Counselor Eligibility Application

School Counselor

The School District of Philadelphia is committed to becoming the fastest improving District in the country and transforming the educational opportunities it offers to our city's more than 198,405 students. The District seeks leaders who have a passion for working with schools and communities who are committed to ensuring all students achieve. Serving a population as diverse as ours requires creativity, commitment and vision. Will you join us?

Advises students at an assigned secondary or middle school. Provides counseling services that foster the academic, personal, social and career development of all students. Provides individual/group counseling and guidance for students and implements broad based programs that deal with decision-making, conflict resolution, self-esteem, coping strategies and other issues. Serves as both the primary agent for addressing issues that impact on students at risk of failing to attain their full academic potential and the school based resource for dealing with dropout prevention, substance abuse, pregnancy, homelessness and crisis prevention/intervention. Communicates with bilingual or deaf/hearing impaired student/families using English and a specified world language or English and American Sign Language or Signed English for the sign language specialty. Acts as a liaison between the school and various community/governmental agencies that may provide services to students and their families.

Essential Functions

• Provides general school counseling and guidance programs and services including individual and group counseling and guidance.
• Implements broad based programs dealing with decision-making, conflict resolution, self-esteem, coping strategies and other issues.
• Plans and provides classroom guidance focusing on post high school planning, career exploration, family and/or peer relationships and decisionmaking.
• Provides formal and informal counseling services to students and their parents concerning issues that are affecting or may affect the students' academic achievement and/or social, emotional or personal development.
• Serves as the primary agent for addressing issues that affect students at risk of failing to attain their full academic potential.
• Serves as the school based resource for dealing with dropout prevention, substance abuse, pregnancy, homelessness and crisis prevention/intervention.
• Participates in team interventions with other staff to support students.
• Collaborates with parents, teachers and other staff in the planning and implementation of a comprehensive educational program for students.
• Makes referrals to outside agencies as needed and provides ongoing followup services to students and their parents.
• Gathers and disseminates information on critical issues such as student substance abuse, suicide prevention, teen pregnancy and homeless.
• Keeps abreast of current techniques and trends in school counseling and guidance for secondary and/or middle school students.
• Prepares and maintains student-counseling records; prepares reports on students, correspondence and statistical summaries.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships.

Additional Functions for the Bilingual Specialty

• Provides students and families with general school and guidance programs and services in a specified world language as well as English.
• Creates an environment in which students have access to bilingual counseling/guidance materials that address their needs and interests.
• Keeps abreast of current techniques and trends in bilingual school counseling and guidance.

Additional Functions for the Middle College Specialty

• Serves as a liaison between the college and school to develop and plan college visits and facilitate postsecondary achievement.
• Monitors students to insure they are on track to attend college during their junior and senior year.
• Works with teachers to ensure that students receive the necessary interventions and supports for academic achievement.

Additional Functions for the Sign Language Specialty

• Provides students and families with general school and guidance programs and services in American Sign Language and Signed English as well as English.
• Creates an environment in which deaf/hearing impaired students have access to specialized counseling/guidance materials that address their needs and interests.
• Keeps abreast of current techniques and trends in school counseling and guidance for the deaf and hearing impaired.

Additional Functions for GEAR UP 3 Specialty

• Provides academic, college, and career counseling services to GEAR UP students.
• Provides career and college entrance information and assistance to students, teachers, parents and counselor's in small groups and one-to-one.
• Collaborates with school counselors to schedule college visits, college representative visits, career related speakers, workshops, etc.
• Plans, organizes, develops and implements career events and publications: prepares letters, flyers, mailers and other materials to publicize GEAR UP counseling services, resources, and speakers.
• Counsels cohort students regarding state and district tests and in preparing for college entrance exams.
• Provides financial aid counseling and FAFSA completion support.
• Provides support for students involved in mentoring, job shadowing and internship programs.
• Participates in the development of the annual action plan.
• Submits all matching funds documents regarding career and counseling activities to the program manager.
• Enters college and career program and student data weekly.
• Maintains appropriate, accurate and complete records.
• Provides monthly program updates to the program manager.
• Shares GEAR UP information with other GEAR UP school counselors.
• Participates in on-site visits.
• Participates in all GEAR UP training and professional development.
• Attends regional monthly GEAR UP staff meetings.
• Travels to school district monthly meetings.
• Attends the GEAR UP Capacity Building and Annual Conferences.

Minimum Requirements Regular and Sign Language Specialty

Master's degree in school counseling at an accredited college or university.

Bilingual Specialty

Master's degree in school counseling at an accredited college or university.

GEAR UP 3 Specialty

Master's degree in school counseling at an accredited college or university.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

All Specialties

Demonstrated knowledge of:

• the principles, practices and theories of individual/group counseling.
• the principles, practices and theories of developmental/educational guidance.
• the current techniques and trends in counseling and guidance at the secondary/middle school level.
• theories and principles of adolescent development, individual/group behavior, group dynamics and interpersonal interactions.
• communication skills and techniques.
• the current health, economic and social problems experienced by urban families.
• the functions and resources of community/governmental agencies that provide support services for students and their families.

Demonstrated ability to :

• provide counseling and guidance on an individual/group basis and to conduct group support/guidance sessions.
• employ tact, diplomacy and sound judgment in dealing with sensitive or personal problems and hostile attitudes.
• work effectively with students and their families and to aid them in the constructive use of their capacities to address their specific problems.
• identify the signs of substance abuse and students at risk for suicide.
• understand and interpret standardized test scores, marking guidelines and promotional policies.
• participate in crisis intervention.
• communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• prepare and maintain student-counseling records, reports, correspondence and statistical summaries.
• establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Bilingual Specialty

Demonstrated knowledge of:

• both English and the specified world language, including history and culture.

Demonstrated ability to :

• fluently speak, read and write both English and the specified world language.

Sign Language Specialty

Demonstrated knowledge of:

• the social and emotion issues related to deafness/hearing impairment.
• the diagnostic and assessment instruments commonly used for assessing deaf/hearing-impaired students.
• the history and culture of the deaf/hearing impaired community.

Demonstrated ability to :

• demonstrate proficiency in the use and understanding of Signed English and American Sign Language.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all