About the job Elementary Counselor
Elementary Counselor
Department: Elementary School
Reports To: Elementary School Principal
Status of Hire: Overseas Direct Hire (ODH) / Local Hire (LH)
Contract: Teacher Contract (with up to 10 additional days before/after the school year.
Position Overview
The Elementary School Counselor at YISS partners with students, teachers, and families to promote academic, social-emotional, and spiritual growth in alignment with the YISS mission to instill in every student a passion for truth, a commitment to excellence, and an appreciation for diversity.
The counselor provides responsive services, facilitates social-emotional learning (SEL), leads small groups, and develops proactive supports and programs that promote student well-being. This role integrates counseling best practices with a Christ-centered approach to character formation, ensuring that students feel known, supported, and equipped to thrive in all aspects of life.
Key Responsibilities
Student Support & Counseling
Provide responsive individual and small-group counseling to support student development in academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and spiritual domains.
Offer guidance to students during transitions, family changes, or other critical life events.
Prepare students for successful transitions both into and out of the elementary school (new student orientation and middle school preparation).
Conduct and interpret academic and behavioral assessments to identify needs and inform support.
Adopt or design and implement proactive classroom lessons that strengthen social-emotional learning, problem-solving, empathy, and peer relationships.
Lead prevention initiatives, including bullying prevention and child safety education.
Respond to crises as part of the school’s Safeguarding and Crisis Response Teams, providing timely care and coordination with appropriate resources.
Maintain strict confidentiality with students and families.
Collaboration and Consultation
Partner with teachers, administrators, and learning support personnel to address academic or behavioral concerns and coordinate appropriate interventions.
Participate as an active member of the Student Success Team and Learning Support Plan meetings to support identified students.
Serve as a member of the Elementary Leadership Team and participate in the design of systems that promote student success.
Assist teachers in interpreting student data and understanding individual developmental profiles.
Recognize and respond to students' mental health needs, and refer appropriately to external agencies or specialists in consultation with the Elementary Principal.
Parent and Community Partnership
Build strong, collaborative relationships with parents to support home-school alignment in student development.
Serve as a resource for parents and staff on child development, family transitions, and social-emotional well-being.
Facilitate parent education workshops and informational sessions on relevant topics.
Communicate clearly about counseling services, procedures, and program goals.
Serve as a visible and approachable presence at community events, modeling YISS’s values of care, professionalism, and partnership.
Program Development & Leadership
Contribute to the ongoing development of a robust counseling program consistent with best practices, the ASCA National Model, and the YISS mission.
Communicate the counseling program's scope and goals annually to the principal and staff.
Utilize data and student feedback to identify trends, needs, and areas for growth across the elementary division and to enhance the elementary counseling program.
Engage in professional learning to remain current in counseling practices and ethical standards.
Develop and supervise student leadership opportunities, such as the Guardian Ambassador program.
Sponsor or support student clubs, activities, or service opportunities that promote belonging and student connection.
Qualifications:
Master's degree in Counseling
Current school counseling certification or licensure (required)
Minimum of three years of successful elementary counseling or classroom teaching experience. Elementary teaching experience preferred.
Knowledge of frameworks of best practice
Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within a diverse, international, Christian learning community
Commitment to professional growth and engagement in ongoing learning.
Professional Expectations
Model Christian character, integrity, and care in all interactions.
Actively engage in professional learning and development to maintain best practices in counseling and guidance.
Uphold all YISS safeguarding policies and participate as an active member of the Safeguarding Team.
Contribute positively to school culture through collaboration, encouragement, and a shared commitment to student flourishing, working closely with counselors across all divisions to ensure continuity of care and shared professional practices.
All employees and associates are required to adhere to a Safeguarding Code of Conduct that contains expectations about their relationships with children, social media use, and the use of children’s photographs and identifying information.
Contractual Requirements:
The Elementary Counselor position is on a teacher contract. It is expected to be on duty for up to 10 days at the discretion of the Elementary Principal, before or after the start of the school year.