School Counselor

School Counselor

The primary goal of the School Counselor is to promote and enhance student learning through academic development, career development, and personal/social development. The school counselor utilizes a variety of strategies, activities, delivery methods, and resources to promote the desired student development.

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned:

• Implement effective classroom instruction and support focusing on understanding of self and others; coping strategies; peer relationships and effective social skills; communication, problem-solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, and study skills; career awareness and the world of work; substance education; puberty education, Act 1, and cultural competence.
• Provide individual and small group counseling dealing with self-image and self-esteem, personal adjustment, peer and family issues, interpersonal concerns, academic development, and behavior modification, as well as peer facilitation and peer mediation.
• Help students identify their skills, abilities, achievements, and interests through counseling and guidance activities, and interpretation of standardized tests.
• Work with specialized populations and needs that require special attention, such as culturally diverse populations and students with varying abilities and students in stressful circumstances.
• Develop students' career awareness as a lifelong process of forming basic values, attitudes, and interests regarding their future world of work.
• Coordinate school, community, and business resources, school-wide guidance-related activities, and extracurricular programs, which promote students' personal growth and skill development.
• Provide consultation with teachers, administrators, school psychologists, school social workers, and outside agencies and social services concerning the welfare of the students on a regular basis.
• Make appropriate referrals for special services for students and families within the school and community.
• Communicate and exchange information with parents/guardians by way of conferences, parent education workshops, and newsletters. Communicate with specific families and guardians on an as needed basis.
• Participate as members of the school improvement, EST, 504 IEP, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Serve as designated employees for HHB, per board policy/law.
• Serve as Title IX coordinator within the district to support policy/law.
• Provide consultation services to teachers and provide staff inservice on topics related to social and emotional health.
• Works to discover and develop special abilities of students.
• Works to resolve students' educational and social challenges.
• Maintains student records and protects their confidentiality.
• Provide career guidance and information to students and parents, as applicable.
• At the high school level, maintain an up-to-date library of career and post-secondary school information. Network with post-secondary schools. Supervise the preparation and processing of post-secondary planning.
• Assists in coordinating and administering school-wide assessments, as assigned.
• Actively participate in WCSU Counseling and Nursing PLC.
• Actively participate in clinical supervision.
• Coordinate data collection and analysis using district tool (Panorama) for driving SEL work for the district.
• Participate in school transition processes, including student screening and parent interviews.
• Participate in school committees to support positive school culture and student social and emotional health.
• Support School and District efforts to become Trauma-Transformed, including developing strategies for students and adults to overcome barriers to their learning and success.
• Participates and supports District initiatives.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Supervision received: Reports to and receives general administrative direction from the School Principal.

Supervisory responsibilities: Advisory role to principal regarding support staff, as applicable.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily, in addition to the following:

• Education and Experience. A master's degree with a concentration in guidance or its equivalent. Ability to communicate and work effectively and respectfully with students, faculty/staff, families, guardians, administrators, and the community required. Knowledge of the Basic Program Components of Vermont Guidance Services.
• K-12, issued by the State Department of Education. Meets the American School Counselor Association's National Standards for School Counselors.
• Certifications and Licenses. Holds or is eligible to hold a valid Vermont Professional Educator's license. A valid driver's license is preferred.
• Language Skills. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common educational and technical journals, periodicals, and procedures, and regulations. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from parents, regulatory agencies, or members of the community. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals that conform to school/district standards or regulations. Ability to effectively present information to and respond to questions from students, administrators, families, guardians, peers, board members, and the general public.
• Mathematical/Reasoning Skills. Ability to interpret and use test results by applying math concepts such as standard error of measurement, bands of confidence, standard scores, and percentiles. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Computer Skills and Experience. Good basic computer skills and experience with word & database programs required.
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills. Ability to effectively, efficiently, and regularly communicate and work cooperatively with a variety of individuals, including students, peers, subordinates, supervisors, families, guardians, and representatives of outside organizations. Ability to effectively resolve conflicts and handle stress.