OPT Middle School Principal Jobs
Middle School Principal jobs on OPT require employers to sponsor H-1B visa or other work visas after your OPT period ends. Most districts need candidates with a master's degree in educational leadership and state administrative licensure, which can affect OPT eligibility for this role.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition Type:
CURRICULUM SUPPORT/School Counselor
Date Posted:
8/8/2026
Location:
Park Forest Middle
Job Title: School Counselor
Reports To: Immediate Supervisor
Prepared By: The Division of Human Resources
Board Approved Date:
Pay Grade Range: TE308 to TI112
Summary
The primary responsibility of the School Counselor shall be counseling students and providing those services directly related to counseling. The School Counselor shall be responsible for the effective management of the school counseling department to which he/she is assigned. The school counseling program shall be conducted in accordance with policies adopted by the Board of Education and with regulations and procedures of the district.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Counseling students, providing guidance concerning attendance, enrollment, academics, scheduling, college and career opportunities; maintaining records and files.
- Provides a confidential counseling environment.
- Counsels with students individually and in small groups for specifically identified needs as endorsed by a recognized guidance curriculum.
- Consults with parents, school staff, other pupil personnel specialists and community agency personnel to help students experiencing problems. Meets with students to provide information on curricular and extracurricular alternatives and the career goals to which they may lead.
- Assists students in making appropriate post-secondary or vocational choices.
- Assists students and parents in the preparation and processing of college, scholarship, and employment applications. Provides orientation for new students.
- Assists in identification, referral and appropriate placement of students with special needs.
- Assists parents in monitoring academic progress of students.
- Provides appropriate feedback to teachers regarding needs of students.
- Provides counseling for departing students: transfers and dropouts.
- Supervises the coordination and interpretation of standardized testing.
- Participates in curriculum development and serves on faculty committees.
- Attends staff meetings and department sponsored workshops.
- Prepares and presents sessions regarding personal growth, school adjustment, career development, self-concept, attendance and related matters.
- Provides scheduled and spontaneous discussions with teachers, administrators, and parents and outside agency personnel.
- Counsels students and provides career information.
- Organizes counseling staff and delegates assignments.
- Manages the guidance department's budget. Coordinates summer school registration.
- Consults with the principal regularly concerning the overall operation and implementation of the guidance program.
- Conducts regularly scheduled departmental meetings with staff.
- Maintains students' records.
- Supervises the evaluation of the guidance program.
Other Duties:
Other duties as assigned that are related to the functions of the position.
Essential Functions/Qualifications/Requirements:
Education and Experience:
Master's degree in guidance and counseling and considerable counseling and guidance or teaching experience. A comparable amount of training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications. A Valid Louisiana Ancillary Teaching Certificate - Counseling.
Work Environment Conditions:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Professional Conduct:
The Employees are required to maintain a high standard of professional conduct. Breach of said professional conduct includes, but is not limited to, neglect of duty, dishonesty, engagement in acts that are contrary to East Baton Rouge Parish School System policy, unlawful activities, or any other conduct which is seriously prejudicial to the school system.
Technological Abilities:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be proficient in general use of a computer, the use of Email as a form of communication, and other job-specific equipment, software, and/or applications.
Note: New employees coming to EBRPSS/current employees new to a position, must use the Verifent website to verify qualifying years of experience (outside of EBRPSS) aligned to the job description. All new employees to the district/current employees new to a position will receive 0 years of experience aligned to the job description until the verification of previous experience aligned to the job description is received.
Experience verifications must be received in the Office of Human Resources within the first 6 months of employment in order to be eligible for a retroactive payment.
Position Type:
CURRICULUM SUPPORT/School Counselor
Date Posted:
8/8/2026
Location:
Park Forest Middle
Job Title: School Counselor
Reports To: Immediate Supervisor
Prepared By: The Division of Human Resources
Board Approved Date:
Pay Grade Range: TE308 to TI112
Summary
The primary responsibility of the School Counselor shall be counseling students and providing those services directly related to counseling. The School Counselor shall be responsible for the effective management of the school counseling department to which he/she is assigned. The school counseling program shall be conducted in accordance with policies adopted by the Board of Education and with regulations and procedures of the district.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Counseling students, providing guidance concerning attendance, enrollment, academics, scheduling, college and career opportunities; maintaining records and files.
- Provides a confidential counseling environment.
- Counsels with students individually and in small groups for specifically identified needs as endorsed by a recognized guidance curriculum.
- Consults with parents, school staff, other pupil personnel specialists and community agency personnel to help students experiencing problems. Meets with students to provide information on curricular and extracurricular alternatives and the career goals to which they may lead.
- Assists students in making appropriate post-secondary or vocational choices.
- Assists students and parents in the preparation and processing of college, scholarship, and employment applications. Provides orientation for new students.
- Assists in identification, referral and appropriate placement of students with special needs.
- Assists parents in monitoring academic progress of students.
