25-26 Secondary School Counselor/Student Success Advisor bei Deming Public Schools

Job Title: Secondary School Counselor / Student Success Advisor (Grades 7–8)

Reports to: Principal

Contract Length: 200 Days

Salary: Level I-III Depending on Licensure Level

Job Summary:

The Secondary School plays a dual role in promoting student success through a comprehensive counseling and/or advisory program that supports academic achievement, career readiness, social-emotional wellness, and graduation completion. In alignment with the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) 6.63.6, the counselor provides services that reflect best practices in school counseling while also monitoring academic progress, coordinating interventions, and ensuring all students remain on track for post-secondary success.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Academic Advising & Student Success Monitoring:

• Track student academic performance, attendance, behavior, and credit attainment for grades 7–12.
• Develop and maintain Individual Next Step Plans for students (as required by NMAC 6.29.1), ensuring timely review and updates.
• Collaborate with administration and instructional staff to identify at-risk students and implement appropriate interventions.
• Serve as a liaison between students, teachers, and families to support academic improvement.
• Promote retention and reduce dropout rates by identifying early warning signs and connecting students to support services.

College & Career Readiness:

• Guide students in exploring post-secondary options including 2-year/4-year colleges, military, career technical education (CTE), and workforce pathways.
• Provide support with FAFSA completion, scholarship searches, college applications, and career assessments.
• Coordinate college visits, job shadowing, guest speakers, and career fairs.
• Integrate career exploration into advisory programs and classroom presentations.

Social-Emotional Learning & Mental Health Support (Depending on Licensure):

• Provide individual and group counseling addressing personal, emotional, and social issues.
• Teach SEL (Social Emotional Learning) strategies to build student resilience and interpersonal skills.
• Facilitate referrals to external mental health providers and support agencies as needed.
• Actively participate in school-wide efforts to improve climate and student engagement.

Program Implementation & Collaboration:

• Design and implement a data-driven, comprehensive school counseling program in line with the ASCA National Model and NMAC 6.63.6.
• Collaborate with Student Assistance Teams (SAT), IEP teams, and other student support groups to meet academic and behavioral needs.
• Participate in multidisciplinary problem-solving teams to support student achievement and well-being.

Student Advocacy & Equity:

• Serve as an advocate for equitable access to rigorous academic and extracurricular programs.
• Monitor academic placement and opportunity gaps across student subgroups (e.g., ELL, SPED, economically disadvantaged).
• Engage families and community partners in student success planning.

Graduation and Transition Planning:

• Monitor student progress toward graduation and intervene with recovery plans where needed.
• Support students in transition years (8th to 9th grade, 12th grade to post-secondary).
• Maintain accurate records of credits, GPA, and testing benchmarks to support graduation certification.

Note: This is not an exhaustive or all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, functions or working conditions associated with the job.  This job description is not a contract of employment or a promise or guarantee of any specific terms or conditions of employment.  The school district may add to, modify or delete any aspect of this job (or the position itself) at any time as it deems advisable.

Qualifications:

Minimum Requirements (per NMAC 6.63.6):

• Master’s degree in school counseling or related field.
• Valid New Mexico School Counselor License (PreK–12) or 7-12 Student Success Advisor with the expectation to obtain degree in Counseling.
• Demonstrated knowledge of counseling theories, developmental psychology, and ethical practices.

Preferred:

• Minimum 2 years of experience working with middle or high school students.
• Bilingual proficiency (Spanish/English) preferred.
• Strong knowledge of graduation requirements, career pathways, and intervention systems.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Understanding of adolescent development, mental health, and trauma-informed practices.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to analyze data to drive decision-making.
• Knowledge of college admission requirements, financial aid, and vocational training.
• Ability to develop trust-based relationships with students, families, and colleagues.
• Comfortable with student information systems and digital tools for academic tracking.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

• Work is primarily in a school office/classroom environment.
• Occasional evening or weekend hours required for events (e.g., parent nights, college fairs).
• Must be able to respond to student crises with composure and effectiveness.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and talk or hear.
• The employee is required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee must lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Legal and Ethical Responsibilities:

• Maintain compliance with NMAC 6.63.6 (School Counselor Licensure).
• Ensure all work aligns with FERPA, IDEA, Section 504, and district policies.
• Follow ethical guidelines outlined by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

EVALUATION:

Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with administrative procedures and established contractual protocols.

THE DEMING PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, AGE, SEX, MARITAL STATUS, OR HANDICAP IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS

Updated September 2025