Middle School Counselor

Our Mission:

To inspire and challenge every learner to reach their full potential and become curious, independent, and compassionate citizens of the world.

Our Core Values:

• Commitment to Excellence - We tackle challenges willingly and persevere to succeed.
• Compassion and Integrity - We care for, respect, and value one another
• Strength in Diversity - We embrace our differences, enrich our community, and make meaningful connections, ensuring our global mindedness.
• Innovative Spirit - We are creative and curious learners, empowered to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
• Lasting Impact - We contribute to a sustainable future by taking care of our planet and leaving our environment better than we found it.

Our Definition of Learning:

• Learning is a journey of authentic discovery to develop understanding, skills, and character.  This includes four principles:
• Learning is Iterative - We learn through our mistakes, providing us opportunities to be creative and find solutions. 
• Learning is Exciting - We learn when we are inspired, challenged, and active.
• Learning is Meaningful - We learn and grow when we apply our knowledge, skills, and understandings to real-world situations.
• Learning is Social - We learn through sharing, interacting, and collaborating 

Reports to:  Division Principal or designee

Collaborates closely with; Assistant Principals, Head of Department, Instructional Coach, K-12 Coordinators and Specialists, and other colleagues as appropriate.

Responsibilities: (Including but not limited to)

Classroom Responsibilities:  To provide learning opportunities for every child relative to his needs, abilities, and stages of development establish effective relationships with students based on mutual respect, recognize the individuality of each child, ensure an effective and challenging learning environment, and ensure the classroom is an attractive and welcoming place.

Planning, Curriculum, and Organizational Responsibilities:  To design authentic and meaningful units by starting with the end in mind. Use effective instructional strategies to make learning interactive, exciting, meaningful, and social. Develop and manage classroom resources. Provide students feedback to support their academic and social-emotional growth. Use standards to guide the evaluation of student work, and record results to provide an accurate assessment of student achievement.

Professional Development Expectations:  To embrace a growth mindset by keeping up-to-date on best practices, engaging in teacher development opportunities, participating in in-service courses, attending professional meetings as scheduled by Leadership, seeking out and using feedback from coaches and administrators, and participating in the ISP professional learning cycle as outlined in the evaluation process. 

Community Expectations:  Engage with our ISP community by sharing updates on the progress and development of the students in the teacher’s care, as well as important events happening in the classroom. Find opportunities to meet with parents, caregivers, and guardians to discuss the progress and development of the students, and collaborate to support the child’s specific needs, interests, and passions. Connect with our larger community by attending PTA events, athletics events, and various student performances

Overview of the Role:

The primary function of the Middle School Counseling Program at the International School of Panama is to help students successfully navigate the multiple challenges and opportunities they will face during their time in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. This requires nurturing executive functioning, decision-making, and social, emotional, and academic growth. The role of a counselor includes supporting school policies/regulations and goals by promoting healthy attitudes of self-esteem, respect, and an appreciation of the cultural differences of others. 

 What you'll do: (Including but not limited to)

• Serves as a consultant to administration, teachers, and teachers to guide them in ways to meet the social and emotional needs of students. 
• Provides individual support to students with social, emotional, personal, and academic needs.
• Leads the development of a strong advisory program.
• Collaborates with the Department of Student Services to support our response to the intervention process
• Fosters tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of diversity among students, and promotes positive relationships within the school and community. 
• Assists in crises and maintains appropriate follow-up to avoid escalation and reoccurrence. Utilizes restorative practices when working with students.
• Facilitates schedule changes requested by students, teachers, or parents by meeting with students, assessing the need for the change, and following the procedures to implement them. Works to strategically group students in their various classes to set them up for success.
• Develops transition programs for rising 6th graders and students new to ISP, and work in collaboration with the high school counselor(s) to support the transition of 8th-grade students to high school.
• Provides orientation for new students, and organizes the ambassador program. Coordinates with other stakeholders.
• Identifies and utilizes community resources and establishes effective working relationships with parents and all available referral resources. 
• Serve as a primary child protection officer for middle school
• Reviews placement test results and academic records of new students and helps in their course selection and appropriate placement.
• Provides student and parent workshops on various topics, e.g. drugs and alcohol, anti-bullying, etc.
• Meets with the principal and resource teacher about progress reports and follows up by meeting with students on academic and behavioral probation.
• Compiles data and prepares reports as requested. 
• Keeps current by participation in educational activities, conferences, and professional organization membership.
• Helps students and parents with tutor contacts upon request.
• Completes other duties as assigned

What you bring

• Passion for working with and appreciation of International and diverse students
• Deep dedication to continual growth and development
• A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice-related education
• Eagerness to collaborate with colleagues
• A willingness to be flexible, adaptable, and committed to the unique nature of working in an international school
• Organization, time management, and problem-solving skills
• Experience designing authentic units and assessments using a backward design model
• A high degree of professionalism
• Commitment to participating in the whole school experience including embodying our core values, mission, and definition of learning.