Elementary School Counselor

AXL Academy•Aurora, CO

About The Position

The School Counselor / Mental Health Provider provides direct mental health services and proactive wellness supports to promote student well-being, academic engagement, and school-wide equity. The counselor partners with teachers, families, and outside agencies to provide individualized social, emotional, and behavioral support and contribute to positive school culture, student growth, and community safety through preventative and responsive services. The role provides individual and group counseling, supports students experiencing distress or behavioral and attendance challenges, and connects students and families with external services as needed. It develops wellness programming, supports MTSS and SEL initiatives, and collaborates with instructional teams on Crew curriculum and prevention efforts. The counselor responds to crises using de-escalation and trauma-informed practices, coordinates suicide risk assessments, contributes to threat assessments, and develops and monitors safety and reentry plans. The position also collaborates with school leadership, staff, families, and community partners; participates in school events and professional development; and maintains confidential, accurate clinical documentation and service records in accordance with applicable legal and ethical requirements.

Requirements

Master's degree in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or a related mental health field.
Experience providing direct mental health or counseling services to children or adolescents.
Knowledge of suicide prevention protocols, de-escalation strategies, and trauma-informed care.
Strong communication, collaboration, and documentation skills.
Commitment to restorative practices, equity, and an inclusive school culture.

Nice To Haves

Colorado licensure (School Counselor License).
Experience with suicide risk assessment protocols and threat assessment teams.
Familiarity with school-based MTSS, SEL programming, and behavior intervention plans.
Bilingual or multilingual proficiency.
Familiarity with Infinite Campus or other student information systems.

Responsibilities

Provide individual and group counseling for social-emotional, behavioral, and academic concerns.
Help students develop coping strategies and personal skills related to identity, relationships, and resilience.
Support students experiencing acute distress, ongoing behavioral challenges, or attendance concerns.
Refer students and families to external mental health, medical, or social service agencies as needed.
Communicate regularly with families in a respectful, trauma-informed manner.
Develop and implement school-wide wellness programming, classroom push-ins, and small-group supports.
Participate in and support Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and intervention planning.
Collaborate with instructional teams to design and deliver Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Crew curriculum.
Assist with prevention initiatives, including mental health awareness, behavior coaching, and student wellness groups.
Facilitate workshops and support services focused on regulation, self-awareness, identity development, and resilience.
Respond to student mental health and behavioral crises using de-escalation strategies and trauma-informed practices.
Coordinate suicide risk assessments and collaborate with school leadership, families, and external partners on student safety and follow-up.
Support and participate in threat assessments with administrators and the school safety team.
Develop, document, and monitor safety and reentry plans for students at risk, as needed.
Guide staff on identifying warning signs, escalating concerns, and supporting students after a crisis.
Maintain and communicate a consistent weekly schedule for check-ins, sessions, and push-in support.
Coordinate flexibly with school leadership in response to daily needs while prioritizing predictability and access.
Participate in school events, Crew sessions, student-led conferences, and professional development.
Build collaborative relationships with Crew Culture Leaders, instructional teams, and families.
Provide supervision and informal student check-ins throughout the school day.
Maintain accurate, confidential student case files and clinical documentation in alignment with FERPA, HIPAA, and ethical guidelines.
Track services provided, progress toward goals, and referral outcomes.
Contribute to grant reporting, compliance monitoring, and data-sharing efforts as required.
Follow legal mandates for reporting suspected abuse, threats, or mental health risks.
Build trusting relationships and help normalize proactive, integrated mental health support in the school culture.
Equip students with self-awareness and emotional skills, and provide tools and training to teachers and families.
Address students’ mental, emotional, and behavioral needs to remove barriers to learning and support growth in well-being, behavior, attendance, and academic performance.