School Counselor

School Counselor Hillcrest Elementary School Position Statement

Utilizing leadership, advocacy and collaboration, School Counselors promote student success, provide preventative services, and respond to identified student needs by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program that addresses the academic, career and social/emotional development for all students.

Essential Duties

Development and Management of a Comprehensive School Counseling Program

• Develops and maintains a written ASCA aligned plan for effective delivery of the comprehensive school counseling program
• Develops and maintains a written plan for activities, programs and services for College and Career Readiness
• Communicates the plan and goals of the comprehensive school counseling program to stakeholders (e.g. parents, school, students, & community)
• Spends approximately 80% of time providing direct services through the Core Curriculum, Individual Planning and Preventive/Responsive Services and approximately 20% of time in program management, system support and accountability
• Maintains current and appropriate resources and effectively communicates to stakeholder groups (i.e. school and community based resources)
• Uses all available data (e.g. formative, summative, testing/assessment, standardized) to develop programs and services that meet students' needs

Delivery of a Comprehensive School Counseling Program

• Aligns school counseling program with MTSS model by implementing developmentally appropriate prevention and intervention activities that meets students' needs
• Incorporates Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success K-12 College-Career-and Life-Readiness Standards into counseling deliver model
• Provides comprehensive college and career counseling and ensures compliance with all Bridge Law and CCRPI requirements
• Assists all students, individually or in groups, with developing academic, career and personal/social skills, goals and plans
• Interprets and utilizes student data accurately and appropriately
• Collaborates and communicates with parents, guardians and teachers in the development of educational, career and life plans
• Develops and implements an appropriate student referral process and follow-up process as needed
• Provides individual and group counseling to students with social and emotional needs
• Implements school wide prevention/intervention programs to support the emotional, social and behavioral needs of students
• Assists teachers, parents/guardians and students and others in interpreting and understanding student data
• Utilizes all available technology resources effectively, including Student Information System, in the implementation and monitoring of comprehensive school counseling program

Accountability

• Conducts annual program review to evaluate extent of program implementation and effectiveness
• Measures results of comprehensive school counseling program activities and shares results with Principal and other relevant stakeholders, as appropriate
• Monitors academic performance and other relevant performance data (e.g. behavior, attendance, etc.) and utilizes data to provide appropriate interventions for students in need
• Ensures students are appropriately advised and registered for courses in order to meet on track (4 year) graduation requirements, career cluster/pathways, college entrance/access and other post-secondary goals
• Collaborates with Graduation Coach and other support personnel to ensure students receive appropriate remediation, test prep, content recovery, credit recovery and other supports to attain on track graduation
• Accurately reviews and appropriately maintains student records related to counseling and advisement (e.g. evaluation of student transcripts, confidential student information)

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Master's Degree in School Counseling required

Certification/Licensure: Current Georgia PSC Certification in School Counseling

Experience: Two (2) years of experience in counseling students as individuals and in groups and experience interpreting standardized testing results preferred

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate a guidance and counseling program based on student needs
• Proven skill in providing counseling to individuals and groups
• Ability to convey accurate information regarding academic and career guidance
• Ability to consult with teachers, staff, and parents regarding the needs of students
• Knowledge of available school, system and community resources
• Awareness of cultural diversity and its implications for school counseling
• Must be able to successfully manage multiple tasks, projects, and responsibilities
• Ability to apply critical thinking skills in rendering solutions to various issues
• Must be able to collaborate effectively with District personnel, the general public, and work with diverse groups of people
• Ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively as a member of a team and in a professional manner
• Knowledge of current counseling practices across the academic, career and personal/social domains
• Knowledge of current career and college entrance requirements
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal

Working Conditions: Normal office environment

Physical Demands: Routine physical activity associated with normal office environment

FLSA Status: Exempt 190 day contract Placement on the State Salary Scale based on certification level and verified years of experience