Elementary Professional School Counselor - Ashland Ridge (School Year 2026-2027)

Ankeny Community School District•Ankeny, IA

About The Position

The Ankeny Community School District (CSD) is renowned for its excellence across academics, athletics, the arts, and various activities. Situated in central Iowa, just 6 miles from Des Moines, Ankeny CSD caters to over 12,800 students from preschool through 12th grade, making it the 7th largest district in the state. With a strong reputation for its commitment to student success and a competitive salary and benefits package, Ankeny CSD is a standout choice for both educators and families seeking a high-quality educational environment. JDE: 4.12A Elementary Professional School Counselor Purpose Statement Professional School Counselors provide counseling and guidance services to students; manage the Counseling Services Program; identify and counsel students with special needs and behavioral social and school adjustment problems; make referrals to other community resources, support groups and social service agencies as appropriate. Elementary School Counselors in Ankeny also teach as part of the elementary specials rotation. Job Title: Professional School Counselor (Elementary) Wage: See Teacher Salary Schedule Benefit Summary: C Reports To : Building Principal

Requirements

Iowa Board of Education School Counselor License
Successful completion of a background investigation

Nice To Haves

Current and past leadership positions including but not limited to Lighthouse Coordinator, Leader In Me (LIM) action team member, ILT, CAT/CLT, mentor; preferred

Responsibilities

Delivers a comprehensive professional school counseling program for the purpose of improving student social/emotional, academic, and career development.
Collaborates with the building leadership team to research, select, implement, and evaluate professional school counseling strategies focused on improving student social/emotional, academic, and career needs.
Assist with all aspects of the school improvement process related to the high school professional school counselor program.
Collaborates with instructional staff, other school personnel, parents, and a variety of community resources to improve the overall quality of professional school counseling programs and support the school improvement plan.
Supports classroom teachers in implementing strategies to support students’ social/emotional, academic, and career needs and/or goals.
Participates in and/or leads a variety of meetings, including parent-teacher conferences, PLCs, IEPs, and 504 meetings, to convey and/or gather information required to support students.
Assesses student social/emotional, academic, and/or career goals to provide feedback to students, parents, and administration and inform next steps.
Advises parents and/or legal guardians on student social/emotional, academic, and career needs and/or goals to communicate expectations, achievements, and methods for improvement.
Administers programs, assessments, and inventories to make informed decisions and guide student growth and success.
Interprets test data and other relevant information to students, parents, and teachers, utilizing diagnostic and assessment procedures as needed.
Manages student behavior to provide a safe and optimal learning environment.
Monitors students in various educational settings (e.g., classrooms, school campus, assemblies, events) to ensure a safe and positive learning environment.
Reports incidents such as behavior infractions, suspected child abuse, or substance abuse to maintain student safety and comply with laws and school policies.
Researches, identifies, develops, and/or offers social/emotional and academic professional development opportunities for staff.
Maintains current knowledge of community resources and recent trends in counseling techniques.
Responds to inquiries from teachers, parents, and administrators to resolve issues, provide information, and offer direction.
Prepares various written materials to document student progress and meet mandated requirements.
Maintains accurate records.
Responds to emergency situations for the purpose of resolving immediate safety concerns and/or directing to appropriate personnel for resolution.
Demonstrates integrity and maintains confidentiality.
Works well with others, maintaining positive and effective communication with school personnel and works well with other custodians on jobs that require more than one person.
Is respectful and appropriately interacts with staff, students, and visitors.
Upholds and adheres to safety rules and policies of the Ankeny Community School District safety program.
Supports the goals and objectives of the school district and follow all district policies.
Demonstrates the ability to attend work on a regular and routine basis to avoid disruption to district operations.
Perform all duties in a safe manner to avoid injury to oneself and/or others.
Performs other related duties, as assigned, for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.