Director of Counseling and Health Services

Primary Function:

Under the supervision of the Assistant Superintendent for Organizational Services, the Director of Counseling and Health Services evaluates and provides programming and leadership for counseling, mental and physical health, and social-emotional programs across the District. This role entails offering support to school-based therapists, school counselors, and lead nurses, ensuring they can effectively assist students. Additionally, the Director facilitates support services for students qualifying for homelessness, foster care, and pregnancy-related services.

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Ability to organize, develop, and evaluate the PreK-12 counseling program
• Ability to direct, implement, and oversee the District Crisis Counseling Response Protocols
• Ability to research and implement policies and procedures
• Ability to manage budget and personnel
• Knowledge of school nursing administration requirements
• Knowledge of community medical and healthcare services
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills

Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Management

• Develops and monitors the implementation of the following programs:
• Counseling and Health Services
• Health Curriculum
• Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention
• Human Sexuality Curriculum (abstinence-based)
• Bullying Prevention Programming
• ROPES course
• Suicide Prevention and Crisis Response
• Parent Workshops
• Social Emotional Learning Curriculum and Programming
• Establishes and implements the mission, procedures, goals, operating guidelines, and short- and long-term strategies for comprehensive school counseling, graduation, crisis prevention/response, and mental health services in alignment with district goals.
• Oversees and coordinates prevention, intervention, and response teams to support campuses and the district with critical incidents in partnership with community mental health partners, including the district's Employee Assistance Program.
• Identifies, analyzes, and applies current research findings to plan and provide a comprehensive counseling plan and curriculum for all students. Evaluate and improve school counseling practices and make changes based on findings.
• Develops programs and recommends policies related to health and safety. Provides advice to district administration and other departments regarding policies, procedures, nursing, and healthcare standards on matters impacting students, staff, and the community.
• Collaborates with district-level administration to integrate and implement the district's counseling and social-emotional learning priorities.
• Manages the delivery of all campus counseling services and ensures consistent implementation of school curriculum and policies related to serving student needs.
• Ensures students have access to services and supports that improve their mental, physical, psychological, and academic wellness.
• Coordinates activities of the health services program with outside agencies and members of the medical and healthcare communities to ensure that students have access to adequate healthcare services. Represents the district in collaborative community programs related to student health.
• Serves as a permanent co-chair of the district's School Health Advisory Committee.
• Leads the SHAC in the development of health education curriculum and contributes to other committees related to health and safety issues of students and staff.
• Creates, leads, and oversees professional learning activities in the areas of comprehensive counseling, graduation, crisis prevention/response, suicide prevention, social and emotional learning supports, and mental health services.
• Coordinates school, home, and community resources to enable students, parents, and others to be referred to supplemental programs and services as needed.
• Plans and implements training for mental health support for all school personnel.
• Maintains an emergency plan and coordinates the activation and assignment of crisis counselors as needed.
• Manages and facilitates the District’s Food Allergy Management Plan (FAMP) with the Director of Food and Nutrition Services and Lead Nurse.

Administration

• Creates, maintains, and updates counseling handbooks, manuals, websites, brochures, and forms for campuses and families.
• Works collaboratively with Counselors, Administration, Registrars, College and Career staff, and other staff members to provide consultation to counselors and campus staff on academic guidance, counseling, student intervention, and post-graduation preparation programs.
• Develops and administers the counseling budget and ensures that operations are cost-effective and funds are managed wisely.
• Ensures that all campuses have needed counseling and health clinic supplies and resources, and recommends purchase, replacement, and repair of equipment when needed.
• Convenes and facilitates special workgroups for strategic planning, problem-solving, and training.

Policy, Reports, and Law

• Implements and complies with the policies established by federal and state law, State Board of Education rule, and local board policy.
• Compiles, maintains, and presents all physical and computerized reports, records, and other documents required.
• Follows district safety protocols and emergency procedures.

Budget

• Administers the budget and ensures that programs are cost-effective and funds are managed prudently.
• Compiles budgets and cost estimates based on documented program needs.

Personnel Management

• Works cooperatively with principals to recruit, interview, select, train, and supervise all counselors, mental health professionals, and health services personnel, and makes recommendations about assignments, retention, discipline, and dismissals.
• Collaborates with Human Resources to prepare, review, and revise department job descriptions.
• Shares responsibility with principals to evaluate the performance of counselors and nurses to ensure program effectiveness and develop training options and improvement plans to ensure exemplary operation in the counseling and health services areas.
• Plans and conducts professional development, orientation, training, and certification programs for counselors and mental health professionals.

Communication

• Provides for two-way communication with principals, teachers, staff, parents, and the community.
• Demonstrates skill in conflict resolution with administrators, parents, teachers, staff, and the community.
• Monitors professional research and disseminates ideas and information to other professionals.

Community Relations

• Articulates the district’s mission, instructional philosophy, and curriculum implementation strategies to the community and solicits its support in realizing the district's mission.
• Demonstrates awareness of district-community needs and initiates activities to meet those needs.
• Demonstrates the use of appropriate and effective techniques to encourage community and parent involvement.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervises, evaluates, and makes recommendations about hiring, assignment, retention, discipline, and dismissal of assigned staff. Works collaboratively with campus principals in the supervision of campus health and counseling staff throughout the district.

Other

• Demonstrates behavior that is professional, ethical, and responsible.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Serves as a role model for all district staff.
• Participates in approved professional development opportunities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Health and Physical Education Curriculum Standards
• Counseling Modalities, Best Practices, and Intervention Strategies
• Teaching (Health/PE/Life Skills/Prevention Concepts)
• Health/Physical Fitness Studies
• Drug Prevention/Intervention Programs
• Behavioral Change Programs
• Community Programs
• Public Relations
• Oral and Written Communication Skills
• Interpersonal Skills using Tact, Patience, and Courtesy
• Methods of Collecting and Organizing Data and Information
• Operation of a Computer and Assigned Software
• District and Department Policies and Procedures
• Relevant Federal and State Laws and Requirements

Ability to:

• Read, Speak, and Understand English
• Evaluate Instructional Programs and Teaching Effectiveness
• Manage Budget and Personnel
• Coordinate District Functions
• Implement Policy and Procedures
• Interpret Data
• Work Independently with Little Direction
• Communicate Effectively Both Orally and in Writing
• Establish and Maintain Cooperative and Effective Working Relationships with Others
• Maintain Regular and Consistent Attendance
• Develop, Plan, and Organize Daily Operations
• Analyze Situations Accurately and Adopt an Effective Course of Action
• Meet Schedules and Timelines
• Plan and Organize Work

Education/Licenses/Experience:

• A master's degree from an accredited college or university in Counseling, Social Work, or related field is required.
• Valid Texas School Counselor Certification required.
• Five years experience in school counseling and leadership administration.
• Five years of successful supervisory experience in an educational setting is required.

Working Conditions:

Mental Demands: Self-motivated, perform tasks with little or no supervision; work with frequent interruptions; able to manage multiple complex projects concurrently; maintain emotional control under stress; ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written); coordinate district support functions.

Physical Demands/Environmental Factors: Lifting/carrying – 15-44 pounds; frequent sitting, standing, walking, climbing, stooping/crouching/kneeling, pulling/pushing, reaching; repetitive hand motions; prolonged use of computer; speaking clearly; occasional district-wide, state-wide travel; work occasional irregular hours and prolonged hours.