SANTIAM CANYON SCHOOL DISTRICT #129J
Middle School Counselor (Grades 6-8)
Date Posted: 8/22/25
Date Closed: Posted until filled
Start Date: ASAP
Reports To: Santiam Jr/Sr High School Administration
Compensation: $43,680 - $82,596
About Santiam Canyon School District:
Are you looking for your next work opportunity or looking to respark your love of education? Santiam Jr/Sr High School is hiring and we may just be what you are looking for! These last few years have been difficult in education and statistics show that educator burnout is high but, at Santiam, we proudly go against the trends. We are a rural school district working on a 4-day school week and we keep kids at the center of our decisions. If you want to come see how great education can be, apply now or at the least, give us a chance and come up to Mill City for a tour of our campus. We have staff commute to us from all around. They choose Santiam because of who we are and what we value. We support our staff with modern facilities, new technology, abundant support staff, and a caring, competent administration. Santiam is unique and we are proud of it! We are a small town school district with big opportunities, and we have an amazing staff! Below is the job description, but you are also welcome to call SJSHS Principal Blane Lazar, to learn more at 503-897-2311. He is happy to talk with you about the position. Give Santiam a chance; you may just rediscover your love of education.
Santiam Canyon is located in the beautiful foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range and proudly serves the communities of Mill City, Gates, Detroit, Idanha and surrounding areas. Located close to Salem and other larger towns, Santiam Jr./Sr. High School is an ideal location to teach and collaborate with educational professionals helping students achieve their limitless potential. Santiam operates on a 4 day school week and counselor contracts are 170 work days. Counselors work an additional 5 days, for a total of 175 work days.
Position Overview:
The school counselor plans, promotes, and delivers a comprehensive developmental program of guidance and counseling to assist middle school students in the areas of academic achievement, career decision making, personal-social growth, and community contribution. They act as a consultant, in this regard to school staff, parents and community members.
School Counselor Duties and Responsibilities:
Annually designs a comprehensive school counseling curriculum plan utilizing the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) national student standards and Oregon Framework.
Promotes a whole-school approach for the school counseling program that aligns with ASCA vision, mission, and philosophy ensuring that all students’ academic, career, and personal/social development and community involvement needs are met in a systematic manner.
Promotes and delivers the guidance curriculum systemically in collaboration with school staff and community resources.
Provides individual counseling in academic, career, personal-social development and community contribution.
Collaborates with other school staff in planning and facilitating a systemic approach to pre-K through post-secondary transitions from grade-to-grade and school to school.
Provides guidance and consultation to students, parents, and staff regarding diploma options.
Provides goal-oriented individual and group counseling to target populations.
Develops appropriate interventions for students and monitors progress.
Collaborates with other school and district staff to ensure student safety.
Provides intervention/supports in crisis situations and collaborates with others when appropriate to address student needs.
Develops and implements a referral process to specialists and outside agencies.
Serves as a member of student threat assessment, sexual incident response committee, and suicide screening teams.
Serves as the 504 coordinator for middle schoolers.
Participates as a team member on Student Services Team (SST), Youth Services Team (YST), Response To Intervention (RTI), and Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings, as needed.
Coordinates the comprehensive program in collaboration with administration and other school staff.
Participates in the design and implementation of school guidance curriculum and closing the gap action plans.
Manages time to align with the ASCA Model’s distribution of time assuring implementation of all delivery systems.
Manages available resources and seeks new resources to support the school counseling program
Maintains comprehensive records of the school counseling program
Documents and shares process data to educate others about how students, staff, and parents benefit from the school counseling program.
Collects and uses data to identify and meet student needs.
Collects, analyzes, and uses data to plan, implement, and evaluate individual school counseling program.
Uses data to guide decision-making to improve program delivery.
Demonstrates an understanding of laws and policies related to student rights and counselor responsibilities (e.g., for educational equity, appropriate education for students with disabilities, confidentiality, privacy, appropriate treatment of students, reporting in situations related to possible child abuse.)
Seeks appropriate opportunities to model effective practices for colleagues, to lead professional learning activities, and to serve in other leadership roles.
Works with the school leadership team to ensure local policies do no harm to students. Also works to identify barriers to student success and to design systemic efforts to improve school success for each student.
Engages in meaningful and appropriate professional development opportunities to develop knowledge and skills in order to promote student success, equity, and access by staying up-to-date in counseling theories and instructional practices.
Participates in regular building level counseling department meetings to design and plan the comprehensive school counseling program. Stay abreast of school specific needs, programs, and resources.
Coordinates with the Behavioral Specialist to administer the DESSA Assessment, interpret results, and develop a plan of action based upon the results.
Coordinate the 6-12 ASPIRE program and 2 ASPIRE evening events. (College/Career Readiness)
All guidance counselors will be evaluated utilizing the ASCA standards.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Demonstrate support for the District’s Mission and Guiding Principles
Follow all laws, District policies, rules, regulations, memos, announcements, and reasonable requests by proper authority
Maintain the integrity of confidential information relating to a student, family, colleague, or district patron, and uses or relays academic, social, or personal information only in the course of performing assigned responsibilities and in the best interest of the individuals involved
Maintain appropriate certifications and training hours as required
Comply with applicable District, state, local and federal laws, rules and regulations
Maintain regular attendance at work and work activities, and is punctual in meeting deadlines, attending meetings, and following schedules
Collaborate and confer with students, parents, colleagues, and community members in a harmonious and respectful manner
Other duties may be assigned
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from four-year college or university
Master’s degree or equivalent strongly preferred
Prior successful experience as a school counselor strongly preferred
Must have a valid school counseling license through the Teachers Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) or have an ability to obtain the needed endorsements
