South Fayette Township School District
3680 Old Oakdale Road
McDonald, PA 15057

; Fax
www.southfayette.org
Job Description
TITLE: Permanent Substitute Elementary School Counselor (August - December, 2025)
REPORTS TO: Elementary School Principals and Director of Student Support Services
JOB GOALS:

• To promote optimal academic, career, and personal/social development in each elementary school student

• To promote the school's mission including student achievement, student - teacher relationships, and community participation

• To promote a positive and inclusive school climate and environment

• To promote an understanding of the elementary school child among staff and parents

• To help students overcome problems that impede learning, and assist all students in achieving academic success.

• To establish rapport with students, parents, and other staff members in the elementary school

• To work collaboratively with other members of the educational team

• To function as the central figure in carrying out the school counseling program as an integral component of the total educational program

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Valid Pennsylvania certificate as a K-12 School Counselor

• Masters Degree in Counselor Education from an approved program of studies

• 3.0 or higher QPA

• Working knowledge of best practices in school counseling according to the guidelines of the American School Counselor Association

• Working knowledge of the characteristics that when present in an elementary school will over time lead to higher levels of student achievement and overall development.

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills

• Demonstrate personal growth and professional development

• Demonstrate computer literacy especially in using the administrative software program effectively, retrieval of student information, maintaining student attendance, etc.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work with students on an individual basis in the solution of personal problems related to such issues as school, home and family relations, health, and emotional adjustment.

• Remain readily available to students so as to provide counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.

• Address students' study habits, skills and attitudes, test anxiety, and barriers to motivation and academic success.

• Provide developmental counseling activities/lessons about diversity, bullying, conflict resolution, interpersonal skills, and other relevant topics, in the classrooms.

• Facilitate small group experiences for students around such topics as divorce, friendship, anger management, grief/loss, etc.

• Monitor students for excessive absences and follow-up with parents/guardians in accordance to the School Board Policy.

• Lead and complete the school attendance improvement process for students with chronic absenteeism.

• Assist in the maintenance of student files, including academic records, confidential records, test results, and transcripts.

• Meet with students who are experiencing academic failure and create a plan for improvement through the child study process.

• Confer with parents on issues related to counseling whenever necessary.

• Assist administrators as needed in matters of behavioral and disciplinary issues that interfere with learning.

• Accept and make referrals to teams; processes, screens, and provides interventions for students at-risk.

• Serve as a member of the Child Study Team and Crisis Management Team.

• Possess knowledge of mental health diagnoses, supports, and interventions.

• Mediate conflict resolution meetings when necessary.

• Serve as building contact for students experiencing emotional distress.

• Attend the elementary school grade level team meetings to address the needs of individual students.

• Work with teachers and other staff members to familiarize them with the general range of services offered by the counseling department and to improve the educational prospects of individual students.

• Register new students to the school and orient them to school procedures and the school's varied opportunities for learning.

• Review the records of new students and ensure all documentation needed is provided.

• Work with the appropriate individuals regarding new students' transferred documents for planning purposes and appropriate academic placement.

• Assist parents in interpreting test data.

• Fulfill the state requirements for career readiness as it applies to the Elementary School.

• Coordinate services for students and families for school-based educational groups, outside counseling, psychological evaluations, etc.

• Attend workshops and conferences for local, state, and national school counselor organizations, updates for testing, maintenance of licensure, etc. as requested.

• Take an active role in interpreting the school's objectives to students, parents, and the community at large.

• Assist the administration with the scheduling process as requested.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Terms of employment are in accordance with the agreement between the South Fayette Township Board of Education and the South Fayette Education Association.
EVALUATION:
Performance of this job will be evaluated by the building level administration, director of student support services, and communicated to the superintendent for review.