GUIDANCE COUNSELOR

Job title School Guidance Counselor Classification  Exempt  Reports to Principal  Organization Unit Support Approved by Human Resources Effective date 8/1/2026
Job Purpose

The School Counselor is a crucial member of the educational team, primarily focused on guiding students through critical academic transitions and ensuring they are on a clear path to success after graduation. This role is responsible for developing and managing a comprehensive counseling program that specifically addresses the needs of students transitioning from middle to high school, and from high school to their chosen post-secondary path.
Key Responsibilities:

• Transition Support: Facilitate a smooth transition for students entering high school by providing academic planning, course selection guidance, and orientation programs.
• Post-Secondary Planning: Deliver a robust program that prepares students for life after high school. This includes administering career assessments, assisting with college and financial aid applications, and connecting students with resources for vocational training and military careers.
• Graduation Tracking: Meticulously monitor and track student academic progress to ensure all graduation requirements are met. This involves working with students and parents to create and adjust four-year plans, and intervening with support plans when a student's progress is at risk.
• Academic Support: Provide counseling and resources to help students overcome academic challenges that could impact their ability to graduate, such as attendance issues, declining grades, or organizational difficulties.
• Crisis and Referral: Serve as a first-line resource for student crises and facilitate appropriate referrals to school or community-based mental health services.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Preferred - Master's degree in School Counseling from an accredited program and a valid state School Counselor license or certification.
• Strong organizational and data management skills to effectively track student progress and graduation requirements.
• Proficiency in academic advising, career counseling, and college application processes.

• Experience working with K-12 students (or specific grade levels as applicable) in an educational setting is highly preferred.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills to juggle multiple responsibilities effectively.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and external agencies.
• Commitment to equity and diversity, with the ability to work effectively with students from varied cultural, socio-economic, and linguistic backgrounds.
• Sound judgment and decision-making abilities in sensitive situations.
• Proficiency in using technology for record-keeping and communication.

Working Conditions

 

• Dexterity to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and to handle other computer and other technology related components actively prioritize and execute tasks to meet deadlines consistently.
• Maintain positive interaction with students, staff, and parents.

Physical Requirements

 

• Physical ability to lift up to 25 pounds
• Standing for extended periods of time

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.