School Counselor

About the Role

The School Counselor plays a vital role in helping students overcome barriers to learning and guiding them toward educational, occupational, and life plans suited to their age and maturity. The position is dedicated to fostering the development of productive citizens and helping students realize their potential to live full, useful lives.

This role supports the personal-social, mental health, academic needs, and college and career readiness of every student in the building. Counselors work individually to resolve personal issues related to family, peer relations, health, and emotional adjustment, while also providing a safe space for personal growth and self-understanding.

The day-to-day work involves conducting small group counseling on data-driven topics such as study skills, social skills, anger management, and grief. Counselors also deliver classroom instruction every two to three weeks, focusing on personal-social development, career readiness, and bullying prevention in alignment with Virginia Department of Education and American School Counselor Association (ASCA) standards.

A key component of the position is the development and maintenance of a Comprehensive School Counseling Program that supports the ASCA Model Program. This includes collecting and analyzing complex outcome-oriented data to measure program effectiveness, with a specific emphasis on equity and a student-centered approach. Counselors use these insights to identify trends, communicate results to stakeholders, and assist in measuring the impact of their work.

The School Counselor serves as a collaborative partner with families, staff, administrators, and community leaders to support student achievement and wellness. Responsibilities include providing in-service training to staff, collaborating on student discipline and developmental issues, and identifying significant behaviors such as suicide, self-harm, and depression. The role also involves interpreting school objectives for students, parents, and the community, and conferring with parents whenever necessary.

Qualifications and Licensure

Candidates must hold a Master's degree from an accredited college or university and have completed an approved school counseling program. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are acceptable. Successful full-time teaching or school guidance and counseling experience is required.

Candidates must be eligible for appropriate licensure. An active Licensed Professional Counseling (LPC) license issued by the Virginia Department of Health Professionals (DHP) may be considered in lieu of the standard requirements. Additionally, Licensed Clinical Psychologists and Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) may be eligible for this position.

Employment Details

This position reports to the Principal or Assistant Principal. It is an exempt FLSA role based on a 10-month contract, consisting of 197 days at 7 hours per day. The position is not eligible for remote work and is covered under the Certified Union designation. For details on the salary scale, please refer to lcps.org/compensation.