High School Counselor

The Metropolitan School District of Washington Township (MSDWT) is located in the northern section of Indianapolis. It is a dynamic community with broad diversity in cultures, religions, ethnic groups, races, and socioeconomic levels. MSDWT has been an educational leader in Indiana for the last seventy years.

Our mission is to nurture our students into tomorrow's leaders by cultivating learning environments that ignite innovation, amplify diverse and critical thinking, and inspire growth and achievement.

JOB DETAILS

JOB EXPECTATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

• School counselors develop a comprehensive school counseling program to proactively meet students' needs based on the  school's academic, attendance and behavioral data. School counselors work collaboratively to review data and develop  programming that addresses students' academic development, college and career readiness, and social emotional  development. School counselors must balance delivery methods (classroom lessons, small groups, individual sessions,  consultation with other professionals and referrals) in order to carry out their program. School counselors' goals include  improvement in academic, attendance and behavioral outcomes related to academic achievement, college and career  readiness and social emotional development. Candidates will display natural leadership qualities and a desire to ensure  equitable educational outcomes for students. The High School Counselor is directly responsible to the Principal and Director of High School Counseling.  

• Uses student, school and district data to identify achievement, attendance and behavioral challenges to be  addressed proactively through the comprehensive school counseling program.
• Establish, monitor, and review student four-year plans and high school diploma progress in collaboration with student and family through assisting in the course selection process with the goal of 100% graduation rate.
• Identifies student competencies to be addressed, creates lesson plans, determines to whom these lessons should  target, how lessons/small groups will be delivered and how data will be evaluated to determine impact on student outcomes.
• Ensures equitable access to opportunities and rigorous curriculum for all students.
• Engages students in career exploration activities.
• Provides short term, goal-focused counseling in small group and individual settings.
• Provides tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3 support for students on topics such as bullying prevention, conflict resolution,  and/or other social emotional curriculum to support students.
• Collaborates with school social worker and/or other school staff to support students and families with accessing  programs offered in our community that support students' academic achievement, college and career readiness,  and social emotional development.
• Maintains familiarity with community resources and refer students and their parents/caregivers to appropriate services.
• Serves on various school committees, such as MTSS, school based leadership team, school improvement, etc.
• Collaborates with school social worker and school leaders to create procedures for individual and group referrals to the school counselor (self-referral or referral by staff members).
• Ensures that students experience smooth academic transitions (from middle school to high school, high school to post-secondary, and upon changing schools for any other reason at any time).
• Assists with the registration and orientation of students who are new to the school and supports them as they  acclimate.
• Meets with students, their families/caregivers, and other school staff to better understand students' personal,  educational and college and career readiness needs.
• Coordinates with administrators and other staff members to ascertain students' abilities and needs, including  students with special needs, in order to best support them.
• Increases school-to-family connections and outreach.
• Assists with standardized testing.
• Continues to acquire professional knowledge and learn of current developments in the educational field by attending seminars, workshops or professional meetings, and by maintaining professional relationships with  members of professional organizations, institutions of higher learning and the business community.
• Organizes and maintains a system for accurate and complete record-keeping as required by district procedures and applicable laws. 

• Knowledge of the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) comprehensive school counseling model  and the RAMP (Recognized American School Counseling Model Program) process.
• Knowledge of social emotional learning framework, including CASEL competencies.
• Knowledge of current developments in college and career readiness standards and approaches.
• Knowledge of graduation requirements and diploma types as established by the Indiana Department of Education.
• Knowledge of differentiated instruction based upon student learning styles.
• Knowledge of data information systems, data analysis and the formulation of action plans.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws regarding education and students.
• Advanced counseling skills that lead to positive outcomes in the academic, college and career readiness, and  social emotional domains.
• Ability to analyze educational data.
• Ability to use computer network system and software applications as needed.
• Ability to organize and coordinate work and meet deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students and parents.
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others.
• Other duties as assigned

Contact Information: 

Melissa Patchett, Director of Counseling

mpatchett@msdwt.k12.in.us

The Metropolitan School District of Washington Township is an equal opportunity/equal access employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all applicable Federal and Indiana State laws, regulations, and executive orders in its programs and activities. Washington Township does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, genetic information, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and veteran's status.