Guidance Counselor

Guidance Counselor

Reports directly to Principal. Provides a comprehensive guidance program for students. Provides activities to meet the needs of the students, consults with teachers, staff and parents to enhance their effectiveness in helping students and provides support to other educational programs.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities:

• Implements the elementary guidance curriculum.
• Conducts guidance learning activities in the classroom as planned in conjunction with school administration and teachers.
• Consults with and/or be a resource person for teachers to facilitate the infusion of guidance learning activities into the regular education curriculum.
• Guides and counsels groups and individual students through the development of educational and career plans.
• Provides orientation activities for students new to the school.
• Participates in orientation program for parents and students.
• Assists students in the transition from elementary to middle or middle to high school.
• Informs students and their parents of test results and their implications for educational planning.
• Provides resources and information to assist in career awareness and career exploration activities.
• Counsels small groups and individual students with problems.
• Conducts structured, goal oriented counseling sessions to meet the identified needs of individuals or groups of students.
• Session topics at the various levels may include self-awareness, self-identity, academic problems, behavior problems, peer problems, family issues, child abuse and substance abuse.
• Consults with teachers, staff and parents regarding meeting the developmental needs of students.
• Participates in staffing, conduct in-service programs for faculty.
• Conducts and facilitates conferences with teachers, students and parents.
• Conducts or provides opportunities for parent education programs.
• Assists families with school related problems.
• Refers students with severe problems to appropriate community resources in consultation with their parents.
• Consults and coordinates with in-district and community agencies, such as school psychologists, nurses, administrators, community-based psychologists, service agencies and physicians.
• Coordinates or conduct activities which contribute to the effective operation of the school.
• Interprets group test results to faculty and staff.
• Establishes effective liaisons with all grade levels.
• Acts as an advocate for students as appropriate in conjunction with other staff.
• Assists other school staff in the placement of students with special needs in appropriate programs such as gifted education and special education.
• Participates with the administration and faculty as a team member in the implementation of the district testing program.
• Evaluates and revise the building guidance program.
• Reviews periodically with staff and administration the guidance program using the program evaluation self-study.
• Reviews and modify the program calendar and evaluate guidance learning activities.
• Pursues professional growth.
• Attends state and local staff development programs.
• Joins professional associations. (MSCA, MVA, AACD, MACD, AVA, etc.)
• Reads professional journals.
• Attends relevant workshops and conferences sponsored by professional organizations.
• Takes post graduate courses.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree required (unless on an approved TAC plan).
• A teaching certificate substantiating completion of eligibility requirements for School Guidance Counseling.
• Successful completion of a background check by Human Resources.
• DESE Guidance Counselor Certification

Physical Demands:

• Exerts 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or
• Exerts 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or
• Prolonged periods of working on a computer.
• Sufficient vision to read printed material, see distant objects with clarity, and identify and distinguish objects. Sufficient hearing to hear conversations in person and on the telephone, and hear sounds clearly up to 20 feet.
• Ability to speak in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in normal conversation and on the telephone, and in addressing groups.
• Requires occasional or frequent standing, walking, sitting, bending, and reaching for extended periods of time.
• The job is performed under minimal temperature variations and is generally a hazard free environment.
• Must be able to access and navigate all areas of the school and other facilities as needed.

Terms Of Employment:

• Year: 10 Month
• Salary: Guidance Counselor Range on the District Teachers Salary Schedule
• Shift Type: Full-Time