Counselor - Sel 6 - 12 Social Emotion Specialist

Jeffco Public Schools (Jeffco) is located in Jefferson County, Colorado. It is the second largest school district in Colorado serving 69,000 students across 155 schools. With 14,000 employees, the district is the largest employer in Jefferson County and has provided educational excellence for more than 70 years.

Jeffco embraces the spirit of the West and the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountain region with the county spanning more than 770 square miles running the length of the western edge of the Denver metropolitan area. The district is diverse in both population and geography, from urban to rural, including the mountain communities in the foothills west of Denver.

Overall, Jeffco has 31% of students that qualify for free and reduced lunch, an indicator of poverty, and 34% minority (25% Hispanic) student population. The district is implementing a new strategic plan, Jeffco Thrives 2025 that is focused on providing a world-class education that prepares all Jeffco students for bright and successful futures as local and global citizens. Come join us!

Jeffco Public Schools is a Single-State Employer. All candidates hired by Jeffco Public Schools must reside within the state of Colorado.

Vision
We will prepare students for lifelong learning and continual growth through creative and rigorous online learning pathways and diverse learning communities.
Mission
Flexible Learning for Lifetime Success
Jeffco Virtual Academy (JVA) is a statewide online/blended option school located in Lakewood, CO serving 300+ full time students and 800+ part time students in Jefferson and surrounding counties. JVA is designated as an Alternative Education Campus by the Colorado Department of Education and as such we proudly serve a wide range of students who have a variety of needs. Students choose JVA for the smaller setting, the flexible schedule, and the strong, personalized support.
Our curriculum is asynchronously delivered to students in grades 6-12 via the Schoology and Edgenuity Learning Management Systems. We have three programs for full time students: traditional middle school, traditional high school, and Targeted Actions for Graduation (TAG). We offer a blended option for all programs. Part time students access their classes entirely remotely and have the same online support as full time students.
JVA is a collaborative community working to help students be successful. Success for our students is different for each-from disengaged students, to gifted students, to athletes and performers. We are flexible, creative problem solvers who strive to meet the needs of all students. We work together to improve our instruction and to be sure that JVA is offering the best student experience in online learning."

This is not a fully remote position. The SEL works on campus each week in person with students as well as presenting virtual lessons and providing support to students individually and in small groups (both in person and virtually) as needed.

The expectations for this position are as follows:

• Experience working with a diverse student population
• Student-focused approach
• Networking skills to work with, gather, and connect students and parents to resources in the district and community as a key support system for student success.
• Highly skilled with time management
• Ability to conduct needs assessment, examine data and design learning support strategies to increase student learning.
• Ability to attend evening events on campus
• Excellent communication and organization skills
• High degree of flexibility
• Demonstrated expertise with student differentiation
• Knowledge with planning tools and online resources such as Infinite Campus, Naviance, and Schoology.
• Experience working with a wide range of students, including “at-risk” students, gifted students and students with special circumstances.
• Ability to work remotely without distraction between the hours of 7 am and 10 pm
• Current School Counselor endorsement on a valid Colorado License.
• Willingness to travel throughout district to confer with students & parents
• Willing to host presentations (both virtual and in person) on online education, college and career planning, personal/social issues, and other topics as needed.
• Have knowledge of adolescent development and should have verifiable personal/social counseling skills, including individual and small group experience
• Ability to attend an on-campus days three days a week
• Ability to balance high tech and traditional counseling roles
• Ability to attend monthly face-to-face professional development
• Strong technology skills and experience with truama, anxiety, and mental health-related curriculum and support
• Experience with online instruction and pedagogy is desired
• Experience with and willingness to implement a social emotional learning curriculum and to deliver information and resources to staff, students and parents.

Position for Jeffco Virtual - .5 FTE SEL

Required:

