Counselor Pool (2026-2027)

Fort Worth ISD; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Fort Worth ISD is seeking an experienced school counselor to develop and implement a comprehensive guidance program in alignment with the Texas Education Code and ASCA ethics. You will engage students in career planning, college readiness activities, and personal development within a collaborative district framework.

The role requires delivering counseling services across MTSS, maintaining records, and partnering with families, teachers, and community resources to support student success and

Qualifications

• Masters degree from an accredited college or university required.
• Valid Texas Counselor certification required.
• Experience: 2 years classroom teaching experience preferred.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) working proficiency preferred in some settings.

Responsibilities

• Leads a data-driven, developmental guidance program aligned to student needs and TEC/ district policies.
• Adheres to the ASCA Code of Ethics.
• Engages students in transition planning through Career Day, guidance lessons, and College Readiness activities.
• Advocates for students and mediates on their behalf.
• Provides counseling within MTSS and crisis response procedures.
• Creates and maintains calendars for the school year; documents counseling activities and outcomes.
• Collaborates with campus and district stakeholders to plan objectives and monitor progress.

Skills

Guidance program development

Ethics adherence

Student advocacy

MTSS participation

Data-driven planning

Collaboration with stakeholders

Calendar & scheduling

Education

Master's degree

Texas Counselor certification

Texas Teaching Certificate (preferred)

Job description

Location:

To Be Determined

Salary:

Counselor Salary Schedule

Duty Days:

Elementary School: 189

Middle School: 197

High School: 210

Some positions may be grant-funded and are contingent on availability of funds.

Position Purpose

Develops and implements a comprehensive developmental guidance program for all students to promote student success and school completion as specified by law in the Texas Education Code Section 33.005.

Essential Job Functions

• Leads and manages a data-driven, developmental, comprehensive guidance program using a continuous improvement implementation cycle that is aligned to student needs and demonstrates a positive impact on student achievement, attendance, and discipline outcomes.
• Adhere to the ASCA Code of Ethics.
• Engages students in developing, implementing, updating, and completing transition plans through personalized education activities including career awareness and college-readiness experiences such as Career Day, guidance lessons, and Education Go Get It Week that support goal setting and planning for postsecondary pathways, six-year (progression) plans, Personal Graduation Plans for identified students, and student interest inventories.
• Advocates for students, mediates and facilitates on behalf of student interests and needs.
• Provides engaging student guidance lessons effectively and systematically as evidenced by student and teacher feedback (topics and schedule for all students according to TEC and District Policy).
• Provides responsive, intentional counseling to students identified as needing additional support to address specific student outcomes and identified goals; Serves on the campus and district Crisis Response Team, consistently responds to students in crisis and follows established district protocols, policies, and relevant laws.
• Creates and maintains annual and weekly calendars that outline the events and activities that will be implemented for the school year. The content in the calendars align with the vision, mission, and student outcome goals.
• Maintains daily accurate professional records of counseling and Student Support Services related activities.
• Responds to students individually and serves as an active participant in the multi-tiered system (MTSS) process for identifying and supporting struggling learners early.
• Selects and uses counselor interventions appropriate to student needs and circumstances.
• Provides skill-based small group counseling with guardian consent including specific student outcomes and goals identified; provides referral when appropriate.
• Facilitates early interventions and student referrals to school/district special programs and/or services.
• Engages parents and provides targeted parent education opportunities related to personalized education, career awareness and college readiness, and prevention topics.
• Educates faculty, parents, community, and students about the guidance program and services through public information programs (Open House, PTO meetings, campus website, newsletters, and so forth).
• Interprets assessment data (MAPS, PSAT 8/9, PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP Potential, and so forth) to students and parents as a student advocate to promote understanding of educational planning options.
• Interprets information and ideas effectively and participates in campus wide staff development.
• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with all stakeholders, representatives from community agencies, mentors and others supporting the counseling program.
• Collaborates and develops data driven program objectives (CEIP/MEASURE) and monitors progress each 6 weeks throughout the year.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of individual activities and the overall program success in meeting desired student outcomes identified in the counseling to submit year-end reports to all stakeholders.
• Collaborates in the planning and evaluation of student assessment activities.
• Observes ethical standards of the Texas and the American School Counselor Associations.
• Pursues continuous professional growth and development to maintain current understanding of procedures and best practices in the field of professional school counseling.
• Creates campus advisory council and meets at least once during the school year to evaluate the school counseling program.
• Utilizes data to guide decision making, in student development and placement, direct instruction lesson content, and small group counseling interventions as well as measure the effectiveness of these prevention and intervention components.
• Provides individual student advisory sessions and transcript audits according to the guidance and counseling timelines.
• Schedules students in a coherent sequence of courses aligned to the students chosen career/CTE pathway.
• Assists students with the completion of college, scholarship, and financial aid applications (FAFSA/TASFA); provides financial aid information to students and parents.
• Coordinates work with counseling aide(s) and clerical employee(s).
• Performs counseling related responsibility aligned with the Texas Education Code.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None.

Personal Work Relationships

• All Fort Worth ISD employees must maintain a commitment to the Districts mission, vision, and strategic goals.
• Exhibits high professionalism, standards of conduct and work ethic.
• Demonstrates high quality customer service; builds rapport/relationship with the consumer.
• Demonstrates cultural competence in interactions with others; is respectful of co-workers; communicates and acts as a team player; promotes teamwork; responds and acts appropriately in confrontational situations.

Other Duties As Assigned

• Performs all job-related duties as assigned and in accordance with Board rules, policies and regulations. All employees are expected to comply with lawful directives in rare situations driven by need where a team effort is required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of comprehensive guidance programs, counseling procedures, intervention skills, student appraisal, career development and post-secondary opportunities.
• Knowledge of differentiated instruction based upon student learning styles.
• Knowledge of data information systems, data analysis and the formulation of action plans.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws regarding education and students.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships, including using tact, patience, and courtesy.
• Ability to instruct students and manage their behavior.
• Ability to present information in one‑on‑one, small group, and large group situations to students, parents, and district staff.
• Knowledge of pre/post high school program eligibility requirements.
• Knowledge of college/university admissions processes, scholarship programs and other educational opportunities.
• Knowledge of current developments in business and industry regarding career opportunities and employment.
• Ability to maintain confidential student records.
• Ability to use software to access databases, email, and do word processing.
• Ability to organize and coordinate work.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both oral and written forms, with District leaders, students and parents.
• Ability to engage in self‑evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.

Travel Requirements

• Travels to school district buildings and professional meetings as required.

Physical & Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment, including computer and peripherals; standard instructional equipment such as Promethean Board.
• Posture: Prolonged sitting; frequent standing; occasional stooping, squatting, kneeling, bending, pushing/pulling, and twisting.
• Motion: Frequent walking; frequent repetitive hand motions, including keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching.
• Lifting: Regular light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds)
• Environment: Works inside; may work outside; may require occasional irregular and/or prolonged hours. Promotes a positive, caring environment.
• Attendance: Regular and punctual attendance at the worksite is required for this position.
• Mental Demands: Maintains emotional control under stress; works with frequent interruptions.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Education:
• Masters degree from accredited college or university required;
• Certificate/License:
• Valid Texas Counselor certification required;
• Valid Texas Teaching Certificate preferred.
• Experience:
• 2 years classroom teaching experience in a public or accredited private school preferred.
• Language: Bilingual (English/Spanish) working proficiency preferred in some settings.

Some positions may be grant-funded and are contingent on availability of funds.

This document is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.