Lead School Counselor **(Internal Only)**

General Purpose

Serving as the lead counselor for ACPS in addition to carrying a regular counseling caseload, the Lead School Counselor coordinates division school-based counseling activities, serves as the primary liaison between the counseling staff and VDOE, and assists in supporting a consistent, comprehensive school counseling program across elementary and secondary levels. This position comes with an additional stipend for lead-role duties; it is not an administrative position and does not carry supervisory or evaluative authority over other staff.

Lead Role / Coordination Duties:

• Serves as the point of contact and liaison between school counselors, ACPS central office and VDOE.
• Coordinates and helps organize division-wide counseling activities, meetings, and professional development.
• Assists in developing and maintaining a school counseling program consistent with school board policy and division guidance/student services procedures.
• Keeps the central office informed of department needs, progress, and any problems encountered.
• Explains and interprets division-wide counseling policies, goals, and objectives to school counselors, students, parents, staff, and the community.
• Assists in maintaining resource libraries, and required reporting/documentation.
• Attends division-wide counselor meetings and represents the ACPS counseling program at relevant events (e.g., transition nights, college/career events, orientation, State and Region 8 meetings, and conferences and workshops).
• Helps coordinate (not supervise or evaluate) division wide activities, ensuring consistency of practice and communication.

• Working knowledge of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model and Virginia school counseling standards.
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development, individual and group counseling techniques, and conflict resolution.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills; ability to manage multiple priorities across a school-based caseload and lead-role duties.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with administrators, teachers, parents, students, and community partners.
• Proficiency with relevant technology and student information systems.

• Master's degree from an approved school counseling program, or equivalent, with Virginia licensure and endorsement in School Counseling (PreK-12).
• Minimum of two (2) years of successful experience as a school counselor.

• Standard school-based office and classroom environment; some travel between school sites may be required given the division's size.
• Regular attendance at division, State and Region 8 meetings, some of which may occur outside standard school hours.

This job description is intended to accurately reflect the position's activities and requirements but is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities, or working conditions.