School Counselor

Job Description:Danbury Public Schools is a diverse community located in the western part of Connecticut and serving more than 12,500 students spread across the City of Danbury, Connecticut. We are committed to cultivating equity and excellence for all of our students, closing the opportunity gaps, and preparing students for post-secondary success. The mission of Danbury Public Schools, in partnership with families and the community, is to provide transformational learning experiences, designed to nurture thoughtful and prepared graduates. We have set very ambitious and rigorous goals to assure that our students graduate prepared to transform our world, and we are always searching for staff who are committed to our mission and the success of our students. Our schools range from 13 different and unique elementary schools including an interdistrict magnet school for International Studies, to three middle schools, including an intra-district magnet school focused on STEM and World Studies, to our flagship Danbury Career Academies that are transforming how we deliver education to students with a wide range of interests taught by a faculty with real world and academic experiences. DPS recruits and commits to educators with passion, who are committed to our vision to aspire to advance ALL learners to their highest potential.POSITION SUMMARY:The K-12 school counselor provides academic; career; college access, affordability and admission; and social-emotional competencies to every student annually by helping design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive evidence-based school counseling program in each school across the district. The school counselor provides an annual plan and advises every student, classroom school counseling lessons in collaboration with other educators for all students, group and individual counseling for some students. The school counselor also provides additional school-wide activities that promote student success helping to close achievement, opportunity, and attainment gaps, increase student career/college success, and improves mental health/well-being. The school counselor is an advocate, leader, and change-agent partnering with colleagues inside the schools, in the community, and with family members for optimal student success. The school counselor is supervised by theAssistant Superintendent for Special Education & Pupil Personnel in consultation with the building Principal.Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:Effective skills in working with all school stakeholders and community partners.Ability to identify students with disabilities and refer for appropriate services and accommodations.Ability to affirm and work effectively with students and other stakeholders of multiple cultural and linguistic identities.Knowledge of ACA, ASCA and NACAC professional codes of ethics for school and college counselors.Experience in implementing and evaluating a school counseling program model such as the ASCA National Model.Experience in advising/planning for all students, developmental school counseling curriculum lessons, group counseling, and individual counseling.Technology skills including use of spreadsheets, social media, websites, apps, and other ways that build and enhance the school counseling program effectiveness with all stakeholders.Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:Bilingual Fluent in Spanish preferred.Experience and understanding of bilingual students' unique academic and social-emotional strengths and challenges.Experience in urban, diverse environments.K-12 teaching, advising, and/or coaching experience.Experience using the ASCA Model, Code of Ethics, Professional Competencies, & Mindsets & Behaviors.Experience in career and college access, affordability, and admission counseling.Experience in a distance learning work environment.Qualifications/Certificates:068 School Counselor certification/eligibility in CT.Master's degree in Counselor Education/School Counseling.Knowledge of evidence-based research and best practices in designing, implementing, and evaluating a school counseling program and interventions including school counseling curriculum lessons, group and individual counseling, and planning/advising for all students.Demonstrated professional identity/memberships in state and national school and college counseling professional organizations.