Counselor Substitutes K-12 (See add'l job information)

Washoe County School District; Reno (NV); On-site; USD 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Washoe County School District in Reno, NV seeks a licensed School Counselor to implement a comprehensive, equitable counseling program aligned with the Nevada model. The counselor will serve PK-16 students, focusing on academic, career, and social/emotional development, delivering services directly and indirectly.

This role emphasizes trauma-informed practices, data-driven improvement, collaboration with teachers, families, and community partners, and ongoing professional growth to promote

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in school counseling or related field from an accredited institution.
• Nevada educator license with a school counselor endorsement required or ability to obtain.
• Experience in school counseling preferred.

Responsibilities

• Helps students develop academic, social, and emotional skills.
• Establishes and manages the school counseling program based on ASCA model.
• Provides direct and indirect counseling services.
• Addresses crisis and mental wellness in collaboration with staff.
• Analyzes student data to identify needs and guide interventions.
• Collaborates with families and community partners.

Skills

Interpersonal relations

Trauma-informed care

Crisis counseling

Data analysis

Communication with families

Education

Master's degree in school counseling or related field

Tools

Infinite Campus

Job description

Summary Description Under direction of the School Principal or Counseling Coordinator, the counselor will implement a comprehensive equitable school counseling program by creating services and activities to support the State of Nevada's School Counseling Model. The program, comprehensive in scope, preventative in design and developmental in nature focuses on what all students PK-16 should know, understand and be able to do in three domain areas: academic, career and social/emotional. School counseling programs help all students achieve academic and behavioral success in school and develop an understanding of the connection between school and the world of work, including the value of a job across the lifespan. The counselor performs counseling activities, which includes helping all students develop specific academic and career development skills, establishing the school counseling program, supporting social and emotional development, mental wellness, working with the school community, and networking with all professionals at the school and within the counseling community. School Counselors shall devote not less than 80 percent of time providing direct or indirect services to pupils.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Helps all students develop skills in academic, social, and emotional growth, educational planning, and career and vocational development.
• Establishes the school counseling program based upon the American School Counseling Association (ACSA) model and develops activities and resources to implement and evaluate the program.
• Provides direct and indirect counseling services.
• Assists with restorative practices.
• Educates and advocates for trauma-sensitive and informed schools.
• Analyzes data concerning academic, career, social, and emotional development of pupils to identify issues, needs, and challenges.
• Addresses needs relating to academic, career, social, and emotional development of all pupils.
• Assists students with investigating career opportunities.
• Supports all stakeholders to help all students become career and college ready.
• Assists students with acquiring skills that maximize social and emotional development.
• Assists students with developing skills that support academic achievement and lifelong learning.
• Advocates for equitable access to a rigorous education for all pupils and works to remove systemic barriers.
• Delivers school counseling lessons through large-group, classroom, small-group, and individual settings to promote pupil success.
• Provides individual pupil services relating to academic planning and goal setting.
• Provides peer facilitation, crisis counseling, and short-term counseling to pupils in individual and small-group settings.
• Provides referrals to pupils and parents or legal guardians as needed for additional support services.
• Participates on committees within the school and the district, as appropriate.
• Participates in planning for and implementing a response to a crisis at the school, including the school improvement process and supporting staff progress toward educational goals.
• Works with the community to assist students and families in need of services outside the school’s resources.
• Networks with all professionals at school and within the counseling community to monitor and assess student needs.
• Maintains confidentiality, facilitates, and/or participates in conferences with teachers, students, and parents.
• Consults with and serves as a resource for the community.
• Maintains student records and uses Infinite Campus (IC) appropriately.
• Complies with school and district policies and state and federal laws.
• Attends trainings and ongoing professional development.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education/Experience: Any combination of education and experience that could likely provide the required knowledge in qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills would be:

Education: Master's Degree or a more advanced degree in school counseling or related field from a regionally accredited college.

Licenses/Certificates: Possession of, or the ability to obtain, a valid Nevada educator license with a school counselor endorsement is required.

Other Job Requirements

None.

Preferred Qualifications

None.

Competencies For Successful Performance Of Job Duties

• Child development.
• Behavior and characteristics of students.
• Mental wellness in children.
• Interpersonal relations.
• Effective instructional practices.
• National Model Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success.
• Federal education school law.
• National school counseling model and state school counseling program standards.
• Legal and ethical standards of school counseling.
• Career development models.
• Application of local resources.
• Use of technology in education.
• Signs and symptoms of substance abuse.
• Listening and communicating.
• Implementing and supporting collaborative decision making.
• Working with culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with teachers, administrators, and other staff members.
• Working with school-age children and families.
• Support positive student behavioral interventions.
• Collecting and analyzing data and drawing logical conclusions.
• Effective instructional methodology in the classroom.

Work Environment / Conditions

The work environment and exposures described here 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. The environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meetings, training rooms, libraries, residences, or commercial vehicles, e.g., use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of fire regulations, and traffic signals. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here 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. The work is sedentary. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items such as paper, books, or small parts, or driving an automobile. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

Job Specification Note

THIS JOB SPECIFICATION SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED TO IMPLY THAT THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE THE EXCLUSIVE STANDARDS OF THE POSITION. INCUMBENTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW ANY OTHER INSTRUCTIONS AND TO PERFORM ANY OTHER RELATED DUTIES AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THEIR SUPERVISOR.

District Commitment

Washoe County School District is committed to providing a safe and respectful learning and working environment for all students, staff, and visitors. The District prohibits bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, and/or discrimination based on an individual's actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veterans or military status, marital status, disability or any sensory, physical or mental handicap in any of its educational programs or employment activities. The District prohibits discrimination against any youth group listed in Title 36, as a patriotic society (i.e., Boy Scouts of America) from access to public school facilities use.

Internal Job Number

2026/27

Salary

School Counselor Substitute employees shall be placed on the ENTRY step of the appropriate salary class (TA-TH) on the Washoe County School District Teacher Salary Schedule. Placement will be determined by official transcripts and verified educational attainment consistent with the education columns established on the Teacher Salary Schedule. Salaries are subject to adjustment and may increase and decrease each fiscal year.

Additional Job Information

Applicants must possess a State of Nevada Counseling Endorsement.

Benefits

• No waiting period on Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance. Employees may select an insurance plan wherein WCSD contributes 100% of insurance premiums.
• Sick Leave, Holiday Pay and Vacation Pay.
• Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Contribution options will be explained in detail during the New Employee Orientation.
• Salary Increases.
• Longevity Bonuses.
• Guidance Resources.
• And more – visit our Benefits page for more information.

Fingerprinting and Conditional Offer

New employees will be fingerprinted upon hire and will have $58.50 deducted from their first paycheck to help defray the cost of fingerprinting. Fingerprint fees are subject to change. Your job offer is conditional until a report is returned from the FBI and Nevada Department of Public Safety that meets the standards of WCSD for employment purposes.

Reasonable Accommodation

Any applicant who would like to request a reasonable accommodation in any step of the selection process should contact the Office of Human Resources at 775-348-0321.

Contact Inquiries

If you need further information or have any questions, please contact Katherine Loudon in the Counseling Department at [phone].