- Provides appropriate feedback to teachers regarding needs of students.
- Provides counseling for departing students: transfers and dropouts.
- Supervises the coordination and interpretation of standardized testing.
- Participates in curriculum development and serves on faculty committees.
- Attends staff meetings and department sponsored workshops.
- Prepares and presents sessions regarding personal growth, school adjustment, career development, self-concept, attendance and related matters.
- Provides scheduled and spontaneous discussions with teachers, administrators, and parents and outside agency personnel.
- Counsels students and provides career information.
- Organizes counseling staff and delegates assignments.
- Manages the guidance department's budget. Coordinates summer school registration.
- Consults with the principal regularly concerning the overall operation and implementation of the guidance program.
- Conducts regularly scheduled departmental meetings with staff.
- Maintains students' records.
- Supervises the evaluation of the guidance program.
Other Duties:
Other duties as assigned that are related to the functions of the position.
Essential Functions/Qualifications/Requirements:
Education and Experience:
Master's degree in guidance and counseling and considerable counseling and guidance or teaching experience. A comparable amount of training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications. A Valid Louisiana Ancillary Teaching Certificate - Counseling.
Work Environment Conditions:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Professional Conduct:
The Employees are required to maintain a high standard of professional conduct. Breach of said professional conduct includes, but is not limited to, neglect of duty, dishonesty, engagement in acts that are contrary to East Baton Rouge Parish School System policy, unlawful activities, or any other conduct which is seriously prejudicial to the school system.
Technological Abilities:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be proficient in general use of a computer, the use of Email as a form of communication, and other job-specific equipment, software, and/or applications.
Note: New employees coming to EBRPSS/current employees new to a position, must use the Verifent website to verify qualifying years of experience (outside of EBRPSS) aligned to the job description. All new employees to the district/current employees new to a position will receive 0 years of experience aligned to the job description until the verification of previous experience aligned to the job description is received.
Experience verifications must be received in the Office of Human Resources within the first 6 months of employment in order to be eligible for a retroactive payment.
See all 160+ OPT Middle School Principal Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Middle School Principal
Confirm administrative licensure requirements early
Many states require a principal license before you can be hired. Research your target state's credentialing process now, since some licenses require U.S. residency or specific in-state coursework that could affect your OPT eligibility timeline.
Target districts with a history of H-1B sponsorship
Large urban school districts and charter management organizations are more likely to have HR teams familiar with visa sponsorship. Search DOL LCA disclosure data to identify which districts have sponsored international educators in the past.
Highlight your degree field alignment clearly
OPT must be directly related to your degree. If your degree is in educational leadership or administration, make that connection explicit in every application. Ambiguity about degree relevance can complicate OPT authorization for principal roles.
Start H-1B sponsorship conversations before your OPT expires
Principal searches often run on slow hiring cycles. Raise the H-1B visa sponsorship question during initial interviews so districts have enough lead time to engage immigration counsel before your OPT authorization window closes.
Use STEM OPT extension if your degree qualifies
If your educational leadership or administration degree was awarded from a STEM-designated program, you may qualify for a 24-month extension. Verify your program's CIP code with your DSO to confirm eligibility before your standard OPT expires.
Network within professional principal associations
Organizations like NASSP and state principals' associations host job fairs and regional events where district superintendents recruit directly. Building relationships with hiring decision-makers increases your chances of finding sponsors open to international candidates.
Middle School Principal OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Middle School Principal on OPT?
Yes, if your degree is in educational leadership, school administration, or a closely related field. OPT authorizes work directly related to your major, so a principal role must align with your degree field. Roles requiring unrelated undergraduate majors would not qualify. Confirm the connection with your Designated School Official before accepting an offer.
Do school districts typically sponsor visas for principal roles?
Some do, particularly larger urban districts and charter networks that have established HR processes for international hires. Smaller or rural districts often lack immigration counsel experience and may decline to sponsor. Researching a district's prior LCA filings with the Department of Labor is the most reliable way to identify sponsorship-friendly employers before applying.
Does state principal licensure affect my OPT work authorization?
State licensure is a separate requirement from OPT authorization, but it affects whether you can legally be hired. If your target state requires a principal license before employment begins and the credentialing process takes longer than your remaining OPT period, you may be unable to start the role in time. Check your state's licensing timeline early.
Where can I find Middle School Principal jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is the best starting point. It lists principal and school administrator roles from employers who are open to sponsoring international candidates, saving you the time of filtering through postings that won't consider OPT or visa sponsorship. Browse current openings on Migrate Mate to identify districts actively hiring international educators.
What happens to my principal job if my OPT expires before H-1B approval?
If your employer files an H-1B petition before your OPT expires and you have a timely filed EAD extension, cap-gap protection may cover the gap period through September 30 of that year. You must maintain valid F-1 status throughout. Coordinate the H-1B filing timeline carefully with your employer's immigration attorney and your DSO to avoid a gap in work authorization.