• Documented evidence of strong MTSS process experience to support a diverse population of learners. This support may include, but is not limited to, one-on-one support, group work, classroom and teacher support, and collaborative problem solving with both prevention and intervention models.
• Knowledge and experience with academic advising, registration and scheduling.
• Promote the social emotional wellness of students and staff through programming that supports a positive culture and climate, coordinating universal social emotional instruction, and providing evidence-based targeted supports.
• Respect for diversity in the home, school, local and global communities.
• Serve as liaison among district building(s), families and community. Collaborates with various teams to assure positive outcomes for all learners.
• Experience working with students individually or in integrated settings such as the regular classroom, team meetings, and in cooperation with classroom teachers.
• Work with teachers and school staff to support students’ individual needs via teacher consultation, team meetings, MTSS/RTI process.
• Excellent communication skills in order to facilitate communication with all members of the community, special ed. team members, classroom teachers, students, parents and administrators.
• Current School Counselor endorsement on a valid Colorado License.
• Effective communicator, demonstrated skills in team building, conflict resolution, decision making, time management, safe school planning, and facilitation of psycho-educational counseling groups
• Use research-based and technically sound practices to drive decision-making; and collaborate with school personnel and parents to develop and modify student intervention strategies.
• Experience working in an online, asynchronous environment is preferred.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Effective collaboration with teammates.
• Provide professional learning or content for adult learners.
• Demonstrated commitment to team work and systemic programs.
• Lead and partner with school staff and school community to build a positive school culture and climate by coordinating universal social emotional programming and supports such as: universal SEL instruction, conflict resolution, data-based decision making, time management, safe school planning, professional development, and facilitation of Tier 2 supports, which may include psycho-educational counseling groups.
• Collaborate with school leadership to assess, develop and implement school wide initiatives to address social emotional wellness.
• Demonstrated ability in providing differentiation, interventions and extensions for students.
• Experience and willingness to implement programs related to the career and academic domains of the Jeffco Counseling Comprehensive Guidance Program.
• Demonstrated knowledge of child abuse, neglect, and child protection procedures, as well as ALP, 504, SST, and Special Education Referral process.
• Demonstrated skills and abilities to ensure the success of all students.

Counselor
Annual Position
FLSA: Exempt
FTE: .50000 , Hours/Day: 4.000 , Days/Year: 195
Salary Plan, Grade, Step: JCE - Professional - 185 days , L01, 1
Min-Mid Annual Salary Range: $50,000.00 - $66,989.54 Effective as of: 08-16-2022

**Annual salary noted above is based on an 8 hour day and full days worked calendar. Any position that is less than a full FTE/8 hours per day or late start will be prorated accordingly.

Certain Education Support Professional (ESP) jobs may include the value of holiday pay into the hourly rate. Review the Holiday in Rate column of the Education Support Professional Job Title, Wage Plan, Grade document.

SUMMARY Deliver a comprehensive school counseling program that is data driven and aligns to both district and school priorities. Lead, advocate, and collaborate to promote equity and access for all. Provide universal, targeted, and intensive support that match student needs and promote career, academic, and social emotional development.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Design and implement instruction aligned to American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success in classroom/large-group, small-group, and individual settings
Provide short-term counseling in small-group and individual settings
Use the principles of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) with the context of a comprehensive school counseling program to provide universal, targeted and intensive support matched to student needs.
Utilize evidence-based counseling theories and techniques that are effective in a school setting to promote academic, career, and social/emotional development for all students.
Adhere to the legal and ethical standards and professional competencies of school counseling to demonstrate high standards of integrity, leadership, and professionalism.
Apply the ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success to inform the implementation of the school counseling program.
Develop annual outcome goals and action plans based on student data that address gaps in achievement, attendance, discipline, opportunity, and resources.
Regularly assess counseling program to determine its effectiveness, inform improvements to the design and delivery, and show how students are different as a result of the school counseling program.
Consult as needed when ethical or legal questions arise.
Make referrals to appropriate school and community resources
QUALIFICATIONS Hold current CDE Special Services Provider license with a School Counselor Endorsement. For further information on CDE Special Service Provider licensing requirements, please visit the Colorado Department of Education website.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EQUIPMENT Working knowledge of developmental, learning, counseling, research, and educational theories to impact developmental issues affecting student success. Knowledge of best practices in Professional School Counseling. Ability to communicate and develop effective relationships and function effectively as a team member. Willingness to be flexible and respond to the changing needs of students, staff, families, schools, and the district. Ability to integrate educational theory, research, and expertise into appropriate practices for local contexts, in a style that facilitates positive change and continuous improvement. Must have effective group facilitation skills. Ability to use data to make educationally sound decisions. Skills in conflict resolution, decision making, and time management. Ability to read and interpret documents; write reports and correspondence and apply appropriate mathematical concepts; and to use and integrate technology appropriately in daily work which includes, but is not limited to, efficient voice mail systems, application of basic computer skills to effectively use email, internet, and word processing.
DIVERSITY OF DUTIES Duties require knowledge of District and school policies/procedures and applicable state/local/federal laws; facility security; child/adolescent behavior; intervention and mediation skills; and excellent verbal and written communication abilities. Position does not require additional supervision responsibilities outside the regular work day/work week, however, student discipline events and conferences with staff may extend beyond the work day in order to ensure timely conclusion of such matters.
The physical demands, mental functions, and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Normal routine levels of activity related to bending, carrying, climbing, hearing, reaching, sitting, standing, vision, and walking; and may also involve above-average levels of activity at times that cannot always be anticipated. Ability to meet physical needs of students.

Important Notice Regarding Licensed Positions

Job Status: Ongoing
A successful external applicant will be issued a probationary contract. A successful internal applicant that currently holds a probationary or non-probationary contract with Jeffco Public Schools will maintain that contract status.

Jeffco Salary Schedules

Jeffco Benefits

The Jefferson County School District does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, pregnancy, or gender.