Counselor

School Counselor

Work with school faculty, staff, students, parents and community to plan, implement and evaluate a comprehensive school counseling program. Counsel students to fully develop each student's academic, career, personal and social abilities and address the needs of special population students. Deliver guidance curriculum in various group sizes. Educate students of skills necessary to manage challenging circumstances and provide resources to navigate crisis situations as determined by the assessment of need.

Minimum Education/Certification: Masters degree with a valid Texas certification as a school counselor. Candidates must have a satisfactory outcome of fingerprinting background check. Non-refundable fee (approximately $50) paid by the employee.

Ability to work with other professionals in collaborative roles

Ability to effectively consult with parents, teachers, administrators, and community members working with students

Knowledge of counseling procedures, student appraisal and career development

Excellent organizational, communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to instruct students and manage their behavior

Two (2) years' of classroom teaching in a public or accredited private school system (preferred)

Major Responsibilities and Duties

Professionalism

The Educators' Code of Ethics is set forth in the Texas Administrative Code to provide rules for standard practices and ethical conduct toward students, professional colleagues, school officials, parents, and members of the community.

• Rule §247.1 Purpose and Scope; Definitions
• Rule §247.2 Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators

Organization Management

The counselor manages administrative, fiscal, and facilities functions responsibly through activities such as the following:

• Plan and implement a balanced guidance and counseling program.
• Evaluate and promote continuous improvement of the guidance and counseling program.
• Manage counseling and guidance program resources.
• Use an effective process when referring students, parents, and/or other to special programs and services.

Guidance

The counselor will provide a relevant and effective guidance program through activities such as the following:

• Plan and conduct group lessons to deliver the Guidance Curriculum effectively and in accordance with students' developmental needs.
• Involve students, teachers, parents, and others to promote effective implementation of the Guidance Curriculum.
• Guide individual and groups of students and parents to plan, monitor, and manage the student's own educational development (including information regarding post-secondary opportunities), career development, personal and social development.
• Use accepted theories and effective techniques of developmental guidance to promote the career, educational, personal, and social development of students.

Responsive Services

The counselor will create and communicate a relevant and effective counseling program through activities such as the following:

• Use accepted theories and effective techniques to provide individual and group developmental, preventative, remedial and/or crisis counseling.
• Consult with parents, school personnel, and other community members to help them increase the effectiveness of student education and promote student success.
• Consult with parents, school personnel, and other communities to promote understanding of student development, individual behavior, the student's environment, and human relationships.
• Collaboratively provide professional expertise to advocate for individual students and specific groups of students.
• Use specialized skills to assess and support students in crisis situations requiring immediate response.

Individual Planning

The counselor will assist with individualized support through activities such as the following:

• Create school counseling services that are developmental and age appropriate and provide information or literature that highlights related topics to students, teachers, and administrators.
• With the assistance of school personnel, interpret standardized tests and other assessment data to guide students in individual goal setting and planning for graduation and post-secondary opportunities.
• Enhance the work of school personnel and parents in guiding student goal setting and planning by promoting understanding of standardized test results and other assessment data.
• Assist individual students and their parents or guardians in monitoring their academic, career, personal and social development as they progress in school.
• Act as a student advocate, leader, collaborator and systems change agent to respect diversity and ensure equitable access and placement in courses and programs for all students.

System Support

The counselor promotes a positive tone for school or community relations through activities such as the following:

• Establish and maintain professional relationships with administrators, teachers, other school personnel, parents, and community members.
• Advocate for a school environment that acknowledges and respects diversity; participate in campus-based improvements, planning and goal setting.
• Use professional written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Seek support for school programs; and involve himself or herself in community activities that foster rapport between the school district and the larger community.
• Coordinate staff and other resources in the school, home, and community to promote student success.

Professional Growth and Development

The counselor provides leadership in professional growth and development through activities such as the following:

• Participate in professional associations, seminars, conferences, and workshops in an effort to remain aware of current trends and issues related to counseling.
• Provide training to staff and community partners on topics related to guidance and emotional well-being.
• Participate in district and campus staff development programs that improve job-related skills.
• Demonstrate interest and commitment to professional development and improvement.

Qualities of Effective Counselors

The counselor exhibits qualities such as the following:

• Daily attendance and punctuality at work are essential functions of the job.
• Demonstrate professional and responsible work habits.
• Keep informed of and comply with state, District, and school regulations and policies for school counselors.
• Attend and participate in faculty meetings and serve on committees as required.
• Compile, maintain, and file reports, records, and other documents required.
• Correct unsafe conditions in the work area that could cause an accident and inform the supervisor of any conditions that are not correctable immediately.
• Shall comply with District policies, as well as state and federal laws and regulations.
• Shall comply with the standards of conduct set out in Board Policy DH (Legal) and (Local), ethical standards for school counselors, and with any other policies, regulations, and guidelines that impose duties, requirements, and standards.
• Maintain confidentiality.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervise assigned volunteer(s), and counselor interns

Equipment: Computer, computer software programs and peripherals, teacher resource materials and audiovisual equipment, adaptive equipment, learning management systems, printer, scanner, copier, fax and other equipment applicable to the position.

Working Conditions:

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors

• Maintain emotional control under stress.
• Work with frequent interruptions.
• Work irregular and extended work hours
• Frequent walking, standing, stooping, bending, pulling and pushing.
• Occasional light lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds); may lift and move text books and classroom equipment.
• May be required under specific circumstances to provide physical restraint of students in danger of causing harm to themselves or others.
• Occasional district wide and statewide travel.
• Use a computer for prolonged periods resulting in repetitive hand motion.
• Frequent exposure to: temperature extremes (hot and cold), humidity extremes, noise, low or intense illumination vibration.
• Occasional exposure to: biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, etc.), work outside, work around moving objects or vehicles, work on uneven surfaces.

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.