About this role
Director of School Counseling and Mental Health Programs Certified Position - 0290 2026-2027 school year Salary Per Salary Schedule Days 240 Reports to: Assistant Superintendent of Support Services
SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES Design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive, district-wide school counseling and mental health framework, ensuring all students have access to high-quality academic counseling, social-emotional learning (SEL), and tiered mental health supports. PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
• Designs and oversees a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) for student behavioral and mental health across the district.
• Aligns the district's comprehensive school counseling program with the ASCA (American School Counselor Association) National Model.
• Leads the integration of evidence-based Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and trauma-informed practices across all grade levels.
• Ensures district compliance with Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) regulations regarding trauma-informed care and school safety mandates.
• Manages department budgets, federal/state grants, and resource allocation for district mental health initiatives.
• Assists in the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of school counselors, school social workers, and mental health professionals.
• Provides ongoing administrative and clinical supervision, regular performance evaluations, and mentorship to mental health staff.
• Designs and delivers professional development for teachers and administrators on topics such as suicide prevention, threat assessment, de-escalation, and trauma-responsive classrooms.
• Directs the district-level crisis response team, ensuring protocols are updated and staff are trained in psychological first aid and postvention.
• Oversees and refines the district's suicide and threat assessment protocols.
• Consults on complex student cases involving severe behavioral challenges, mental health crises, or safeguarding concerns.
• Develops and maintains partnerships with community mental health agencies, psychiatric facilities, and wrap-around service providers to create referral pathways for students and families.
• Maintains strict confidentiality and adheres to FERPA, HIPAA, and the ethical standards of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and applicable state licensing boards.
• Ensures departmental compliance with all state and federal regulations, including IDEA, Section 504, and state counseling mandates.
• Collects and analyzes program data (e.g., attendance, discipline referrals, counseling caseloads, crisis interventions) to measure effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Assistant Superintendent of Support Services or designee.
KNOWLEDGE OF:
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft office and google docs.
• Short and long-range planning techniques applicable to counseling and suicide
prevention.
• Working with parents, community members and school personnel.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Guidelines for providing individual and group counseling programs.
• Laws, rules and regulations related to assigned activities.
• Policies and objectives of assigned programs and activities.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.
• Principles of training and providing work direction.
ABILITY TO:
• Establish rapport and develop a therapeutic relationship with children, families,
community organizations, school counselors, FRYSC, school administrators, and other school personnel.
• Oversee provided therapy services in individual and group sessions along with classroom
based interventions.
• Supports crisis intervention and conflict resolution assistance and differentiate between
emergency and non-emergency tasks and responds accordingly.
• Assesses problems appropriately in terms of scope, consequences and needed
interventions.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with building
level leadership teams, students, staff, community organizations, and outside agencies.
• Maintain records and prepare reports.
• Maintain current knowledge of program rules, regulations, requirements and restrictions.
• Maintain current knowledge of technological advances in the field.
• Assures all needed releases of information and other paperwork are present in the file and
up to date.
• Meet schedules and timelines.
• Plan and organize work.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
• Subject to both indoor, environmentally controlled and outdoor environments.
• Typical office environment including but not limited to telephones, personal interruptions, and background noises
• Travel between district facilities
• Requires working with or near the public, parents, and children, and will be subject to sounds, scents, and other related environmental factors
• Must be able to sit or stand for extended periods
• Must be able to handle high-stress situations or emotional crises calmly
• Light physical demand with some lifting up to 25 pounds
• Hand and finger dexterity
• Repetitive movements
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
• Master's degree in School Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Social Work, or a closely related field.
• Valid state certification as a School Counselor.
• Active clinical licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
• Active clinical supervision credentials (e.g., LPCC-S, LCSW-S).
• Minimum of three (3) years of successful experience in school counseling.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in clinical mental health counseling.
• Previous administrative or supervisory experience.
• Must pass a comprehensive criminal background check (State Police and FBI) and a Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) registry check, as well as complete required state health requirements.
Approved by HCBOE, 9/8/2026