Elementary School Counselor

NYOS Charter School

Job Title: School Counselor

Reports to: Elementary Principal

Service Time: 200 days

About NYOS

NYOS, an acronym for "Not Your Ordinary School", is an open-enrollment public charter school located in North Austin. NYOS provides a unique learning experience where all students strive for academic excellence in a close-knit community. We strive to build leaders to serve and succeed in a global society. NYOS encourages excellence through service learning, brain-based teaching, and low student-teacher ratios.

Primary Role:

Work with school faculty and staff, students, parents, and the community to plan, implement, and evaluate comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling programs for NYOS. Counsel students to fully develop each student's academic, career, personal, and social abilities and address the needs of special-population students. This position supports students in Pre-Kindergarten through fifth grade.

Qualifications:

• 
  Master's degree in School Counseling or related mental health field
  
• Valid Texas School Counseling certification + LPC, LMSW, or LCSW preferred
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  Three + years of successful teaching experience required
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  Three + years of successful counseling experience preferred
  
• Knowledge of best practices of counseling procedures, student appraisal, and career development
  
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
  
• Ability to instruct students and manage their behavior

Responsibilities and Duties:

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  Provide counseling and crisis intervention to individuals, and small groups relative to their concerns, including developing confidential relationships with students to help them resolve and/or cope with problems and developmental concerns.
• 
  Teach campus developmental guidance curriculum tailored to campus needs.
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  Assist teachers in the teaching of the guidance-related curriculum.
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  Guide individuals and groups of students to develop education plans and career awareness with other staff members.
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  Work with High School Peer Assistance in Learning (PALS) to facilitate collaboration between HS PALS and elementary students.
  
• Consult with parents, teachers, administrators, and other relevant community members to guide and enhance their work with students.
  
• Together with school and community personnel to provide opportunities and resources for students.
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  Maintain a communication system that effectively collects and disseminates information to other staff members as appropriate.
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  Develop and maintain positive working relationships with other school professionals and representatives of the community.
  
• Understand and utilize an effective referral process for students who need specialized programs and services.
  
• Participate in the coordination, planning, and evaluation of standardized testing programs as required.
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  Interpret tests and other appraisal results appropriately and communicate to school personnel, students, and their parents.
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  Maintain strict confidentiality.
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  Plan school guidance and counseling programs to ensure that they meet identified needs, priorities, and program objectives.
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  Develop and coordinate a continuing evaluation of the guidance program and individual activities and make changes based on findings.
  
• Use technology effectively and efficiently to plan, organize, implement and evaluate a comprehensive school counseling program.
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  Educate the school staff, parents, and community about the school counseling
  
• Compile, maintain, and file all required physical and computerized reports, records, and other documents as required.
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  Comply with policies established by federal and state law, State Board of Education rule with regard to guidance and counseling.
  
• Comply with all district and campus routines, regulations, and policies.
  
• Communicate effectively and maintain a positive and productive relationship with colleagues, students, parents, and community members.
• 
  Adhere to ethical and legal standards and model behavior that is professional and responsible.
  
• Participate in approved professional development to improve skills related to job assignments.
  
• Maintain emotional control under stress and help others to do the same.
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  Be visible to student and staff populations while on
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  Be available to student and staff populations in times of emergency or crisis.

Compensation and Benefits:

NYOS offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience. We also offer a comprehensive package of benefits including:

• Health, dental and vision insurance
  
• Short & Long-term disability
• 
  Participation in the Texas Teachers Retirement System
  
• 403b and 457b investment plans
• 
  Health Savings Accounts
  
• 8 days Paid Time Off
  
• Discounted Health Club Membership
• 
  A culture of continuous learning with opportunities for professional development

Essential Functions

Physical abilities include but are not limited to being able to communicate information clearly as well as the ability to see objects at a close range and at a distance, in order to establish and maintain safe and effective working relationships with staff and students.

(Fingerprinting and background checks are mandatory for all applicants)

NYOS Charter School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, or disability, in hiring or providing education or access to benefits of educational services, activities, and programs. The Executive Director has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Title IX. The Director of Special Services has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Both can be reached at 12301 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78753, 512-583-6967.