Ocosta - Jr/Sr HS Counselor & Grad Specialist (2025/26 SY)

Ocosta Jr/Sr High School is currently accepting applications for a Jr/Sr HS Counselor and Graduation Specialist for the 2025/26 school year. The position is 1FTE, 7.5/hrs per day, Monday-Friday. The successful candidate will demonstrate leadership, collaboration, and advocacy to facilitate student welfare and success. The counselor will implement a comprehensive counseling program that addresses personal and social development for students and supports parents/guardians, teachers, and other staff.

The job of the high school counselor is to provide information on the students’ functioning and recommendations regarding their successful transition to and from high school; developing plans and/or providing information regarding students’ goals; maintaining knowledge of post high school program eligibility requirements to provide counsel to students; ensuring completion of students’ applications within designated time frames; and securing appropriate placement of students.

QUALIFICATION:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university.
• Valid Washington State ESA certificate with Counselor endorsement.
• Successful completion of WSP/FBI fingerprint background check.

GENERAL JOB FUNCTIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

• Ability to motivate and interact with students in a productive manner.
• Ability to support the District’s vision, mission, and goals including the belief that all students can succeed.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Counsels students, parents, and guardians for the purpose of enhancing student success in school.
• Prepares documentation (e.g. observations, progress, contacts with parents, teachers, outside professionals, etc.) for the purpose of providing written support, developing recommendations and/or conveying information.
• Act as community liaison with outside agencies when a professional referral is appropriate including Mental Health, CPS, Medical, and McKinney-Vento.
• Serve as McKinney-Vento district liaison.
• Demonstrate skills in dealing with substance abuse, child neglect, and behavior disorders.
• Demonstrate skills in conflict management.
• Possess strong and effective advocacy and communication skills.
• Be an engaged team member for the PBIS program.
• Ability to act in an ethical and confidential manner in all aspects of employment.
• Maintain appropriate records and files.
• Use data to inform and adjust delivery of school counseling services.
• Assists other personnel as may be required for the purpose of supporting them in the completion of their work activities.
• Be a self-starter and possess proven leadership experiences with adults and students.
• Presents information on various topics (e.g. behavior management, orientation, etc.) for the purpose of providing required information and/or advice.
• Present evidence of intervention skills in working with parents, community agencies, and students who are at risk.
• Knowledge of curriculum, education code, district policies, and problem solving methodology.
• Possess skills in managing multiple priorities and demands.
• Serve as key person in crisis intervention and development of individual plans for students.
• Provide interventions for students.
• Make home visits to establish connections.
• Establish and monitor school-wide preventive and responsive services for students.
• Meet with grade level teams on a regular basis and participate in staff development.
• Deliver classroom strategies for intervention and social skills learning.
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods, maintain and verify completeness of records, meet schedules and deadlines, communicate with persons of varied cultural and educational backgrounds, communicate in oral and written form.
• Handles challenging situations in a professional manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

GRADUATION SPECIALIST:

• Assist students in exploring their aptitudes and abilities through the High School and Beyond Plan.
• Identify students with academic concerns and coordinate intervention strategies.
• Share responsibilities with the counseling team in transitions between 6^th-7^th and 8^th-9^th grades, Healthy Youth Survey, and College Bound.
• Ability to coordinate and schedule events.
• Assist in organizing and implementing yearly activities including year opening and ending activities.
• Work with building principal to help develop master schedule.
• Advises students, parents, and guardians for the purpose of providing information on students’ progress and/or recommendations regarding their successful transition to and from high school.
• Coordinates with teachers, colleges and university personnel, resource specialists and/or the community (e.g. service clubs, courts, child protective services, etc.) for the purpose of providing requested information, gaining needed information, and/or making recommendations.
• Develop various special programs (e.g. career night, financial aid workshops, etc.) for the purpose of providing information to assist students in the successful transition from high school to career, training, and/or continuing education.
• Monitors student records for the purpose of developing plans and/or providing information regarding students’ goals.
• Prepares applications for students (e.g. scholarship, college, financial aid) for the purpose of ensuring completion of application processes within designated times frames.
• Administers various proficiency tests for the purpose of assisting in determining students’ placement and/or eligibility for potential course of study.
• Participates in various extracurricular school and/or community activities for the purpose of providing supervision and/or representing the school at such events.
• Research program eligibility requirements (i.e. financial aid, college eligibility, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining knowledge of eligibility requirements to counsel students.
• Schedules student classes for the purpose of securing appropriate placement and meeting their graduation and college eligibility requirements.
• Supervises assigned programs (e.g. scholarships, peer counseling, special education, i-Team, ESL, etc.) for the purpose of monitoring performance, providing for professional growth and achieving overall curriculum objectives.
• I-Team Coordinator for the building and participate in the Jr/Sr HS Intervention Team.
• Possess knowledge of student disabilities.
• Present evidence of successful experience in coordinating activities and schedules for 7^th-12^th grade students and Jr/Sr HS staff.
• Lead, create, and coordinate the implementation of 504 plans for students.
• Serve as liaison among parents, school, and community agencies.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

• Compensation and benefits that are competitive with industry standards.
• Medical/Dental/Vision/Supplemental benefits available through the Washington State Healthcare Authority (HCA) School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB)
• Retirement Savings Plans (DRS)
• Personal Leave
• Sick Leave

Employment is contingent upon successful clearance of a Washington State Patrol, FBI fingerprint criminal history background check, and Sexual Misconduct background check.