School Counselor
School Counselor
SCHOOL COUNSELOR
2026–2027 School Year | Placed by Spotter Staffing
About the Role
Spotter Staffing is seeking an experienced, self-directed School Counselor to serve students at a middle School in northeast illinois. This is a full-time placement for the 26–27 school year with strong building leadership support — one principal and two assistant principals — and an established Spotter Staffing presence already in the building.
Pay: Up to $53.00/hour
Start Date: August 17, 2026
Hours: 7:40 AM – 2:50 PM | Monday–Friday
Setting: Middle School (Grades 6–8)
About the Position
This is a non-IEP counseling role focused entirely on social-emotional support, student wellness, and whole-child development. The counselor will not manage special education caseloads or IEP documentation. Instead, the focus is on being a consistent, trusted resource for students navigating social challenges, family instability, trauma, and the emotional complexities of early adolescence.
School counselors are in a unique position to identify students affected by traumatic events and provide the support and resources those students need. This counselor will be a proactive presence — not waiting for referrals, but building relationships and creating a culture where students feel safe seeking help.
Key Responsibilities
Direct Student Support
- Provide individual and small-group counseling focused on social-emotional needs, peer relationships, family challenges, grief, and personal well-being
- Address issues including stress, trauma, divorce, substance exposure, and domestic instability that impact student readiness to learn
- Serve as a first-line resource for students in crisis and coordinate with administration and outside providers when needs exceed the school counseling scope
- Collaborate with school administration and community partners to identify and assist students in crisis
- Facilitate structured small-group sessions targeting skill areas such as coping strategies, self-regulation, conflict resolution, and healthy relationships
Staff & Family Collaboration
- Partner with teachers and staff to identify students who may be struggling and ensure appropriate referrals and follow-through
- Educate staff on the effects of trauma and how to recognize when students should be referred for counseling support
- Maintain open, consistent communication with parents and guardians regarding student social-emotional progress and available community resources
- Collaborate with building leadership on building-wide climate and student wellness initiatives
Trauma-Informed Practice
- Promote a trauma-sensitive school environment where each and every student feels safe, welcomed, and supported
- Apply evidence-based, trauma-informed frameworks when working with students who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
- Provide referrals to school and community resources for students presenting with more significant mental health needs, with the goal of removing barriers to learning and helping students return to full participation in the classroom
Program & Data
- Track student contacts, interventions, and outcomes to inform service delivery and report to building leadership
- Operate independently with strong organizational habits — managing caseload, scheduling, and documentation without heavy administrative oversight
- Contribute to a positive school culture through proactive, visible presence throughout the building
Qualifications
- Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with a School Counselor endorsement required
- Experience working with middle school-aged students strongly preferred
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and self-direct a caseload without daily supervision
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust with students, staff, and families across varied backgrounds
- Knowledge of trauma-informed practices and social-emotional learning frameworks
- Ability to recognize when student needs exceed the school counseling scope and make appropriate referrals
- Crisis response experience or training preferred
- Strong written and verbal communication for parent and staff collaboration
Interested candidates should contact Spotter Staffing directly to apply.