Elementary School Counselor

UNITED COMMUNITY CENTER•Milwaukee, WI

20h•Onsite

About The Position

UCC School staff are responsible for providing an educational atmosphere where students have the opportunity to fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, social, physical and psychological growth. The School Counselor supports students’ academic, social-emotional, and college/career development. This individual collaborates with students, families, and staff to promote student success and well-being while fostering a safe and inclusive school environment. The counselor serves as an advocate and resource for students in navigating challenges and planning for their futures. Counselors are responsible for organizing and implementing a social emotional instructional curriculum/program that will result in students achieving academic, personal, and social emotional success in accordance with United Community Center’s policies, procedures and curriculum guidelines. The School Counselor plays a critical role in fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive school environment. This position is responsible for promoting student well-being through the delivery of social-emotional learning lessons, proactive and responsive counseling services, and collaboration with school staff, families, and community partners. The counselor contributes to a positive school climate and plays an active role in multi-tiered systems of support to help all students thrive academically, behaviorally, and emotionally. UCC School staff are dedicated, compassionate, highly effective, reflective, collaborative, culturally responsive, and committed to the academic and social-emotional development of all students.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in School Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field, and must possess a valid Wisconsin DPI certification/licensure as a School Counselor required.
Experience working in K–12 educational settings, preferably with diverse student populations.
Deep knowledge of SEL, trauma-informed care, restorative practices, and multi-tiered systems of support.
Strong oral and written communication skills, collaboration, organization, and advocacy skills.
Demonstrated cultural competence and commitment to equity and inclusion.
Able to work independently with little direct supervision, work as part of a team, accept responsibilities, and be self-motivated.
Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
Basic computer knowledge, basic knowledge of email, excel, word, Google forms and other Google applications.
Demonstrates leadership in the classroom.
Demonstrates attention to detail and problem-solving skills
Demonstrates enthusiasm towards students, parents and staff from diverse backgrounds.
Demonstrate the ability to adapt to any situation inside and outside the classroom.
Demonstrates organizational skills for the classroom and school environment.
Demonstrates effective verbal and written communication skills with students, families, school staff, and administration.
Reply to email, telephone, face to face, or other communications and enquiries from all stakeholders in a timely manner.
Demonstrates the ability to multitask and prioritize work.
Demonstrates the ability to self- reflect, and seek feedback to improve practices.
Demonstrates a growth mindset committed to continuous learning, growth, and development.
Demonstrates the ability to work as a team as well as independently.
Demonstrates respect towards the students, parents, colleagues, and administrators.
Demonstrates knowledge to work with students’ special needs and parents.
Handle sensitive information in a confidential manner
Demonstrate the ability to listen to others and remain receptive to new ideas.
Demonstrate the ability to address criticism in an appropriate manner and develop constructive outcomes.
Demonstrate sustained effort and enthusiasm in the quality and quantity of work.
Demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships with staff, students, and the community.
Demonstrate effective time management, organizational skills, and prioritization of work to meet the needs of the users.
Demonstrate motivation, initiative, flexibility, and the ability to work independently.
Demonstrate excellent human relations and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrates honesty, dependability, and the ability to meet deadlines and other professional expectations.

