| Location | WA |
Steilacoom Education Association (SEA) Position Fair Labor Standards Act Exempt Reporting Relationship: School Principal or Assistant Principal Updated: September 2, 2026
The BEST education for EVERY student
SCHOOL COUNSELOR Counselors are an integral part of services and support for students. Middle School counselors play a critical role in ensuring that students get opportunities to have safe, enriching experiences in and out of school, and in helping prepare students for high school success - all in ways that meet their individual needs. Our counselors are a central part of improving student success for ALL students through the implementation of the school's counseling program. Essential Responsibilities and Duties Our school counselors work with our school teams to provide direct and indirect services to students. This description represents the key areas of responsibilities - specific other duties may be assigned.
Counseling: Provides professional assistance and support to a student or small group of students during times of transition, heightened stress, critical change or other situations impeding student success. School counselors recognize and respond to student mental health needs and assist students and families in connecting with community resources. Serves as a team member for the Sources of Strength suicide prevention program. Supports and trains students as peer leaders, and connects them with adult advisors at school and in the community. Assists students, families and teachers in finding ways to help students develop a positive sense of identity.
Advisement and Advocacy: Supports students in applying academic achievement and social emotional learning strategies as they support individual academic planning and goal setting, including plans for postsecondary options (higher education, military, and work force). Assesses student abilities, interests and achievement to help them make decisions about their future. Advocates for students at individual education plan (IEP) meetings, system intervention teams, and school attendance conferences. Interprets cognitive, aptitude and achievement tests, student transcripts and analyzes grade-point averages in relationship to achievement while protecting student records and information per state and federal regulations. Serves as the 504 case manager for eligible students and partners with them to develop accommodations to support their success and school experience. Consultation and Collaboration: Consults and collaborates with teachers and other educators about building classroom connections and the role of non-cognitive factors in student success. Collaborates with teachers by scheduling and presenting curriculum lessons based on developmental needs and needs of students identified through data. Partners with school leadership team to analyze disaggregated schoolwide data to identify student issues, needs and challenges. Collaborates with the district's truancy liaison and school leadership team to implement multi-tiered attendance interventions to engage students who are chronically absent.
Minimum Qualifications and Skills
Successful experience or demonstrated commitment toward working with culturally and racially diverse students, families and communities.
Possess or qualify for issuance of a valid Washington state Educational Staff Associate (ESA) certificate in counseling.
Experience supporting adult learners about mental health concerns of students, including recognition of the role environmental factors have in causing or exacerbating mental health issues. The BEST education for EVERY student
Knowledge of strength-focused strategies for students related to suicide awareness and prevention, trauma-informed practices, and social emotional learning (SEL) practices.
Demonstrated skill or experience supporting and contributing to the success of students with disabilities.
Understanding of how injustice or racial inequity may impact students and families experience with school.
Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with others.
Self-motivated and organized with the ability to manage responsibilities independently while working with a small, tight-knit team.
Ability to evaluate the counseling program effectiveness, assess program gaps, and problem-solve to improve experiences and outcomes for students.
Strong relationship building and networking skills to connect with community partners and resources.
Ability to maintain confidentiality, work effectively under pressure, and remain flexible.
Ability to meet and maintain punctuality and attendance expectations. Desired Qualifications and Skills:
Successful completion of a master's degree in school counseling.
Experience in school-focused, evidence-based suicide prevention and mental health models.
Experience working with military-connected students and families.
Understanding of standards-based grading systems.
Bilingual skills. Physical and Environmental Requirements: The district is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities to access the physical and environmental requirements of this position. This position typically requires: stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, finger dexterity, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions. This position may be exposed to prolonged exposure to visual display terminals as required. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals. It may be expected that the individual could be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials during the course of their duties. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be loud on occasion.