Guidance Counselor

Guidance Counselor

Gr. New Bedford Regional Voc Tech High School

10 Month Position / School year (185-193 days)

Position Purpose: The Guidance Counselor will assist students in areas of academic achievement, personal or social development, and career exploration so that each student can identify personal goals, strengths, weaknesses, and interests and grow to become a well-adjusted and productive adult.

Essential Functions:

1. Working through various aspects of the Student Services Department, the school counselor will collaborate with staff to develop and implement a program that meets the whole student and specifically addresses a student's academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs.
2. Serve as a liaison between families and the school to positively promote collaborative processes in educational planning and encourage and foster family participation in the school setting.
3. Educate and encourage students and families regarding the importance of daily school attendance, high school graduation, and college and career planning at all levels (9-12). Actively work to prevent students from dropping out of school through individualized student interventions, identification of alternative pathways/ programs, and utilization of community resources.
4. Promote and foster an understanding and appreciation of diverse populations and cultures.
5. Aids, advises and schedules students in selection of courses, subjects, levels and vocational programs.
6. Assist in the development of a Response to Intervention (RTI) model for the school to include both in-school and community supports and interventions to address academic, social, emotional, and behavioral learning. Counselors serve as members on building student assistance/support teams, who meet to share information and develop strategies to meet the specific needs of individual students.
7. Assist in the collection of statistical and student data (including behavioral infractions, at-risk referral forms, teacher evaluations, etc), complete all necessary reports and submit them to the appropriate Administrator (Guidance Department Coordinator, Student Services Coordinator, Attendance Supervisor, Executive Director of Student Services, Assistant Principal, Principal).
8. Facilitate and manage the 504 process including parent/guardian communication, meeting coordination, plan creation and implementation, plan review and compliance of 504 plans.
9. Attend Team meetings as necessary to ensure provisions of quality special education and related services in the area of academic support, social emotional needs, and behavioral concerns.
10. Complete goals, objectives and progress reports for students with counseling or transitional services in the IEP or 504.
11. Conduct Home Assessments/Visits as required and needed.
12. Serve as a member of the school's SBIRT team.
13. Develop and deliver the school counseling curriculum in a classroom setting.
14. Assist with standardized testing (MCAS, PSAT, etc.) as a proctor and/or test coordinator.
15. Support student's plans for, adjustment to, and skill development for successful transitions in school, between grades/levels, and for post high school activities.
16. Provide individual and small group counseling in a variety of settings to address anxiety, relationships, bullying, peer pressure, conflict resolution, anger management, and other relevant social topics as needed.
17. Provide mediation, de-escalation, and crisis intervention services as necessary.
18. Provide academic counseling by monitoring progress reports and report cards of students, participating in various teacher/team meetings, reviewing standardized testing, facilitating course/vocational selection meetings, and monitoring student progress toward promotion and graduation requirements.
19. Make appropriate referrals of students and parents to outside agencies and specialists.
20. Communicate regularly with teachers in order to ensure that students are reaching their academic potential.
21. Register students new to the school and orient them to school procedures and the schools varied opportunities for learning.
22. Participate in admission activities including sending school visits, communication with sending schools and families and school fairs.
23. Participate in activities that contribute to the effective operation of the school.
24. Pursue continuous professional growth to stay abreast of the field.
25. Participate in staff and faculty meetings.
26. Participate in the Educator Evaluation Process.
27. Performs other assigned duties as needed.

Recommended Minimum Qualification

Education, Training and Experience: Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in School Counseling. Licensure from the Massachusetts Department of Education as a School Counselor. Demonstrated subject matter competence, highly qualified, in the area of licensure.

Knowledge, Ability and Skills

Knowledge: Has knowledge of programs and services available to students. Has proficient computer skills and is able to navigate the student information system. Has excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Ability. Maintains positive working relationships with students, colleagues, parents and community partners. Maintains appropriate paperwork, data and notes on students seen/serviced. Ability to communicate effectively, ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all school employees, students, teachers, parents, and vendors, ability to recognize school-wide priorities and work cooperatively to support their accomplishment, ability to prioritize multiple tasks and deal effectively with interruptions, occasionally under time pressure.

Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Must demonstrate effective knowledge of and be sensitive to the needs of a diverse student population. Willing and able to perform assigned duties in a manner that is sensitive to different personalities, respectful of the role and authority of school leaders, sensitive to community dynamics. Serve as a role model and mentor to young students.

Physical Requirements

(The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.) Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other staff and the public through the use of the telephone and personal contact as normally defined by the ability to see, read, talk, hear, handle, or feel objects and controls. Physical capability to effectively use and operate various items of office related equipment such as, but not limited to, a personal computer, calculator, copier, and fax machine. Some climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, and repetitive motions.

Supervision

Supervision Scope: Performs routine duties that are clearly defined by the protocol and standard operating procedures. This role requires basic knowledge of departmental operations.

Supervision Received: Works under the direct supervision of the Coordinator of Guidance and/or the Executive Director of Student Services.

Supervision Given: per DESE regulations

Job Environment

• Job Environment is that found typically in a classroom and school building.
• Interacts with other school staff, teachers, students, parents, and vendors.
• May be required to attend Guidance events and presentations outside of school hour

(This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employers and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.)