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and facilitate school-wide and classroom-based social-emotional learning (SEL) initiatives aligned to evidence-based frameworks (e.g., CASEL).
Provide Tier 1 social-emotional learning instruction in the classroom environment ensuring that all students receive consistent, developmentally appropriate instruction in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
Provide short-term or long-term individual and group counseling to students experiencing social, emotional, or behavioral challenges, as well as crisis intervention for students experiencing trauma, grief, or sudden emotional distress.
Implement preventative mental health supports and respond to crisis situations with appropriate interventions to ensure students in crisis receive timely, compassionate, and appropriate care.
Collaborate with school staff to integrate SEL into daily instruction and school routines.
Implement preventative mental health supports and respond to crisis situations with appropriate interventions and follow-up.
Participate actively in Student Support Teams (SST), including MTSS, IEP, 504, and behavior intervention teams.
Support the development, monitoring, and implementation of individualized student support plans.
Analyze academic, behavioral, attendance, and social-emotional data to identify trends and recommend supports.
Help guide decisions about tiered interventions, progress monitoring tools, and service adjustments.
A structured and intentional counseling schedule is developed and maintained to prioritize delivery of Tier 1 (core classroom lessons), Tier 2 (targeted small groups), and Tier 3 (individualized support).
The schedule is designed to maximize the number of students served across all tiers, while balancing responsiveness to student needs and schoolwide priorities.
The schedule is shared with and reviewed by school administration regularly to ensure alignment with school goals, staffing needs, and student support systems.
Serve as a liaison between the school and families to promote strong home-school partnerships.
Provide support and resources to families navigating academic, behavioral, or mental health concerns.
Organize and participate in family education workshops and community outreach events.
Communicate regularly with families regarding student progress, support strategies, and available resources.
Work closely with teachers, administrators, student services personnel, and external service providers.
Serve as a consultant to staff in the development of student behavior strategies and classroom support.
Facilitate communication and coordination among support teams to ensure continuity of care.
Participate in staff meetings, professional learning communities, and ongoing professional development.
Ensure effective, transparent, and collaborative communications with school administration
Support a positive and inclusive school environment where every student feels safe, valued, and connected.
Promote positive and inclusive school environments conducive to learning where students are actively engaged in the learning process.
Promote student leadership, character education, restorative practices, and school-wide wellness initiatives.
Contribute to behavior support planning and the implementation of positive behavior interventions.
Serve as a visible and approachable resource for students throughout the school day.
Supports a positive environment in which students are encouraged to be actively engaged in the learning process.
Implement consistent school rules and behavior expectations, promoting respectful and responsible behavior.
Maintains order of students in the classroom, cafeteria, hallways, playground, and across the school environment.
Serve as a mandated reporter by promptly identifying and reporting any suspected abuse, neglect, or endangerment to Child Protective Services (CPS) in accordance with state law and district policy.
Communicate all CPS reports and concerns regarding student safety and well-being directly and immediately to school administration to ensure alignment on next steps and school-based supports.
Maintain thorough and confidential documentation of all reports, observations, and follow-up actions, and communicate and inform school administration of concerns when needed.
Uphold the highest standards of ethical practice, confidentiality, and student advocacy in all situations involving student safety and well-being, and communicate and inform school administration of concerns when needed.
Support the school’s crisis response procedures, including safety planning and coordination with emergency services when necessary.
Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential student records, including notes, plans, interventions, and referrals.
Collect and analyze data on service delivery, attendance, behavior, and academic outcomes.
Report on student progress and the effectiveness of interventions to staff, families, and administration.
Ensure all documentation complies with legal, ethical, and district guidelines.
Communicates effectively both orally and in writing, with students, parents and other professionals on a regular basis regarding students’ progress, behavior, and upcoming events.
Counsel’s pupils’ academic and behavioral attitudes and achievements with parents throughout the year
Participate in parent-teacher conferences to discuss individual student performance and set goals for improvement.
Collaborate with parents to support students’ learning at home and encourage parental involvement in school activities.
Models professional and ethical standards when dealing with students, parents, peers and community.
Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with students, parents and other professionals.
Engage in continuous professional development to stay updated on the latest teaching methods, educational trends, and curriculum developments.
Participate in staff meetings, workshops, and training sessions to enhance teaching skills and contribute to the school community.
Participates in all required training and meetings, as well as school and UCC training, and meetings
Facilitate PD and training for staff on topics that contribute to overall school success and positive school culture, as well as proper protocols for CPS reporting, responding to safety concerns, and mandated reporting.
Attend pupil services meetings, buildings and/or grade level meetings, SST meetings, and other meetings as assigned by the supervisor.
Collaborate with colleagues, administrators, and support staff to create and enhance a cohesive and supportive educational environment.
Work collaboratively with school administration and leadership team
Work closely with special education teachers, counselors, and other professionals to provide individualized support for students with special needs
Meets professional obligations through efficient work habits such as meeting deadlines, honoring schedules, collaborating with other staff, etc.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of students' attendance, academic performance, and behavior incidents.
Prepare progress reports, report cards, and other documentation in a timely manner, following school policies and procedures.
Arranges classroom events and activities, and collects the appropriate documentation in advance of field trips and other school functions.