School Counselor

IMDiversity; Ashburn (VA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

IMDiversity in Virginia seeks a School Counselor to support students’ personal-social, mental health, academic needs and college and career readiness within the ASCA framework. You will help students overcome barriers and guide their growth in a supportive, equity-focused environment.

The role emphasizes data-driven practice, collaboration with families and staff, classroom instruction on life skills, and timely communication about student wellbeing. Experience in school settings is preferred.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in school counseling or related field.
• Eligibility for appropriate licensure.
• Active LPC license may be considered.
• Experience in school counseling and guidance.

Responsibilities

• Support personal-social, mental health, academic needs and college/career readiness of students.
• Provide individual counseling for personal problems related to home, peer, health, and emotional adjustment.
• Conduct small group counseling on topics like study skills, anger management, self-esteem, grief.
• Deliver classroom instruction promoting readiness and bullying prevention.
• Develop Comprehensive School Counseling Program per ASCA model.
• Collect and analyze data on program effectiveness and report to stakeholders.
• Provide in-service training and collaborate with staff on student discipline and wellbeing.
• Collaborate with families and school staff to support student achievement and wellness.
• Interpret school's objectives to students, parents, community; communicate with parents when necessary.

Skills

Counseling theory

Data-driven practices

Communication skills

Collaboration

Technology use

Education

Master’s degree in school counseling or related field

Job description

Overview

The School Counselor helps students overcome problems that impede learning; and assists them in making educational, occupational, and life plans appropriate to their age/maturity level, leading to their development as productive citizens and helping them develop their potential to live full, useful lives.

Responsibilities

• Works to support the personal-social, mental health, academic needs, and college and career readiness of each and every student in the building.
• Works with students on an individual basis in the solution of personal problems related to such situations as home and family relations, peer relations, health, and emotional adjustment; is available to students to provide counseling in such areas as personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.
• Conducts small group counseling on student-selected and data-driven topics such as study skills, social skills, anger management, self-esteem, changing families, and grief.
• Creates and provides classroom instruction every two to three weeks through lessons promoting personal-social, career and college readiness and bullying prevention based on Virginia Department of Education and American School Counselor Association standards for school counseling programs.
• Develops a Comprehensive School Counseling Program which supports the American School Counseling Association Recognized ASCA Model Program.
• Collects, analyzes, and reports complex outcome-oriented data related to the effectiveness of their school counseling program with emphasis on equity and student-centered approach; uses data to determine trends and concerns and communicates data results and implications to stakeholders while also assisting counselors in measuring and reporting the effectiveness of their work.
• Demonstrates fidelity in best practices for a school counseling program through consistent use of technology and monitoring of student outcomes.
• Provides in-service training in school counseling for staff; collaborates with administrators and faculty on matters of student discipline, developmental issues, and identifying significant behaviors such as suicide, self-harm, and depression.
• Fosters professional growth and building a positive climate of support, keeps abreast of current research, participates in professional organizations, and keeps staff informed of state and national issues and trends related to school counseling.
• Collaborates with families, school staff, administrators, and other educational stakeholders to support student achievement and wellness.
• Takes an active role in interpreting the school's objectives to students, parents, and the community at large; confers with parents whenever necessary.

Qualifications

Education

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university and completion of an approved school counseling program.

Experience

• Successful full-time teaching or school guidance and counseling.

Licenses/Certifications

• Eligibility for appropriate licensure.
• An active Licensed Professional Counseling (LPC) license issued by the Virginia Department of Health Professionals (DHP) may be considered in lieu of these requirements.
• In addition to the LPC, the Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) may be eligible.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of the structure and components of an effective school counseling program.
• Knowledge of barriers to student learning.
• Knowledge of data-driven school counseling practices.
• Knowledge of individual counseling, group counseling and classroom instruction methods, techniques, and best practices.
• Knowledge of legal, ethical, and professional issues in public education.
• Knowledge of learning and counseling theories.
• Ability to use technology effectively and efficiently to plan, organize, implement, and evaluate the school counseling services.
• Ability to collaborate with parents, teachers, administrators, community leaders and other stakeholders to promote and support student success.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• An active Licensed Professional Counseling (LPC) license issued by the Virginia Department of Health Professionals (DHP) may be considered in lieu of these requirements.

Physical Requirements

The following provides a brief description of physical requirements for this job: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly talking, expressing, or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. The employee must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly. The employee must possess normal cognitive abilities including the ability to learn, recall and apply certain practices and policies. Frequently sitting and/or remaining in a stationary position for long periods of time. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

Reports to: Principal or Assistant Principal

FLSA status: Exempt

Months/Days/Hours: ES- 10 months/ 200 days/ 7 hours per day

Salary Level: Scale A/Licensed

Salary Scale: lcps.org/compensation

Remote Work Eligible: No

Union Designation: Certified

Position Type: Full-Time

Job Categories:
Student Services > School/Guidance Counselor

Job Requirements
Citizenship, residency or work visa required