About Job
Overview Of Position
Elementary School Counselors provide services to students at grades K-5.
"The purpose and role of the school counselor is planning, organizing, and delivering a comprehensive school guidance and counseling program that personalizes education and supports, promotes, and enhances the academic, personal, social, and career development of all students, based on the national standards for school counseling programs of the American School Counselor Association."--RCW 28A.410.043
School counselors deliver instruction, plan school wide programs and events, and provide some short-term goal-focused counseling, in an MTSS model. They provide tier 1 services which include a comprehensive program which includes district and locally determined events and curriculum, as well as district and locally determined tier 2 and tier 3 interventions. Additionally, all K-12 school counselors should support a college and career culture in the school building which promotes concrete connections between academic learning with future goals, career exploration and college knowledge. The foundation for all school counselor work is to advocate for equitable policies and practices; and being the advocate voice for students.
Position reports to: Assigned principal
Essential Functions
60% - Direct Services:
Duties
Indirect services are provided on behalf of students as a result of the school counselors’ interactions with others. Indirect services should be assigned as other fair share duties. Indirect services include:
The school counselor should design and implement a comprehensive school counseling program which includes direct and indirect services to support district strategic goals. School counselors incorporate district requirements and data-driven decision making in a tiered service model. School Counselors create an annual school counseling plan and evaluate the programs outcome.
Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Acquired information that is necessary to do the job (e.g., knowledge of accounting, XML programming language).
Uses analysis, wisdom, experience and logical methods to make good decisions and solve difficult problems with effective solutions; appropriately incorporates multiple inputs to establish shared ownership and effective action.
Anticipates future consequences and trends accurately; brings creative ideas to market; recognizes strategic opportunities for change; creates competitive and breakthrough strategies.
Creates a climate in which people want to do their best; can assess each person's strengths and use them to get the best out of him or her; promotes confidence and optimistic attitudes; is someone people like working for and with.
Is personally committed to and actively works to continuously improve him or herself; recognizes the need to change personal, interpersonal, and managerial behavior; actively seeks feedback.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills. Employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed. District employees are not authorized to make promises of employment for a particular period of time, or promises of a particular level of compensation or benefits to job applicants for certified or classified positions, and that any such agreement must be in writing and signed by the Superintendent. Any verbal or written statements to that effect by District employees other than the Superintendent are null and void.
Education
Typical Qualifications
Master’s degree in School Counseling or A Master's degree or Ph.D. in another field will substitute for the degree requirement if all the coursework requirements for a Master's in School Counseling have been met.
Preferred Education
Master’s of education degree in School Counseling
Experience
Experience with a comprehensive school counseling program and familiarity with the American School Counselor Association Framework for School Counseling Programs preferred
Preferred Experience
2-3 years’ experience with a comprehensive school counseling program and familiarity with the American School Counselor Association Framework for School Counseling Programs preferred
Certifications & Licenses
Valid ESA School Counselor Certificate
Continuing Education/Training
Ability to attend professional development.
Clearances
Criminal justice fingerprint and background check.
Seattle Public Schools benefits are administered by the Washington State Healthcare Authority (HCA) under the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB). Click
Eligibility for benefits is determined by the number of hours employees are anticipated to work during the school year (September 1 through August 31). Any employee who is scheduled to work 630 hours or more in a year is eligible for benefits.
Salary Schedule
Please find the salary schedule associated with this role and others like it
01
Do you have or will you have a valid Washington State OSPI Educational Staff Associate (ESA) Certificate with the School Counselor endorsement by the position start date?
Are you a current Seattle Public Schools employee with a certificated contract for the next school year?
Are you a current Seattle Public Schools certificated substitute?
Are you under contract with a district other than Seattle Public Schools for the next school year?
Elementary School Counselors provide services to students at grades K-5.
"The purpose and role of the school counselor is planning, organizing, and delivering a comprehensive school guidance and counseling program that personalizes education and supports, promotes, and enhances the academic, personal, social, and career development of all students, based on the national standards for school counseling programs of the American School Counselor Association."--RCW 28A.410.043
School counselors deliver instruction, plan school wide programs and events, and provide some short-term goal-focused counseling, in an MTSS model. They provide tier 1 services which include a comprehensive program which includes district and locally determined events and curriculum, as well as district and locally determined tier 2 and tier 3 interventions. Additionally, all K-12 school counselors should support a college and career culture in the school building which promotes concrete connections between academic learning with future goals, career exploration and college knowledge. The foundation for all school counselor work is to advocate for equitable policies and practices; and being the advocate voice for students.
Position reports to: Assigned principal
Essential Functions
60% - Direct Services:
- School Counseling Instruction: delivery of district and locally determined structured lessons to help students attain desired competencies in three domains: academic, career, and personal/social, supporting the knowledge, attitudes, and skills appropriate for students’ developmental level;
- Appraisal and Advising: school counselors coordinate and provide large-group, classroom, small-group, individual ongoing systemic activities designed to assist students in establishing personal goals and developing future goals; using strengths, learning and career inventories;
- Responsive services: designed to meet students’ immediate needs and concerns, including short-term individual counseling, small-group settings, and/or crisis response; referral to outside services as appropriate
Duties
Indirect services are provided on behalf of students as a result of the school counselors’ interactions with others. Indirect services should be assigned as other fair share duties. Indirect services include:
- Consultation (such as being part of MTSS), Collaboration (acting as student advocate during IEP, 504, or Student intervention meetings), Providing Outside Community, Mental Health or other Resource Options to students, families or those who support students.
