.5 School Counseling Support Specialist

Des Moines Public School District•Des Moines, IA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is a half-time counseling position devoted to District-level support to counselors. The School Counseling Support Specialist (SCSS) provides districtwide leadership for all aspects of the school-counseling talent pipeline and professional growth system. Working under the direction of the School Counseling Coordinator—and in close partnership with Talent & Personnel, building principals, and university partners—the SCSS recruits, hires, onboards, mentors, and develops school counselors so they can deliver high impact, ASCA-aligned programs that improve student outcomes.

Requirements

Master’s degree in School Counseling
Iowa professional service license (or eligibility to obtain)
Five (5) years successful K12 school counseling experience
Demonstrated leadership in hiring, coaching, or program coordination
Deep understanding of the ASCA National Model, Multi-Tiered System of Supports, and current best practices in counseling
Skill in adult learning design, facilitation, and data-driven program evaluation
Strong organizational, project management, and communication abilities

Nice To Haves

Experience supervising interns or mentoring new counselors
Prior work with university partnerships or educator preparation programs
Bilingual or multilingual proficiency

Responsibilities

Serve as first point of contact when vacancies arise; collaborate with Talent & Personnel to coordinate notification, posting, and communication timelines to ensure equitable and efficient hiring cycles.
Chair district screening teams, facilitate placement interviews with principals, and guide buildings in final selection decisions.
Design and deliver multiday summer orientation and induction sessions for new-to-profession and new-to-district counselors.
Create year-long onboarding roadmap, resource hub, and check-in cadence; monitor progress and adjust supports as needed.
Provide individualized, research-based coaching cycles (prep → observe → debrief) for all counselors in Years 1–3 and for any counselor who self-refers or is identified for additional support through the evaluation process.
Collaborate with each coachee to set data-driven growth goals around Tier 1 instruction, Tier 2 group interventions, or Tier 3 individual counseling skills.
Maintain a flexible coaching caseload that scales with district demand rather than a fixed quota; adjust intensity (e.g., frequency of visits, virtual check-ins) to match counselor’s need.
Document baseline data, coaching actions, and evidence of growth; share progress reports with counselors, principals, and the School Counseling Coordinator, and recommend support for next steps.
In collaboration with the School Counseling Coordinator, conduct needs assessments; develop annual professional development calendar aligned to ASCA National Model, district initiatives, and counselor skill bands.
Plan and facilitate workshops, support PLCs, and coaching cycles; evaluate impact through data collection and participant feedback.
Act as primary liaison to graduate preparation programs across the Midwest; maintain partnerships, market district opportunities, and host biannual information sessions.
Manage application, placement, and supervision systems for practicum students and interns; support site supervisors and ensure compliance with ASCA ethical standards.
Collect and analyze data on hiring, retention, PD effectiveness, and intern outcomes; prepare reports for leadership.
Contribute to program evaluations, grant proposals, and strategic planning initiatives.
Represent the counseling program on district committees and at regional/state conferences as requested.
Attend work on a prompt and regular basis.
Maintain confidentiality.
Maintain satisfactory and harmonious working relationships with the public, students, and other employees.
Assist with other duties as may be assigned.