Middle School Counselor SY26-27

Sanders Unified School District; Laurens (SC); On-site; USD 38,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A school district in South Carolina is seeking a Counselor to assist students in overcoming social and emotional challenges to foster academic success. The ideal candidate will have a Master’s in Educational Counseling and preferably three years of experience in a school setting. Responsibilities include student registration, transition support, and maintaining student records. Strong communication skills and an understanding of Navajo culture are important. The position will require attendance at staff meetings and participation in training activities.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Educational Counseling or Educational Psychology required.
• At least three years of experience in a school setting preferred.
• Must be well versed in Navajo tradition and culture.
• Familiarity with Navajo tradition and culture.
• Experience with Navajo students preferred; bilingual Navajo/English a plus.
• Pass a positive background check with references.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the registration and orientation of new students.
• Conduct transition support for grade changes.
• Work to resolve students' educational hardships.
• Coordinate grade-transition activities (5th→6th, 8th→9th).
• Maintain student records and protect confidentiality; support RTI monitoring.
• Support counseling, career exploration, and preventing dropouts.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Collaboration skills

Good computer operating skills

Understanding of Navajo tradition and culture

Education

Master's Degree in Educational Counseling or Educational Psychology

ADE State Teacher Certification

Job description

Position Type: Student Support Services/ Counselor

Date Posted: 4/6/2026

Qualifications

• A Master's Degree in Educational Counseling or Educational Psychology. At least three (3) years of successful working experience in a school setting is preferred. Able to work well with other counseling staff.
• ADE State Teacher Certification Teaching credential and counseling endorsement.
• Must have good computer operating skills.
• Must have excellent communication/collaboration skills.
• Must be well versed in Navajo Tradition and culture.
• Experience working with Navajo students preferred.
• Experience developing, documenting and evaluating educational programs. Preferably bilingual, Navajo/English.
• Ability to pass a positive background check, including references from previous immediate supervisors.

Supervised By

School Principal

Terms of Employment

Ten (11) months per year

Salary

Salary is to be determined by district pay scale and Board.

Position Goal

To assist students to overcome social and emotional problems that impede learning and to assist them in making educational, occupational, and life plans that hold promise for personal fulfillment as mature men and women.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists in the registration of new students and orients them.
• Responsible for placement of new ELL students (using PHLOTE), referral for testing (AZELLA) and reclassification of current ELL students including all record keeping for permanent files.
• Prepare the Master Schedule for each school year. Updates transcripts for incoming students. Add semester grades each semester. Make sure permanent records are up to date.
• Conducts and organizes transition support for grades moving from 5th to 6th and from 8th to 9th.
• Assists students in course/subject selection while conducting the scheduling of the student body.
• Maintains student records on the computer relating to the counseling program and protects their confidentiality.
• Works to resolve students' educational hardships.
• Works to discover and develop special abilities of students.
• Helps prepare students for entry into an appropriate high school course of study.
• Assists in the placement in appropriate Summer School Programs.
• Guides students and families in their participation in school and community activities.
• Assists building in RTI monitoring by evaluating student aptitudes and abilities through the interpretation of individual attendance patterns, positive behavior supports, academic progress, math and reading performance, and other pertinent intervention data.
• Helps students evaluate career interests and choices.
• Works to prevent students from dropping out of school.
• Works with students on an individual basis in the solution of personal problems related to home-family relations, peer group problems, health, and emotional adjustment.
• Confers with parents whenever necessary to include home visits, if necessary.
• Interprets the SUSD Guidance/Counseling Program to the community and makes Chapter House visitations.
• Assists in providing in‑service training in guidance and related fields to teachers.
• Assists administrators and teachers in matters of student discipline, attendance, and academics.
• Assists in the orientation/mentoring of new faculty members.
• Organize and oversee small intervention groups each semester concerning topics such as substance abuse, divorce, death/dying, domestic violence, etc.
• Will demonstrate competency in the use of the computer.
• Will assist in the preparation and distribution of student progress reports and report cards.
• Will prepare and submit to the Principal prior to leaving school at the end of the school year a list indicating what class each student will be placed into according to teacher/admission recommendation. A log of counseling session data will be submitted at the end of each month.
• Will compile and publish an A and A/B honor roll in accordance with school policies.
• Will prepare and work with Principal in early spring to create a list of the students promoting or possible retentions from grade level to grade level.
• Will prepare and maintain a Counseling Service Handbook.
• Organizes and administers AIMS and tabulates those standardized tests required by district and any accompanying reports as needed.
• Maintains accurate inventory records and faithfully submits budget requests, requisitions, and work orders according to school and district policies, regulations, and procedures.
• Assists the administrators in implementing all policies/rules governing student life and conduct.
• Faithfully performs all special duty and extra duty assignments as required. (Example: lunch duty, hall duty, class/club assignments.)
• Attend all staff meetings as required and serve on all staff committees as required.
• Strives to maintain and improve professional competence.
• Performs other such tasks and assumes responsibilities as the Principal, Superintendent and Board may require.
• Faithfully follows those procedures and complies with those requirements as stated in the District and handbook.