Description

3rd - 5th Elementary Counselor

Mission: Northshore Christian Academy partners with families to provide a superior Christian education developing spiritual, academic, and personal excellence in a Christ-centered environment.

Vision: To transform our communities by graduating resilient disciples of Christ who are spiritually equipped and academically prepared to be the leaders of tomorrow.
Summary

To help with the development of students in a school that is Christ-centered and offers a superior education academically, spiritually, and socially in a structured, positive environment. The 3-5 Counselor helps student development in three distinct areas: personal/social development, spiritual development, and career development.
Essential Functions

•Develop and Maintain a Guidance Curriculum

o Set up a Christian-based Guidance Curriculum that includes classroom lessons for each grade level that builds and develops skills in the students. Gather information of the grade level needs through administering a needs assessment with grade level teachers. Topics may include friendship, conflict resolution, responsibility, emotions, life skills, health, and preparing for adolescence.

•Supportive Team Member

o Work collaboratively with the faculty by regular communication about classroom needs and staff training needs. Work collaboratively to provide in-service training on pertinent topics such as working with students with specific conditions (anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorders, grief and loss), identifying signs of child abuse, appropriate boundaries for staff with students, and leading class meetings. Oversee the bully-prevention student training.

o Assist staff in developing and implementing Christian-based lessons which promote improvement in personal and inter-personal development.

•Small Group and Large Group Instruction

o Deliver classroom lessons to students in biblically based social, emotional, and behavioral skills. These may include social skills, classroom behavior, conflict resolution, friendship building skills, social thinking, and team building.

o Conduct small groups around social, behavioral, and emotional needs that are hindering a student's growth and success at school. Group topics could include friendship, social thinking, changing families (divorce, blended families), grief, perfectionism, relational aggression, depression, and any other topic..

•Individual Student Coaching

o Assist with de-escalating students who are upset, and help get those students calm enough to return to class ready to learn. Develop individual behavior plans for students to improve skills.

•Crisis Intervention

o Coordinate and deliver crisis response counseling when a tragedy occurs with the school constituency. With the leadership team, respond to a crisis that may include severe illness, unexpected accidents, or death of an NCA constituent.

•Interdisciplinary Team and Student Records

o Collect, organize, and analyze information about individuals through records, tests, observations, interview, and professional sources to appraise their interests, aptitudes, abilities, and personality characteristics for educational planning. Serve on the multi-disciplinary team.

•Referrals to Community Resources and Professionals

o Refer students and parents for Mental Health [KY1] counseling as needed. The school counselor shall maintain a referral list of Mental Health Counselors for families. Refer parents to existing services such as parent help groups and church resources. Write parenting articles for the website.

•Provide Teacher Resources

o Provide or refer teachers to existing resources. Provide consultation to teachers on student social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues.

•Ensure the safety and health of students in the classroom.

•Arriving at school at least 45 minutes before school begins and remaining at least 30 minutes after required school duties are completed each day.

•Attending all staff and in-service meetings as requested.

•Participating in parent nights upon request by designated Principal.

•Assisting in planning and implementation of grade-level school programs and special events.

•Set-up of program prior to the opening of school as well as year-end clean-up of classroom.

•Timely planning of supply needs and informing designated Principal of these needs.

•Conducting oneself in a professional and Christian manner, in and out of the classroom.

•Fulfilling and maintaining all professional development training as required.

•Fulfilling other related duties as assigned by designated Principal.
Qualifications

• Born Again Christian walking faithfully with God, has a personal testimony, and lives a consecrated life devoted to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior
• Active weekly church attendance in a Christian Church
• Master's Degree in school counseling, mental health therapy, social work, or psychology
• Previous employment or volunteer experience in counseling desired

Required Skills and Abilities

•Communication skills in written and spoken words

•Teaching and classroom management skills

•Interpersonal and organizational skills

•Operates in a high level of integrity and confidentiality demonstrating their love of God in personal conduct and leadership

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be constructed, as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform related duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.