School Counselor
The school counselor is responsible for duties related to designing and implementing a comprehensive and developmental school counseling program. The primary goals and objectives of the position are to implement strategies and activities to support and maximize each student’s ability to learn; to provide the foundation for the acquisition of skills, attitudes, and knowledge that enable students to make a successful transition to the work force; to provide foundation for personal and social growth into adulthood.
- Establishes developmental, sequential, and systematic guidance lessons in order to provide skills and knowledge to all students in the areas of academic, career, and personal/social development.
- Assesses student knowledge prior to and concluding guidance lessons to measure growth.
- Conducts individual and small group counseling sessions with students.
- Coordinates student intervention programs tailored to meet the needs of the school population.
- Assists with accommodations, behavior modification, and classroom observations of students.
- Supports student advancement from grade to grade, plans for successful transitioning between school levels, advises on academic placement and course selection, and reviews course schedules to assure progress toward graduation.
- Distributes information concerning curriculum offerings, school activities, programs, and scholarship opportunities to students and parents.
- Assists students with self-assessment strategies which identify skills, interests, aptitudes, and attitudes as they relate to academic and career goals.
- Understands and applies knowledge of diversity issues, human growth and development, and counseling theories and techniques.
- Adheres to confidentiality guidelines and ethical standards governed by state and national counseling associations.
- Maintains a record of program activities that address each domain of school counseling.
- Evaluates the effectiveness of programs and interventions through the use of assessments, surveys and other forms of data collection and analysis.
- Sets professional goals and conducts an evaluation of the comprehensive school counseling program at the end of the school year.
- Organizes and interprets data for use in counseling and decision making as it relates to academic placement or referral options, monitors student progress through data analysis, and shares data findings with administrators, teachers, parents, and students.
- Maintains an up-to-date collection of resource materials and books related to academic, career, and personal/social development for students, staff, and parents.
- Fosters a positive and respectful climate within the school community. Uses communication and conflict resolution skills effectively with staff members, students, and parents.
- Serves as liaison between parents, teachers, administrators, support staff, and community resources in order to facilitate successful student development.
- Effectively utilizes the services of school psychologists, pupil personnel workers, school nurses, special education staff, community professionals, and agencies.
- Reports cases to appropriate central office staff, school teams, or community agencies, when a person’s health or safety may be in jeopardy.
- Participates in on-going professional development designed to enhance and increase personal skills as a professional school counselor.
- Promotes the school counseling program and aligns counseling goals with the visions and improvement plans of the school and county.
- Serves as a member of the school Student Services Team and the county Trauma Response Team.
- Performs other work-related duties as assigned.