Director of School Counseling and Mental Health Programs

Hopkins County School District•Madisonville, KY

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a certified position for the 2026-2027 school year, reporting to the Assistant Superintendent of Support Services. The role involves designing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive, district-wide school counseling and mental health framework to ensure all students have access to high-quality academic counseling, social-emotional learning (SEL), and tiered mental health supports.

Requirements

Master’s degree in School Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Social Work, or a closely related field.
Valid state certification as a School Counselor.
Active clinical licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
Active clinical supervision credentials (e.g., LPCC-S, LCSW-S).
Minimum of three (3) years of successful experience in school counseling.
Minimum of three (3) years of experience in clinical mental health counseling.
Basic computer skills, including Microsoft office and google docs.
Short and long-range planning techniques applicable to counseling and suicide prevention.
Working with parents, community members and school personnel.
Oral and written communication skills.
Guidelines for providing individual and group counseling programs.
Laws, rules and regulations related to assigned activities.
Policies and objectives of assigned programs and activities.
Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.
Principles of training and providing work direction.
Establish rapport and develop a therapeutic relationship with children, families, community organizations, school counselors, FRYSC, school administrators, and other school personnel.
Oversee provided therapy services in individual and group sessions along with classroom based interventions.
Supports crisis intervention and conflict resolution assistance and differentiate between emergency and non-emergency tasks and responds accordingly.
Assesses problems appropriately in terms of scope, consequences and needed interventions.
Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with building level leadership teams, students, staff, community organizations, and outside agencies.
Maintain records and prepare reports.
Maintain current knowledge of program rules, regulations, requirements and restrictions.
Maintain current knowledge of technological advances in the field.
Assures all needed releases of information and other paperwork are present in the file and up to date.
Meet schedules and timelines.
Plan and organize work.
Must pass a comprehensive criminal background check (State Police and FBI) and a Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) registry check, as well as complete required state health requirements.

Nice To Haves

Previous administrative or supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

Designs and oversees a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) for student behavioral and mental health across the district.
Aligns the district’s comprehensive school counseling program with the ASCA (American School Counselor Association) National Model.
Leads the integration of evidence-based Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and trauma-informed practices across all grade levels.
Ensures district compliance with Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) regulations regarding trauma-informed care and school safety mandates.
Manages department budgets, federal/state grants, and resource allocation for district mental health initiatives.
Assists in the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of school counselors, school social workers, and mental health professionals.
Provides ongoing administrative and clinical supervision, regular performance evaluations, and mentorship to mental health staff.
Designs and delivers professional development for teachers and administrators on topics such as suicide prevention, threat assessment, de-escalation, and trauma-responsive classrooms.
Directs the district-level crisis response team, ensuring protocols are updated and staff are trained in psychological first aid and postvention.
Oversees and refines the district’s suicide and threat assessment protocols.
Consults on complex student cases involving severe behavioral challenges, mental health crises, or safeguarding concerns.
Develops and maintains partnerships with community mental health agencies, psychiatric facilities, and wrap-around service providers to create referral pathways for students and families.
Maintains strict confidentiality and adheres to FERPA, HIPAA, and the ethical standards of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and applicable state licensing boards.
Ensures departmental compliance with all state and federal regulations, including IDEA, Section 504, and state counseling mandates.
Collects and analyzes program data (e.g., attendance, discipline referrals, counseling caseloads, crisis interventions) to measure effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
Performs other duties as assigned by the Assistant Superintendent of Support Services or designee.