PRIMARY FUNCTION:

The School Counselor provides education, prevention and intervention activities, which are integrated into all aspects of the student’s lives and the school. Implements a comprehensive school counseling program that teaches knowledge, attitudes and skills students need to acquire in academic, career and social/emotional development through the delivery of direct services, individual support services, and school activities to help students achieve success.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Master’s Degree with valid certification to meet State requirements with specific endorsement in the area to which assigned.
2. Have demonstrated the professional and personal characteristics necessary for working effectively with students, parents, school personnel and members of the community.
3. Must have demonstrated success in working with a variety of students.

REPORTS TO:  Principal

LENGTH OF CONTRACT:  10 month

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Provide a proactive program that engages students and includes collaboration with school staff, administration and community/family members.
2. Provides support to students toward the achievement of educational goals and measurable targets; performs counseling duties for all students. The delivery of these services include:
3. Classroom Guidance K-5
4. Core curriculum instruction – direct instruction, team teaching, developing learning activities
5. Create, teach, and evaluate developmentally appropriate curriculum which reflect the following areas of personal/social skills, academic self-concept, confidence as learners, career exploration, and character education.
6. Group Counseling
7. Counselors organize and facilitate small group counseling sessions which meet the needs of students as expressed by principals, teachers, parents, and students through self-referrals.
8. Plan activities promoting academic, career or social/emotional development.
9. Individual Counseling (as determined by student need)
10. Provide individual or in small-group settings, plan short-term and goal-focused counseling.
11. Recognize and respond to student mental health needs and assist families seeking resources.
12. Additional Support Services
13. Parent conferencing.
14. Staff consultation.
15. Community mental health referrals.
16. Crisis response – provide support and assistance to student s and families as they navigate crisis and emergency situations.
17. Coordinate 504 Plans for identified students.
18. Connect interventions to critical data elements (such as equity gaps, achievement, attendance) from the school report card and improvement plan 
19. Remain current with school counselor trends and practices to improve professional skills.
20. Maintains accurate and up-to-date counseling records.
21. Acts as the liaison between school and community agencies in working on student problems.
22. Maintains appropriate confidentiality
23. Other duties as assigned by the Superintendent or his/her designee

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Duties are performed in an office setting primarily sitting at office equipment and files.  Frequent operation of computer office equipment is required.  Some travel may be necessary.  Regular handling of boxes of testing materials and score reports weighing in excess of 50 pounds is required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL 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 of this job

Daily personal and close contact with students is mandatory.  Attendance at meetings outside the normal duty hours is frequently required. Usually there is need to motivate, establish rapport, gain support, persuade or influence students, individuals or groups.  Contacts often require tact and discretion.  Occasional debate is often characteristic on the contact and may be non-cooperative.

EVALUATION:

Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with school board policy and administrative regulations on evaluation of licensed personnel.