Title: Counselor

Reports to: Assistant Principal

The Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts (LFCSA) is a non-profit, public elementary school with an emphasis in project-based learning in and through the arts. Recognizing the need for quality elementary education extends well beyond the student population we serve, LFCSA endeavors to become a model school and training facility for best practices in arts-integrated education and professional development.

Our LFCSA Counselor is an individual who is committed to the arts, child-centered learning, and fostering a collaborative and engaged learning environment.  In order to thrive in and contribute to our learning community this individual must be an excellent communicator, a flexible and resourceful problem-solver, a life-long learner, a deep critical thinker, very comfortable with interdisciplinary collaboration, and able to support and develop leadership in others.  This individual’s personal and professional values are aligned with the School’s values and charter- child-centered, constructivist, project based, arts integrated, family involvement, character education and service learning. 

Purpose Statement

Under the direction of the Assistant Principal, the Counselor will perform a variety of professional activities involved in the planning, development and consultation of DIS Counseling services on the Individualized Education Plans (IEP’s) behavior plans, as well as providing direct services on an individual, group, or family level to promote student social emotional well being

Primary Responsibilities and Associated Tasks

• Uphold the values and mission of LFCSA while making significant professional contributions
• Assist in fostering an environment that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, risk-taking, efficient planning, peer-to-peer mentoring, leadership and reflection
• Coordinate with administrators and staff to provide staff development to improve achievement of all students in all subjects
• Facilitate the establishment of a professional learning community
• Assist in resolving behavioral difficulties exacerbated by social emotional needs
• Facilitate change in negative or self destructive attitudes or behavior
• Counsel students who demonstrate difficulties
• Consult with parents, teachers and administrators regarding behavior, academic, social and emotional development
• Maintain confidential records and reports
• Inform director and district regarding students with severe student behavioral problems
• Refer severe cases as appropriate
• Refer parents to appropriate community agencies and follow up as required
• Conduct or participate in meetings and in service training programs as appropriate

Required Skills and Experience:

• Minimum 2 years experience in an elementary school setting
• Maturity and ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with Special Education students
• Able to read/write English at a level necessary for successful job performance
• Ability to understand and manage with varying emotional difficulties, sensory-related issues, and difficult behaviors
• Natural demeanor and interaction with students with learning disabilities
• Ability to set and enforce limits and boundaries
• Advanced oral and written communication skills used effectively with students, parents, teachers, and the case supervisor when issues arise
• Ability to foster effective relationships with a diverse community of students and their families
• Open towards feedback
• Ability to collaborate
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Self starter, able to take initiative in ensuring the student needs are met
• Bilingualism (preferred but not required)

Communication Skills

• Excellent communication and community-building skills
• Excellent partnership building skills with an ability to communicate and work effectively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
• Possesses the ability to interpret and translate data and information.