Summary:

As a member of the academic team, The Duchesne counselor collaborates with the Middle School Head, Lead Counselor, Learning Specialist, and Dean of Students. He or she is available to meet with students individually, small group, whole group, or during classroom advisory. Students can self-refer, or the division head, dean, school nurse, teachers, or parents can refer. Each concern is addressed independently, depending on the needs of the student. Parents are welcome to call or meet with the counselor to discuss social, emotional, academic, or parenting concerns.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Meet individually with students, teachers, and parents to develop strategies for students in the areas of social adjustment, school achievement, motivation, emotional adjustment, and conflict resolution.
• Meet individually with students, in collaboration with the Learning Specialist, to assist students who need extra academic help; and to support, write, contribute to, and/or facilitate the execution of student action plans.
• Meet regularly, formally, and informally with the Head of Middle School.
• Meet with faculty at grade level meetings and at other times to gather information needed in preparing recommendations for parents, teachers, or professionals in the community who are working with students.
• Provide information and referrals for families in need of counseling, evaluation, or other appropriate resources outside the school when such direction is sought or deemed necessary.
• Discuss evaluation summaries with parents and/or teachers and assist in the development of an intervention plan for students who may be having behavioral, emotional, or academic difficulties in the classroom.
• Meet with faculty and administration to develop and present preventive strategies for improved mental, emotional, and physical health.
• Consult with teachers, parents, and administration regarding alternative approaches to help all parties manage challenging situations.
• Provide support for students in their relationships with peers, teachers, parents, and others.
• Attend Parent/Teacher conferences as requested by parents or teachers.
• Provide support for students as they learn to better understand and accept responsibility for themselves and their actions.
• Maintain collaborative communication with other professionals working with the students. 
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with other school professionals and representatives of community resources. Meet monthly during the school year with other private school counselors in the Houston Area Independent School Counselors (HAISC) group. 
• Provide support to other schools in times of crisis on their campus.
• Be willing to work across school divisions as needed.

Minimum Education/Prior Experience/Qualifications Required

• Master of Social Work or Master of Education in Counseling degree.
• Valid Texas social work or counseling license.
• Texas school counselor certification is preferred.
• High-level competence in using technology.
• Experience in a PreK –12 environment, preferably in independent schools, is a plus.
• Strong references to convey your abilities.

Upon Hiring

• Completion of Safe Environment Training
• Current CPR Training
• Successful completion of fingerprint-based background and sexual offender registry information checks

Core Competencies:

• Communicate clearly and accurately.
• Treat parents as partners in their child’s education.
• Genuine affinity for working with children and families in an educational setting.
• Ability to make independent decisions along with maintaining the confidentiality of privileged and sensitive information.
• Possess strong people skills to be empathetic to children’s and parents’ needs.

Essential Expectations

All faculty and staff members at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart are expected and required to do the following: 

• Overtly support and act in accordance with the Goals and Criteria of the Society of the Sacred Heart; this expectation includes attendance at and applicable participation in faith-based practices. 
• Foster a safe, predictable, and supportive environment. 
• Interact with colleagues in a respectful and collegial manner that contributes to a healthy school culture. 
• Demonstrate appropriate planning and preparation and fulfill routine responsibilities in a thoughtful and timely manner. 
• Uphold professional standards of personal presentation, professional courtesy, discretion, punctuality and attendance at all required meetings and events. 
• Appropriately carry out specific duties as determined by the Head of School and/or supervisor. 
• Maintain professional credentials and complete required training. Participate in and provide documentation for at least one professional development opportunity per year in addition to those required and provided by the school.  
• Respect the confidentiality of the school, its employees, students, and families. 
• Comply with the policies and procedures as articulated in the faculty and staff handbook. 
• Authentically engage in the school’s self-reflection process that requires written goals and measured progress towards them.

Nothing in this Job Description restricts Duchesne’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time. This position is at will, which means that either the employee or Duchesne may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without notice and for any reason or no reason.

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart is committed to providing equal opportunity in all of its employment practices, including selection, hiring, promotion, transfer, and compensation, to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex (gender), age, national origin, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.