School Counselor

The School Counselor fosters students’ social and emotional well-being and healthy, productive, and resilient interactions among students, between students and adults, and within the SEEQS community as a whole.​

The Counselor uses a restorative approach to drive, promote, and maintain a healthy school culture, in which:
  • Students are known and valued as individuals, have a trusted person to go to when they need support, and feel supported in making mistakes, growing, and learning how to interact in the world.
  • Faculty and staff are supported in maintaining strong, safe, and healthy learning environments, including support for the social and emotional needs of all students.
  • Parents learn their students' developmental needs and how to support their health and well-being, including through challenges.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies

All SEEQS faculty members are adults who:
  • love working with and being mentors for young people
  • are passionate about the power of collaborating with others
  • are self-reflective, lifelong learners
  • are flexible and open to adjustments and improvements
  • have an excellent sense of humor
  • ​use technology proficiently
  • are committed to implementing sustainable practices and philosophy
​The SEEQS Counselor has:​
  • Experience with and commitment to implementing restorative practices
  • Advanced skill in dealing with students and staff with diverse needs at various levels.  
  • Understanding of adolescent physical, emotional, and intellectual development.  
  • Ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with students, school personnel, parents, peers and other stakeholders.  
  • Ability to communicate, interact, and work effectively and cooperatively with all people, including those from diverse ethnic and educational backgrounds.  
  • Experience working with high-needs and high-risk students
  • Enthusiasm for collaborating with other teachers and school leadership to best meet student needs

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelors degree from an accredited educational institution
  • Minimum two (2) years working with middle school age students
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master’s degree from an accredited educational institution in Counseling or related field
  • Two or more years experience as a school counselor
  • Hawaii Teaching License
  • Three or more years of experience working with middle school-aged students
  • Experience with Special Education, including creating student support plans with objective, measurable goals

Major Responsibilities

SEEQS's School Counselor can expect to:
  • Support students through the challenges of middle school
    • Connect with students on a one-to-one basis as needed for counseling and supportive conversations
    • Offer counseling groups based on student needs (e.g. grief, study skills, organization, social, anger management, etc). 
    • Develop strategies, preventative approaches, and proactive plans for students who exhibit at-risk behaviors
    • Ensure appropriate documentation of student issues and follow-up
  • Promote Healthy School Culture
    • Coordinate school-wide social-emotional learning (SEL), currently RULER, for all members of the school community
    • Work with the Student Experiences Coordinator and leadership team to design and implement activities, advisory plans, assemblies, and instructional strategies to bring the SEEQS vision and values to life
    • Work with School Leader to align SEL program, counseling approaches, and disciplinary practices 
    • Facilitate restorative conversations among and between students and adults
    • Assist faculty and staff in working through concerns with individual students and classroom management, including planning staff development and trainings
    • Assist with developing and implementing student orientation
    • Participate in parent conferences, back-to-school nights and other opportunities for parents to discuss their child’s learning and behavior.
  • Contribute to Student Support Team
    • Manage, write/update, and coordinate all 504 plans
    • Attend and contribute to IDEA meetings
    • Work with Care Coordinators and district/complex area service providers to ensure the implementation of and compliance with student support plans and legal documents. 
    • Work with the Coordinator of Student Support (CSS) to review school data and assessments to develop support plans for students 
  • Promote Student Attendance
    • Develop and implement systems to promote student attendance
    • Communicate with families of students with issues of chronic tardiness or absenteeism, in accordance with the SEEQS attendance policies and procedures
  • Other duties as assigned​ ​

How to Apply

First, read the SEEQS website thoroughly so you understand the mission, values, philosophy, and school schedule.
Then prepare and submit the following:
  1. Resume stating your qualifications and relevant experience (max 2 pgs)
  2. Statement of interest that answers the question “Why are you an excellent candidate for our school?”  This statement may be in the form of a written letter, a video, or some other format that best helps you to tell us more about yourself. Consider including your educational philosophy, examples of 21st century skills, and community organizations with which you have worked.  Please also describe how you see yourself contributing to our school culture. Limit your submissions to no longer than three minutes of audio or video, one single-spaced page, or the equivalent.
  3. Written response to the question, "What is the value of a Counselor in a school community?" Limit your response to no more than one page, single-spaced, 12 pt. font, with one inch margins.
Submit these items via email, as attachments or links  (in user-friendly formats), to employment@seeqs.org. 
​Please indicate in the subject line which position you are applying for. 

Hiring Process

Applications will be accepted on a ongoing basis until the position is filled. Final candidates will be expected to complete an employment application and provide college or university transcripts. Hiring is contingent upon successful completion of employment verification, background check, and fingerprinting.

The successful candidate will be hired as a 10-month employee beginning July 2019.  

Salary is subject to the HSTA salary scale.