Academic and College/Career Counselor

Primary Purpose

Elementary – Provides counseling and/or academic support/services on such matters as conflict resolution, self-esteem issues, and crisis intervention to individual students, groups and families for early identification of and/or intervention barriers to academic achievement of students, and to promote and encourage a healthy learning environment. Assigns student schedules and works directly with elementary teachers to ensure curriculum is in accordance with all academic accreditation requirements.

Secondary – Provides counseling and/or academic/services to secondary students for the early identification and intervention for barriers to academic achievement of students (including personal and social issues), and to promote and encourage a healthy learning environment. Assigns student schedules and work directly with secondary teachers to ensure curriculum is in accordance with all academic accreditation requirements.

Position Responsibilities

Elementary –

• Consults with and advises parents and school personnel as a means of helping students with educational and personal problems that may be interfering with learning and success in school.
• Participates in various multidisciplinary teams, such as Student Success Team (SST) to identify necessary support services (i.e., counseling, assessment, and intervention).
• Collaborates with school administration and staff in developing student knowledge, skills, and attitudes that promote personal, social, emotional, and academic growth.
• Provides individual and group counseling, and guidance to students in the academic, personal-social, and college and career domains.
• Assist with conducting assessment and standardized school testing.
• Collects and uses data to analyze relevant information to improve the academic process and communicates the information to administration and staff to make necessary teaching adjustments in the classroom.
• Assist administrator with curriculum.
• Helps students effectively utilize the educational opportunities of the school.
• Maintains accurate student records and files.
• Assist with progress reports and report cards.
• Assist administrator with some decision-making processes at the school.
• Collaborates with the teachers to provide elementary teachers with a smooth transition to middle school through articulation activities.
• Provides professional development to school staff and parents on an as needed basis.
• Monitors and case manages student progress for targeted students.
• Confers with administration regarding supplementary counseling needs to implement a results-based comprehensive counseling program.
• Serves as a mandated reporter for suspected child abuse.
• Perform other related duties as assigned
  
  

Secondary –

• Using all available data, programs and places all students into academically appropriate and rigorous classes that will prepare them to meet all graduation and A – G and four year college admission requirements.
• Provides guidance and assistance and workshops to students and/or parents in matters regarding graduation, college entrance requirements, scholarships and financial aid, college tours; consults with parents and school personnel as a means of helping students with educational and personal problems that may be interfering with learning and success in school.
• Participates in various multidisciplinary teams, such as Student Success Team (SST) to identify necessary support services (i.e., counseling, assessment, and intervention).
• Collaborates with school administration and staff in developing student knowledge, skills, and attitudes that promote personal, social, emotional, and academic growth.
• Provides individual and group counseling, and guidance to students in the academic, personal-social, and college/career domains.
• Collects and analyzes (including standardized test results) relative to attendance, behavior, and achievement, and communicates the assessment results to students, parents and teachers.
• Helps students effectively utilize the educational opportunities of the school; recommends available resources within the school and community to meet the needs of individual students; assists in making such referrals and contacts.
• Maintains accurate student records and files.
• Provides appropriate information to staff related to the comprehensive school counseling program.
• Informs staff of services provided by the school counselor and how to access those services. Assists teachers, parents/guardians and other stakeholders in interpreting and understanding student data. Participates in professional development activities to improve knowledge and skills.
• Attends professional conferences, workshops, etc. relevant to school counseling.

• Uses available technology resources to enhance the school counseling program.
• Adheres to laws, policies, procedures, and ethical standards of the school counseling profession.
• Assist with monitoring/supervising student activities as appropriate
• Participates in some decision-making process at the school.
• Assist with and create student schedules, progress reports, and report cards.
• Assist administrator with providing professional development to school staff and parents on an as needed basis.
• Monitors and case manages student progress for targeted students.
• Develops and implements programs, including the delivery of guidance lessons, to address student attitudes, understanding of self and others, personal health and safety, communication skills, peer relationships, goal setting/decision making, conflict resolution, career awareness, college preparation and post-secondary planning.
• Available to work afterschool hours, overnight trip, very few weekends.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Counseling Credentials
• Earned bachelor’s degree or advanced degree of at least equivalent standard from and accredited college or university.
• Minimum of two years of experience working as a counselor or related counseling area (1-year mandatory K-8 and high school.).
• Minimum of two years of experience working in education (programming, teacher, administrator, or office type position).
  
  

Skills, Knowledge, & Abilities

• Knowledge of and experience in the use of counseling and guidance techniques with elementary and secondary students.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work cooperatively with colleagues, community representatives and agencies.
• Understand the relationship between the total education program and counseling/guidance services.
• Understanding of the physical, intellectual, social and emotional growth patterns of students.
• Ability to counsel students effectively and conference with parents concerning their child’s school behavior, career, and/or academic achievement.
• Ability to proctor/supervise and interpret test, assessments (including standardized),
• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and perform a variety of concurrent duties.
• Ability to compose and comprehend written communication
• Ability to make formal public presentations
• Ability to use word documents, spreadsheet, excel, and presentation software.
• Ability to travel to other sites/locations/colleges
• Ability to traverse all areas of the worksite.