ATLAS (Achievement Through Learning and Support) Part-Time School Counselor

Job Title : ATLAS (Achievement Through Learning and Support) School Counselor

Reports to (Title) : ATLAS Coordinator

Terms of Employment :

Hours per day : 4

Days per year : 190

Type of position : Part time, .5

Part time, .5

Status : Exempt

Exempt

General Summary :

Through leadership, advocacy and collaboration, the ATLAS school counselor promotes equity and access to rigorous educational experiences for all students.

ATLAS school counselors support a safe learning environment, work to safeguard the human rights of all members of the school community, and address the needs of all students through culturally relevant prevention and intervention programs that are a part of a comprehensive school counseling program.

Assists in other ATLAS and district programs as assigned.

Essential Functions :

• Supports and upholds the mission, vision and strategic goals of Lexington County School District One.
• Effectively interacts, communicates and collaborates with students, parents, colleagues and other stakeholders to foster student learning.
• Establishes a safe, supportive, positive and productive learning environment for all students.
• Upholds the ethical and professional standards of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and other applicable professional counseling associations.
• Supports a school counseling program based on ASCA National Model, the South Carolina Comprehensive School Counseling and Career Guidance Model, South Carolina Education and Economic Development Act and school board policies.

The South Carolina state model highlights six defined standards for school counselors.

• Core Program Components are Define, Manage, Deliver and Assess.
• Provides a nurturing and brief, solution focused learning environment that fosters behavioral growth through trauma-informed practices, behavioral health development and positive behavioral approaches through personalized learning paths and collaborative partnerships with families and schools.
• Collaborates and meets with families and external mental health professionals or agencies to provide services for students attending the ATLAS program.

Define : Three sets of school counseling standards define the school counseling profession. These standards help the ATLAS school counselor develop, implement and assess the counseling program to improve student outcomes.

These are composed of Student Standards which are ASCA mindsets and behaviors for students success : K-12 college and career readiness for every student.

Professional standards include ASCA ethical standards for school counselors and ASCA school counselor professional standards and competencies.

Manage : To be delivered effectively, the school counseling program, combined with the ATLAS program mission and objectives, must be efficiently and effectively managed.

Program focus, program domains and planning tools guide the design and implementation of a school counseling program that gets results.

Program domains incorporate learning to live (social / emotional), learning to learn (academic) and learning to work (career).

Program planning includes ATLAS and school data summary, action plans (classroom and group and closing the gap), lesson plans, annual administrative conference, use of time, and calendars (annual and weekly).

No more than 20% of a school counselor’s time should be spent in program planning and school support activities.

Deliver : ATLAS School counselor delivers developmentally appropriate activities and services directly to students or indirectly for students as a result of the school counselor’s interaction with others.

These activities and services help students develop the ASCA mindsets and behaviors for student success and improve their achievement, attendance and discipline.

Direct student services are composed of instruction, appraisal and advisement, and counseling. ATLAS school counselor also ensures the delivery of district leadership lessons and Erin’s law lessons.

Indirect student services include consultation, collaboration and referrals. A minimum of 80% of a school counselor’s time should be spent in direct and indirect student services.

The national and state model identifies the appropriate and inappropriate activities for school counselors. ATLAS school counselor serves all ATLAS students and activities will provide brief, solution focused strategies and interventions.

ATLAS time allocations have been adjusted. For the ATLAS counselor, instruction time allocation is 10-20 percent, appraisal and advisement is 5-10 percent, counseling is 45-50 percent, and indirect on behalf of students is 15-20 percent.

Non-school counseling tasks are duties and tasks outside the role of the school counselor and program implementation. Time allocation is 20 percent or less.

Assess : To achieve the best results for students, the ATLAS school counselor regularly assesses the program to determine effectiveness, inform improvements to their school counseling program design and delivery and show how students are different as a result of the school counseling program.

The ATLAS school counselor also self-assesses his / her own mindsets and behaviors to inform his / her professional development and annually participate in a state’s school counselor performance appraisal with a qualified administrator.

Program assessment incorporates school counseling program assessment and annual results reports. School counselor assessment and appraisals includes the ASCA school counselor professional standards and competencies assessment and the school counselor performance appraisal template.

Minimum Education / Work Experience :

• Master’s degree in school counseling
• Valid South Carolina certification / licensure standards
• Minimum of three years of experience

Knowledge / Skills :

Knowledge of the policies, procedures and activities of the school district which pertain to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position.

Knowledge of and ability to implement methods for developing lesson plans and materials and classroom activities which stimulate learning and provide for personalization.

Knowledge of the records, forms and reports which must be prepared and maintained. Knowledge of and ability to demonstrate proper maintenance, safe operation and utilization of equipment, materials and supplies used in daily activities.

Knowledge of and ability to implement counseling methods necessary for handling student academic, personal, social / emotional, and adjustment problems.

Knowledge of and ability to activate available student services and referral procedures. Ability to appropriately supervise students in various counseling and instructional activities and situations.

Ability to demonstrate high level application of technology devices in the performance of daily activities. Ability to interact and communicate effectively with students, parents, teachers, administrators, colleagues and all other stakeholders involved in the activities of the job.

Working Conditions :

Conducts duties in an environment with no significant exposure to adverse environmental conditions. Requires ability to perform counseling duties often subject to tight deadlines, legal ramifications, crisis and emergency issues, etc.

Physical demands are restricted to work requiring occasional lifting / moving of items weighing up to twenty-five pounds. Limited travel is required.

Responsibility :

Responsible for supervising students, as appropriate, in implementing the total school counseling program. Responsible for school counseling materials and supplies budget (if applicable).

Evaluation :

Performance of this job will be evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the school board’s policy on evaluation of certified personnel.

Disclaimer Statement :

This job description is not intended as a complete listing of job duties. The incumbent is responsible for the performance of other related duties as assigned / required.