Job Description

Posting Timeline

PPS strongly encourages and recommends everyone who is able, to be vaccinated and remain current on the COVID-19 vaccine.

This job is open until filled. Applications will be reviewed as received. Portland Public Schools reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any point during the posting period.

Current PPS probationary and contract professional educators are no longer eligible to fill vacancies which occur after July 31st.

This temporary assignment is to cover a medical leave and is currently set to end on 12/22/2024 . It is common for assignments covering medical leaves to extend beyond the initial return date.

Position Details

Portland Public Schools (PPS) is seeking talented people from diverse backgrounds and experiences to lead change and inspire PPS students. At PPS, every employee, despite having different roles, is an educator. We hope to attract talented educators who model the core PPS Educator Essentials. With the District’s focus on eliminating systemic racism and its adverse impact on student learning, we seek to hire individuals who bring to our district a deep commitment to racial equity and social justice.

The District is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in all its educational and employment activities. The District prohibits discrimination based on perceived or actual race; national or ethnic origin; color; sex; religion; age; sexual orientation; gender expression or identity; pregnancy; marital status; veteran’s status; familial status; economic status or source of income; mental or physical disability or perceived disability; or military service.

504 Coordinator: Marquita Guzman,mguzman@pps.net 971-393-8633

ADA Coordinator: Jey Buno, jbuno@pps.net, 503-916-3360

Title IX Program Manager: Liane O’Banion,lobanion@pps.net, 503-568-2646

Accessibility Statement

Conflict/Complaint Resolution Process

POSITION SUMMARY:

The School Counselor implements a comprehensive program designed to guide and assist elementary, middle, K-8, high and/or alternative school students to develop the academic, personal/social, and college/career readiness skills necessary to achieve success throughout the Pre K – twelfth grade experience and their post HS plans. School Counselors provide services that prepare students to build competencies in academic, career, and personal/social development and promote a lifelong ability to learn, work and live through leaderships between home, school and the community.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:

• Provide students with a planned and sequential school counseling program aligned with the PPS district core school counseling curriculum. Assist students in transitioning between grades and school levels.
• Provide academic development support to students, parents and other stakeholders with information about district and community educational resources; participate in academic planning and scheduling students for classes to assure academic and personal needs are met; identify students and support interventions for at-risk students; arrange for class changes and class balancing; collaborate with Special Education, ELL case managers and others to support students with special needs.
• Assist students with personal and social development; provide information about community resources for personal and social needs; briefly counsel students individually and in groups concerning social or personal issues which affect educational progress; provide information, brief counseling and referral for students with alcohol, drug, social and/or related issues.
• Assist students in development of cultural sensitivity and respect for individual differences; development of communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Communicate with parents, staff and other designated personnel regarding individual student issues and concerns.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the Portland Public Schools Equity Initiative by developing a thorough knowledge and application of the district Racial Educational Equity Policy.
• Participate in staff development, in-services and trainings related to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and in K – 12 educations; model appropriate behaviors; develop, recommend and implement improvements to educational practices with awareness and understanding of their impact in a racially and culturally diverse community.
• Support College and Career Readiness Development; Assist students in exploring personal abilities, interests and skills in order to design academic plans and life goals; provide information to assist students, parent and the community to have the ability to investigate and access college and career information through a variety of resources.
• Coordinate on-campus and community college fairs, speakers, representative visits and similar events; maintain, coordinate and communicate scholarship opportunities and financial aid information; coordinate scholarship selection committee for school sponsored scholarships; attend district, college, 2 university and other post-secondary educational institution meetings to represent PPS student and community interests.
• Operate a variety of school and office equipment, computer and peripheral technologies, to record information and generate lists, reports and other materials; utilize a variety of word processing, database, presentation, webpage, spreadsheet, internet, intranet and other software.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLASS:

A school counselor provides academic, personal/social and college and career readiness to students at an elementary, middle, K-8, high and/or alternative school. Utilizing leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, school counselors promote student success by providing comprehensive school counseling programming to all students and evidence based interventions to identified students. School counselors will conduct yearly program evaluations to assess the impact of the school counseling program on student outcomes.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:

Knowledge of:

• Effective counseling program needs assessment, goal setting, plan formulation and program evaluation.
• Counseling theories, models and techniques for individual and group counseling.
• Appropriate counseling processes and techniques for individual and group sessions essential to meet developmental, preventive, and remedial needs of students.
• Assessment and diagnostic procedures for determining and structuring individual and group counseling services.
• Consulting processes and techniques for work with students, parents, teachers, and administrators.
• Parent education programs, group guidance, teacher in-service training methods.
• Educational assessment tools and techniques.

Ability to:

• Initiate and coordinate school-wide core counseling curriculum and counseling activities. Follow up individual and group counseling to monitor student issues.
• Assist parents and teachers in understanding and responding to developmental levels of students. Present instructional/informational programs to groups of students, parents, and teachers.
• Interpret achievement and aptitude test data to assist school staff with curriculum planning.
• Assist teachers with the integration of guidance activities into the curriculum.
• Adhere to ethical standards of the counseling profession.
• Interpret testing results and other student data accurately.
• Use standardized tests and inventories according to published practices and professional standards.
• Share appropriate information about students with school personnel, parents, and community agencies.
• Learn and implement Portland Public School’s Racial Equity Initiative and other board policies.
• Manage workflow and perform multiple complex and responsible activities simultaneously with constantly changing priorities and deadlines.
• Demonstrate a strong customer service orientation.
• Maintain confidentiality and demonstrate discretion, initiative and good judgment.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt effective course(s) of action.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others. Interpret, apply and explain laws, codes, rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Learn and operate a variety of school and office technologies and software.

Education, Training and Experience:

• Must be properly licensed by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission to develop and deliver a comprehensive school counseling program, including current School Counseling Certification issued in the State of Oregon.
• Special Requirements: Positions in this classification may require the use of a personal automobile and possession of a valid Class C Oregon driver’s license. Work hours may include on- and off-campus evening and weekend activities and meetings and district, school and student functions.

ENDORSEMENT REQUIREMENT: School Counselor

COMPENSATION: $58,130 - $113,112 (Annual salary based on 1.0 FTE)

WORK YEAR: 202 days

FTE: 1.0

Benefits Information

Portland Public Schools (PPS) offers several competitive and comprehensive benefit packages to employees. Fringe benefits include medical, dental, vision, prescription, life and disability insurance, employee assistance program, 403(b) retirement savings plan and various leave and professional development programs. Depending on the insurance option selected by the employee, there may be an employee contribution toward insurance.

Portland Public Schools is a public employer and participates in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS/OPSRP). Eligible employees are required by statute to contribute 6% of salary on a pre-tax basis to OPSRP/IAP, after serving six months under a PERS employer.

For more information about additional benefits or compensation options by employee group, please visit our website at:

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