The school counselor should design and implement a comprehensive school counseling program which includes direct and indirect services to support district strategic goals. School counselors incorporate district requirements and data-driven decision making in a tiered service model. School Counselors create an annual school counseling plan and evaluate the programs outcome.
- Accountability: school counselors utilize data to determine effectiveness of the school counseling program and counseling interventions to guide future actions and improve future results for all students. School counselors provide annual results for their services and interventions that supports District Strategic goals.
- Attends Seattle Schools’ professional development sessions to increase professional growth and to implement and improve personal and district processes.
- Per state law tasks such as monitoring testing, supervising students at lunch and recess, assuming duties of other Non-counseling staff are not direct or indirect services.
Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Acquired information that is necessary to do the job (e.g., knowledge of accounting, XML programming language).
- Implicit bias, culturally responsive teaching, anti-racist practices and racial equity literacy
- State content standards and district curricular materials.
- Setting student academic achievement goals, continuous progress monitoring, and adjusting instruction based on formative and interim assessment data
Uses analysis, wisdom, experience and logical methods to make good decisions and solve difficult problems with effective solutions; appropriately incorporates multiple inputs to establish shared ownership and effective action.
- Weighs the consequences of options before making a decision.
- Applies appropriate criteria to situations for the purpose of making decisions.
- Displays self-confidence in own judgment.
- Focuses in the facts and solutions instead of opinions and problems.
Anticipates future consequences and trends accurately; brings creative ideas to market; recognizes strategic opportunities for change; creates competitive and breakthrough strategies.
- Sees ahead clearly and accurately anticipates how potential ideas may play out.
- Thinks holistically by combining ideas in unique ways or making connection between different ideas.
- Examines and evaluates potential solutions to determine where the greatest gain can be achieved.
- Creates new ways of thinking to address complex issues.
Creates a climate in which people want to do their best; can assess each person's strengths and use them to get the best out of him or her; promotes confidence and optimistic attitudes; is someone people like working for and with.
- Creates a climate in which people want and choose to do their best.
- Makes each individual feel that his/her work is important.
- Determines what motivates each person and uses it to get the best out of him/her.
- Is someone that people like working for and with.
Is personally committed to and actively works to continuously improve him or herself; recognizes the need to change personal, interpersonal, and managerial behavior; actively seeks feedback.
- Persistence and motivation to continuously improve one’s skills.
- Builds on strengths and addresses opportunities.
- Demonstrates an openness to learn from one’s own mistakes.
- Seeks feedback from others and is receptive to new perspectives and ideas.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills. Employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed. District employees are not authorized to make promises of employment for a particular period of time, or promises of a particular level of compensation or benefits to job applicants for certified or classified positions, and that any such agreement must be in writing and signed by the Superintendent. Any verbal or written statements to that effect by District employees other than the Superintendent are null and void.
Education
Typical Qualifications
Master’s degree in School Counseling or A Master's degree or Ph.D. in another field will substitute for the degree requirement if all the coursework requirements for a Master's in School Counseling have been met.
Preferred Education
Master’s of education degree in School Counseling
Experience
Experience with a comprehensive school counseling program and familiarity with the American School Counselor Association Framework for School Counseling Programs preferred
Preferred Experience
2-3 years’ experience with a comprehensive school counseling program and familiarity with the American School Counselor Association Framework for School Counseling Programs preferred
Certifications & Licenses
Valid ESA School Counselor Certificate
Continuing Education/Training
Ability to attend professional development.
Clearances
Criminal justice fingerprint and background check.
Seattle Public Schools benefits are administered by the Washington State Healthcare Authority (HCA) under the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB). Click
Eligibility for benefits is determined by the number of hours employees are anticipated to work during the school year (September 1 through August 31). Any employee who is scheduled to work 630 hours or more in a year is eligible for benefits.
Salary Schedule
Please find the salary schedule associated with this role and others like it
01
Do you have or will you have a valid Washington State OSPI Educational Staff Associate (ESA) Certificate with the School Counselor endorsement by the position start date?
- Yes
- No
Are you a current Seattle Public Schools employee with a certificated contract for the next school year?
- Yes
- No
Are you a current Seattle Public Schools certificated substitute?
- Yes
- No
Are you under contract with a district other than Seattle Public Schools for the next school year?
- Yes
- No
Professional Field



Patient Focus
Diagnoses
Avoidant Personality Disorder
Issues
Minority Health
Age Groups
Preteens/Tweens (11-13)
Therapeutic Approach
Methodologies
ECT
Modalities
Individuals
Practice Specifics
Populations
Elementary/Secondary Ed.
Victims of Crime/Abuse (VOC/VOA)
Racial Justice Allied
School
Settings
Research Facilities/Labs/Clinical Trials
Schools
Home Health/In-home
Forensic
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