orientation of students to new situations.
13. Meet as needed with interdisciplinary teams to discuss student needs and concerns.
14. Recognize and address disabilities of students on a regular basis, seeking assistance of district specialists as required.
15. Recognize signs of emotional/physical distress in students and take appropriate action when necessary.
16. Consult with teachers, staff, parents and other significant people in the student’s life.
17. Meet with assigned students to provide counseling related to school-based issues, skill building needs, and other personal issues that may impact the student's perceived stress or ability to succeed.
18. Work with the team to determine counseling needs that may lie beyond the scope of the school counseling program and to assist the parents in locating counselors in the community.
19. Help students problem solve and process emotional crises that may arise throughout the day. Develop a positive relationship with students so that they view the counselor as a resource in this area.
20. Work with the IEP and classroom team to plan effective psychoeducational interventions to help the students succeed in life and at school.
21. Work with the classroom teacher to see that risk situations are reported to administration and risk evaluators so that appropriate interventions are enacted, and the student is supervised until an environment of safety is established.
22. Will conduct risk assessments if counselor is a Qualified Mental Health Professional.
23. Provide social skills and processing groups to students as part of the classroom designed plan for specific groups of students.
24. Be a clinical resource to the teachers on effective interventions with students and provide on the spot consultation around effective ways to interact with students.
25. Work with the clinical consultant and classroom teacher to provide a program of effective in-service.
26. Assist students at the high school in identifying career interests and connect to resources that may aid them in obtaining career goals.
27. Provide educational programs to parents to assist them in building effective skills.
28. Assist parents and students in making positive contacts with community resources that may provide support, enrichment, and treatment for the student.
29. Explore and keep aware of community resources that may assist students and parents succeeding in their roles.
30. Facilitate meetings for the purpose of discussing individualized FBAs, BIPs, and student-specific plans.
31. Adhere to all district policies, handbooks, and regulations.
32. Support the philosophy and mission of the Aberdeen School District.
33. Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES

1. Knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures and methods of counseling and working with special needs students.
2. In-depth knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, policies and regulations and impact in the school setting.
3. Knowledge of organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies and operational needs.
4. Knowledge of research and data analysis methods, techniques and procedures.
5. Knowledge of project management principles and methods.
6. Knowledge of District organizational structures and interrelationships and impact of culture’s role in working relationships.
7. Knowledge of modern school counseling methods, practices, and procedures.

8. Knowledge of the District’s operating requirements, policies, procedures, and practices; and local, state, and federal regulations related to department programs and operations.

9. Knowledge of principles and practices of budgeting, fiscal management, project management principles and techniques.

10. Ability to communicate inside and outside of the organization to communicate organizational direction.

11. Skill in conducting long-range planning, including the preparation of work plans and coordination of project teams.

12. Skills in human relations, leadership and conflict management.

13. Ability to work independently, prioritize and resolve issues, complete various and conflicting work assignments in a dynamic environment.

14. Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.

15. Relationship building, consulting and collaborative team building.

16. Provide courteous customer service to and work effectively with the general public, the media, supervisors, co-workers, and employee organizations representing various diverse backgrounds.

17. Research and analyze a variety of complicated information and data, interpret and make recommendations based on research findings, write reports, create spreadsheets and present information.

18. Adapt to fast paced and changing environments.

19. Ability to adjust to differing organizational structures, cultures, leadership and work styles.

20. Proficient use of computers and related software applications, online tracking systems, Internet research tools, and reporting applications.

21. Skill in organizational and time management to prioritize duties to accomplish a high volume of work product while adapting to constant changes in priority.
22. Ability to perform detailed work accurately and independently in compliance with stringent time limits with minimal direction and supervision.
23. Knowledge of current office practices and procedures and knowledge of the operation of standard office equipment and software.
24. Ability to perform mathematical calculations required of this position.
25. Ability to communicate clearly, concisely and effectively in English in both written and verbal form.
26. Ability to apply sound judgment and discretion in performing duties, resolving problems and interpreting policies and regulations.
27. Ability to supervise and provide constructive feedback.
28. Ability to communicate detailed and often sensitive information effectively and concisely, both orally and in writing.
29. Ability to handle sensitive interpersonal situations calmly and tactfully.
30. Ability to maintain professionalism at all times.
31. Ability to maintain effective working relationships with individuals within and outside the organization.
32. Ability to work the allocated hours of the position and respond after hours as needed.

PHYSICAL AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical and work environment characteristics described in this description are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions or as otherwise required by law. Employees needing reasonable accommodation should discuss the request with the employee’s supervisor.

• This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, frequently requires standing, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and reaching with hands and arms.
• Work has standard vision requirements.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities.
• Work has no exposure to adverse environmental conditions.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy office setting (e.g. business office, light traffic).

MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in counseling from an approved school counselor program

• Valid South Dakota School Service Specialist Certificate with School Counselor Endorsement

• Valid Driver’s License

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous counseling experience preferred

• Previous experience working with students with special needs.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Employment is contingent upon a Criminal Justice Fingerprint/Background Clearance, paid for by the applicant.

Nothing in this job description limits management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

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