School Counselor

Primary Purpose:


The School Counselor will work with school leaders, faculty, staff, students, parents and the community to develop, implement, and evaluate a high-quality comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program for grades 9-12. The school counselor should be the educational professional who has the holistic view of the students' overall academic plans and progress. This position also entails evaluating transcripts, scheduling students, assisting with state testing rosters, and conducting individual and group counseling sessions. School Counselors must understand state testing, state graduation requirements, and state accountability and must be able to support the entire campus in building capacity in these areas. Although a guidance comprehensive program has four components, the counselor at Texans Can Academies will focus on individual planning, scheduling, and transcript audits no less than 70% of the time.

The primary role of the School Counselor at Texans Can Academies is to:

1. Manage and audit student schedules for 100% accuracy
2. Develop and audit four year plans/PGP using purposeful scheduling
3. Audit transcripts using audit form
4. Evaluate incoming student records/transcripts
5. Evaluate transcript data entry
6. Audit report cards
7. Ongoing audit of Campus Data Roster
8. Assist the campus leadership team with building and adjusting the master schedule based on campus needs.

The School Counselor at Texans Can Academies will support their campus in all four components of a comprehensive guidance and counseling program:

• Individual Planning: Assists in monitoring development, student planning, educational, four-year plans, transcript audits, scheduling, endorsement pathways, consultation, assessment
• Responsive Services: Addresses the immediate concerns of the student/prevention and intervention: Academic, school related concerns, relationship, physical/sexual/emotional, family issues, harassment, suicide prevention
• Guidance Curriculum: Awareness, self-development, application of skills, guidance content: self-confidence, decision making, goal setting, responsible behavior
• System Support: Program and staff support, program delivery, parent education, teacher/administrator consultation, staff development, school improvement planning, community outreach, public relations.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification:

• Master's degree in guidance counseling
• Valid Texas certification as a Counselor, or
• Valid out of State School Counselor certification with the ability to obtain Texas certification within one (1) year of employment

Experience:

• At least 2 years of high school counseling experience, preferred.

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Knowledgeable of counseling procedures, student appraisal and career development
• Exhibits effective human relations and ability to promote a positive and caring environment
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively with students, staff and parents
• Effective and efficient decision-making skills
• Possesses skill in planning, problem solving and organizing needed work assignment
• Ability to coordinate school support operations
• Uses effective communication skills to present information accurately and clearly
• Skills in Microsoft Office Suite, SQL Data and Windows Applications

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

• Work with frequent deadlines
• Assist the high school principal and staff in the registration of all students
• Work to prevent students from dropping out of school
• Must maintain a constant dialogue and communications relationship with administration, faculty, and parents
• Is actively involved in and serves as a resource person for all students and teachers
• Compile, maintain and file all reports, records, and other required documents
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and serve on committees as required
• Ability to demonstrate the following core values: integrity, high expectations, commitment, respect, dedication to teamwork and passion for a student-centered environment
• Develop and implement procedures to monitor at-risk students and ensure that resources are in place to support student success
• Consults with parents, teachers, administrators and other relevant individuals to improve student retention.
• Provide guidance and transition information to parents and students as students move from one grade level to the next
• Responsible for course placement for new and returning students. Evaluate student transcripts, review for accuracy and create four-year plans. Maintain accurate information regarding graduation requirements, course offerings and program options.
• Work with students, parents and staff to ensure students' academic success and make alternative course work available when necessary through curriculum modification and acceleration
• Coordinate the administration of standardized testing programs and interpret test results for students and parents. Maintain confidentiality of student assessment.
• Promote and support efforts to help students develop problem-solving and decision-making skills. Assist students in learning appropriate school behavior and developing self-awareness and social skills through individual and group guidance and counseling activities.
• Any other duties as assigned.

School Climate:

• Maintains an effective and positive relationship with supervisors and campus staff
• Effectively communicates with colleagues, students, and parents

Program Planning and Management

• Effectively plans the school guidance and counseling program to meet identified needs
• Performs leadership in the development and implementation of the comprehensive school counseling program
• Teaches school developmental guidance curriculum to students
• Provides guidance through individual planning to develop educational plans
• Provides voluntary and confidential counseling to individuals and small groups relative to their concerns and needs
• Works with school personnel to obtain resources for students
• Uses an effective referral process to help students and others use special programs and service.
• Assumes responsibility for compiling, maintaining and filing all reports, records, and any other documents required.

School Improvement

• Interprets test results appropriately
• Evaluates the guidance program and implements changes based on need

Professional Growth and Development

• Keep informed and comply with state, district, and federal program policies and procedures

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None

Working Conditions/Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:


Work with frequent interruptions, work with frequent deadlines, and maintain emotional control under stress. Occasional prolonged or irregular hours. Regular district wide travel to multiple work locations as assigned; moderate lifting and carrying.


TEXANS CAN ACADEMIES is an Equal Opportunity Employer