Elementary School Counselor
Supervisor: Principal
Contract Length: Continuing, 190 days
Job Classification: Teaching
FSLA Status: Exempt
Job Summary:
As an Elementary School Counselor, you will play a vital role in the academic, social, and emotional development of elementary school students. The primary responsibility will be providing counseling and support services to students, helping them navigate the challenges of their formative years. Collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators to create a positive and nurturing school environment that fosters academic success and personal growth.
To help students devlop:
- develop positive, but realistic, self-concepts.
- develop effective interpersonal behavior.
- develop effective use of decision-making skills.
- develop and maintain positive attitudes toward learning.
- develop positive attitudes toward an understanding of the world of work.
Essential Duties:
- Meets with students in classroom and in small groups to lead activities and/or discussion aimed at achieving predetermined goals.
- Meets with children individually to help them resolve problems and/or to choose from alternatives.
- Seeks to involve parents in the educational progress of their sons and daughters.
- Works to resolve student’s educational handicaps.
- Works to discover and develop special abilities of students.
- Remains readily available to students so as to provide counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self-understanding and maturity.
- Takes an active role in interpreting the school’s objectives and goals to students, parents and the community at large.
- Consults with administrators and faculty on matters pertaining to the needs of students.
- Assists in the development of a meaningful career education program in the school(s) to which assigned.
- Meets with parents and/or school staff to help them understand the individual needs of children.
- Assists staff members in programming that will benefit all children.
- Assists in the development of a meaningful testing program in the school(s) to which assigned and assist school personnel in the effective use of testing results.
- Assist in the teaching of the 7 Habits of Leader in Me and core beliefs aligned with schoolwide positive behavior, including supporting the framework to enhance student’s understaning of behavior expectations.
- Promote positive mental health within the school(s).
Minimum Qualifications:
- A valid certificate as an elementary school guidance counselor.
- A Master’s degree, or its equivalent, representing intensive course work in the principles and practice of education guidance; educational testing and measurement; counseling; the organization and administration of guidance services; and the psychology of learning.
- Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board of Education may find appropriate and acceptable.
Physical Demands and Working Conditions:
Amount of Time
Physical Activity
Occasionally
(1%-32%)
Frequently
(33%-65%)
Constantly
(66%-100%)
Mobility
–
–
X
Bend
X
–
–
Talk
–
–
X
Hear
–
–
X
Operate Computer
–
X
–
Stationary Position
–
X
–
Balance
–
–
X
Lift Up to 20 pounds
X
–
–
Manual Dexterity Tasks
–
X
–
Reaching/Pushing/Pulling
X
–
–
Sitting
–
X
–
Carrying (25 feet)
X
–
–
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Amount of Time
Working Conditions
Occasionally
(1%-32%)
Frequently
(33%-65%)
Constantly
(66%-100%)
District Office Hours
–
–
X
Indoors
–
–
X
Weekends/Off Schedule
X
–
–
Temperature Extremes
X
–
–
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
It is the policy of Fort Dodge Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs, services, and its employment practices. If you have questions or grievances related to this policy, please contact Roger Porter, Director of School Safety and Security, 515-574-5731, rporter@fdschools.org, located at Fort Dodge Middle School, 800 N 32nd Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501, or contact the Office for Civil Rights Midwestern Division for U. S. Department of Education Office, John C. Kluczynski Federal Building 230 S. Dearborn St., 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604 (Alternate for Section 504 is Branwyn Greathouse, Director of Special Education/Special Needs, 515-574-5675, bgreathouse@fdschools.org, Central Administration Office, 109 North 25th Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501). Affirmative Action Compliance Coordinator The District’s Compliance Coordinator for Affirmative Action is Kimberly Whitmore, Director of Human Resources, 515-576-1161, kwhitmore@fdschools.org, 109 North 25th Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. The school district will respond promptly to allegations of abuse of students by school district employees by timely reporting to all relevant agencies as required by law. The District’s coordinator for abuse reporting is Roger Porter, Director of Safety and Security, 515-574-5731, rporter@fdschools.org, located at Fort Dodge Middle School, 800 North 32nd Street, Fort Dodge, IA 5050 Harassment Complaints and Allegations The District’s Officers for Harassment Complaints and Allegations Roger Porter, Director of School Safety and Security, 515-574-5731, rporter@fdschools.org, located at Fort Dodge Middle School, 800 North 32nd Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. Sex Discrimination and Harassment (Title IX) The District’s Coordinator for Sex Discrimination and Harassment is Kimberly Whitmore, Director of Human Resources, kwhitmore@fdschools.org, located at Central Administration Office, 109 North 25th Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. The Deputy Coordinator is Roger Porter, Director of School Safety and Security, 515-574-5731,rporter@fdschools.org, located at Fort Dodge Middle School, 800 North 32nd Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. Rev. 7/2025
Fort Dodge Community School District is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer.
