Counselor - Metro West Learning Academy (26-27 School Year)

Counselor•Metro West Learning Academy (26-27 School Year) Urbandale Community School District Metro West Learning Academy•Urbandale, Iowa This job is also posted in TeachIowa, Iowa's Marketplace for education jobs, and Urbandale Schools Job Details

Job ID:

5723840

Application Deadline:

Posted until filled

Posted:

Yesterday

Starting Date:

Aug 11, 2026 Job Description

JOB TITLE

•Counselor

CLASSIFICATION

•Certified

FLSA STATUS

•Exempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR

•Building Principal

RECEIVES GUIDANCE FROM

•Building administrators, district leadership

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

•The Metro West Academy counselor works cooperatively with parents, teachers, administrators and the Urbandale community in providing needed social/emotional support and direction to students. UCSD Counselors strive to ensure that all students have a positive school experience in which they develop a healthy self-esteem, the skills to interact and communicate productively in a global and technological society, and the maturity to make wise decisions in their daily lives and future planning. It is the counseling goal to encourage and nurture students as life-long learners, to use their unique potential in constructive, responsible, and satisfying ways. Please review the UCSD Actions of Excellence to gain an understanding of the expectations for UCSD employees.

QUALIFICATIONS

• (Skills, Knowledge, Abilities, Education, Certification/Licensure, Experience, Equipment) Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities Ability to communicate within the structure of the organization as well as the community. Clearly articulate goals and expectations to adults and students. Ability to organize and think clearly while communicating, organizing, and evaluating. Knowledge of district organizational structure and function, as well as laws, rules and regulations pertaining thereto. Working knowledge of the ASCA Model. Growth Mindset. Demonstrated application of effective instruction, meeting student needs relative to district benchmarks and standards. Knowledge of "best practice" in teaching. Knowledge of the developmental characteristics of students at the designated grade level. Ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders. Knowledge of the Iowa Teaching Standards. Knowledge of special education and section 504. Knowledge of Federal Rights and Privacy Act and other civil rights regulations. Ability to organize and think clearly while communicating, organizing, and evaluating. Education Earned Bachelor's Degree in Education or Board of Educational Examiners approved alternative. Master's Degree in Counseling. Certification/Licensure Appropriate BOEE licensure. Experience Experience teaching preferred. Experience as secondary counselor and high school scheduling preferred. Preferred experience: Future Ready Iowa Experience or Training, working knowledge of apprenticeship programs and application process, liaison work between our school and partner school districts, working knowledge of academic credits and how those credits transfer to other institutions, experience with or the ability to become familiar with Virtual Reality Trainers Equipment Office equipment such as computers, two-way radios, multi-line phone system, cell phone, copier, and fax machines.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned. Establish rapport with students through informal contacts. Work with individual students in counseling setting using techniques that apply to the age/development of the student. Provide crisis counseling in times of need. Provide small group counseling with students using various methods. Advise and counsel students regarding academic, personal/social, career and college readiness. Provide individual student planning and responsive services to support students and families. Schedule and facilitate all student intake meetings and provide orientation for new students at the school and familiarize the students and families with building best practices and procedures. Provide follow-up on individual referrals from all partner districts. Support building problem solving team in an effort to provide students with research-based academic, behavior, and social/emotional interventions into the curriculum. Support 504 plans along with the Building Administrator. Provide brief counseling to address social/emotional concerns and appropriately refer students to mental health services. Consult monthly with each partner district's liaison concerning student's progress or more frequently as needed to ensure the student's success. Consult with teachers concerning child's weekly progress and develop management strategies to meet the needs of individual students. Provide individual academic planning to support students college and career goals. Be a team-oriented person and bring strong skillset to the Building PLC team. Have a positive attitude. Maintain a working knowledge of the testing program, supporting MAP testing, ALEKS testing, and State Assessment Planning. Consult with educational specialists such as school psychologists, learning disabilities specialists, AEA specialists, social service, and mental health specialists. Demonstrates effective implementation of the eight Iowa Teaching Standards and 42 criteria. Meets professional responsibilities as outlined in the Professional Growth Assessment Plan, Employee Handbook, and Board policy. Develops, with their supervisor, a plan for professional growth. Maintains a reliable attendance record. Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION OF OTHERS

• None

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Repetitious bending, lifting, and hand movement. Ability to work while standing, moving and/or walking. Drug, tobacco, and alcohol-free while working. Must be able to see and hear within normal limits with or without corrective lenses or hearing aids. Ability to operate a motor vehicle used to travel between sites.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Majority of work is performed in an office or school setting. Occasional meetings outside the school day. Occasional exposure to body fluids, fumes, noise, and hazardous materials and emergency situations.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Per Board Policies and the UEA Master Contract. Performance evaluated per Board Policy and the Professional Growth Assessment Plan.

Position Type:

Full-Time