Counselor-- Incarnate Word High School

Description
Incarnate Word High School, an all-girls Catholic high school, a sponsored Ministry of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, seeks a Full-Time Counselor for the 2026-2027 school year. Candidate must have current licensure. The school seeks to maintain a fully and authentically Catholic environment.

REPORTS TO:
This position reports to the Principal of Incarnate Word High School (IWHS).

JOB SUMMARY:
A counselor in the IWHS Counseling department works collaboratively with the Senior Director of Counseling Services to support the mission of the school by providing a comprehensive, developmental counseling program that, through the model of pastoral care, participates with the whole school, to support the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word (CCVI) mission and the evangelizing mission of the Church.

The School Counselor implements a comprehensive, developmental guidance and counseling program aligned to the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs and the ASCA National Model, while fully integrating the Catholic mission and CCVI charism of Incarnate Word High School.

The counselor supports academic achievement, college and career readiness, and social-emotional development through a data-driven, student-centered program that ensures all students are prepared for postsecondary success and responsible Christian leadership.

The counselor delivers services across the four TEA/ASCA domains:
Guidance Curriculum (Tier 1 – Schoolwide)
Responsive Services (Tier 2 & 3 – Targeted/Individual)
Individual Planning (College, Career, Graduation Plans)
System Support (Program Management & Collaboration)
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Guidance Curriculum (TEA Domain I)
Design and deliver a structured counseling curriculum that supports:
Academic success and goal setting
College, career, and military readiness
Social-emotional competencies (self-management, resilience, decision-making)
Faith formation consistent with CCVI charism
Key Actions:
Deliver classroom lessons aligned to TEKS-based counseling standards
Provide instruction on:
Study skills and time management
Digital citizenship
College and career awareness
2. Responsive Services (TEA Domain II)
Provide immediate and short-term counseling support to address student needs:
Individual counseling (short-term, solution-focused)
Small group counseling (grief, anxiety, academic support, etc.)
Crisis response and risk assessment (suicide, abuse, trauma)
Referral to community mental health services when appropriate
Key Actions:
Maintain documentation aligned with ethical/legal standards
Collaborate with administration on student safety and intervention plans
Serve as a mental health advocate within the school
3. Individual Planning (TEA Domain III)
Guide students in developing and monitoring Personal Graduation Plans (PGPs) and postsecondary readiness pathways.

Key Actions:
Academic advising (course selection aligned to endorsements)
College and career planning using platforms such as Naviance
Assist with:
College applications
FAFSA/TASFA completion
Scholarships and financial aid
Interpret student data (grades, assessments, PSAT/SAT/AP results)
4. System Support (TEA Domain IV)
Support the effectiveness of the school counseling program through leadership, collaboration, and program management.

Key Actions:
Collaborate with faculty, administration, and parents
Coordinate standardized testing:
PSAT, SAT, AP exams, NWEA, and ARK
Participate in campus improvement planning
Use data to evaluate program effectiveness and close achievement gaps
Provide parent education sessions and workshops
CATHOLIC MISSION INTEGRATION
Uphold and model the teachings of the Catholic Church
Integrate faith into counseling practices and student formation
Support the evangelizing mission of the Church
Promote service, dignity of the person, and moral decision-making
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES
Collaboration
Work with teachers to support student achievement
Consult with parents regarding academic and emotional development
Coordinate with community agencies for student support services

Data-Driven Decision Making
Analyze student performance data to inform interventions
Monitor progress toward graduation and college readiness benchmarks

Ethics and Compliance
Adhere to:
Texas Education Code
FERPA regulations
ASCA ethical standards
Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS:
Licensure: Valid Texas Standard School Counselor Certification issued by the Texas Education Agency (Required)
Minimum of three (3) years of secondary counseling experience preferred
Knowledge of:
Texas graduation requirements (Foundation + Endorsements)
College readiness standards (TSIA2, SAT/ACT, FAFSA)
Social-emotional learning frameworks
Technology: Proficient in word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and internet use for educational purposes and multimedia presentations
Experience: A minimum of three years’ high school counseling experience is required; at least one year of counseling in a Catholic school is preferred
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Strong understanding of adolescent development
Crisis intervention and risk assessment skills
Ability to analyze and interpret academic and behavioral data
Effective communication with diverse stakeholders
Organizational and multitasking capacity
Proficiency with student information systems and counseling platforms

WORKING CONDITIONS
Required to work a standard five-day work week
Required to work some nights and weekends for events
Required to work in standard classroom, office, and school conditions

MENTAL/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Required to manage high to moderate levels of stress
Frequent sitting, standing, and computer use
Ability to respond to crisis situations calmly
Required to lift or carry supplies, textbooks, furniture, and equipment
Required to maintain composure and avoid inappropriate displays of anger
Required to sit, stand, bend, stoop, reach, grab, pull, hear, see, and speak daily
Required to perform repetitive physical tasks such as computer keyboarding, writing, and reading
Required to monitor students in a variety of locations, including those with noise, activity, and inclement conditions