SY 26-27 Anticipated Temporary School Counselor

Chicago Public Schools•Chicago, IL

About The Position

School counselors are members of the school’s educational leadership team and provide comprehensive, developmental support across academic, personal/social, and career domains. They use a mental health perspective to understand and respond to the needs of a diverse student population, and provide proactive leadership to engage stakeholders in services that help students succeed. The counselor creates, implements, and evaluates a comprehensive school counseling program aligned with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) REACH Framework for School Counselors and the American School Counselor Association National Model. The role includes assessing student needs, delivering classroom and group curriculum, helping students plan for academic and postsecondary success, providing responsive and indirect student support, and contributing to the effective operation of the school. Counselors do not provide therapeutic treatment for mental, emotional, or bodily disorders. This is an anticipated temporary position for the 2026–2027 school year. The counselor reports to and is evaluated by the Principal.

Requirements

Master’s degree in school counseling.
Current Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Professional Educator License (PEL) with a School Counseling Endorsement.

Responsibilities

Create, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive school counseling program aligned with the CPS REACH Framework for School Counselors.
Conduct annual needs assessments and data reviews, identify and prioritize student needs, and develop targeted program goals aligned with schoolwide goals, mission, and vision.
Design, conduct, and co-teach school counseling core curriculum activities in classroom, large-group, and schoolwide settings to address academic, career, postsecondary, and social/emotional needs.
Collaborate with students, staff, and families to create academic plans that support diploma attainment and students’ postsecondary options.
Facilitate individual learning plans in Naviance, transition activities, family events about test results and educational planning, and advisement regarding students’ progress to the next grade level or life phase.
Provide responsive services, including small groups, structured short-term individual counseling, participation in student assistance teams, conferences, consultation, crisis or emergency support, and participation in IEP/504 Plan teams.
Provide indirect student support by referring students and families to district and community resources, sharing achievement-supporting strategies, advocating for student development, consulting experts and stakeholders, and establishing community partnerships.
Coordinate, conduct, and participate in activities that support effective school operations and the approved counseling program.
Create an annual school counseling Evidence-Based Implementation Plan and Annual Agreement, develop needs assessments, collect and aggregate data, monitor interventions, protect counseling-program planning time, and coordinate professional development for faculty and staff.
Participate in district, state, and national professional development, professional associations, workshops, conferences, journal reading, and continuing education coursework.