Guidance Counselor

ELEMENTARY GUIDANCE COUNSELOR

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in School Counseling
• MS Certification as a School Guidance Counselor

Reports To: School Principal

Job Goal: To facilitate learning for students and serve as a member of an educational team constantly endeavoring to improve the learning and teaching climate. Promoting the social, emotional, moral, and mental growth of the students; and striving to fulfill the philosophy of the school within the policies established by the school board. To function effectively the counselor must work cooperatively with students, teachers, administrators, parents/guardians, citizens and organizations in the community.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities: Such duties and responsibilities as may be assigned, including but not limited to:

• Develops and implements a guidance program which addresses student and instructional program needs.
• Provides individual and group counseling with students and consultation with parents, teachers, administrators, and agency personnel.
• Interprets test data to students, parents, teachers, administrators and other staff members working with students.
• Plans jointly with teachers' remediation for student problems that interfere with mastery of basic skills.
• Assists students in selecting appropriate educational activities, evaluating their programs, making intelligent occupational choices, and selecting sound courses of action in their lives.
• Provides referral, placement and follow-up assistance when needed.
• Handles record keeping and other routine duties in an accurate and timely manner.
• Serves as school site point of contact for homeless and foster care students.
• Keeps current with information, materials, and concepts relative to satisfactory job performance.
• Works cooperatively with teachers, other counselors, and administrators toward attaining the objectives of the school district.
• Strives for personal and professional growth that will enhance the effectiveness of the total guidance program.
• Continually updates and re-evaluates the guidance program to meet the needs of the school, community, and students.
• Assists with the registration and orientation of students who are new to the school regarding procedures and educational opportunities.
• Assists with the school district's dropout prevention efforts.
• Serves as a ready resource to students to provide counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.
• Plans and coordinates field trips to institutions of higher learning, businesses and other organizations related to guidance responsibilities.
• Assists in the orientation of new teachers, and provides in-service training in guidance.
• Performs other tasks, as assigned by the Principal and other administrators, as designated by the Superintendent.
• Demonstrates prompt and regular attendance.
• Supports the Meridian Public School District Mission, Vision, and Strategic Plan.

Terms of Employment: Salary is based on the teacher pay scale, reporting 197 days per year.

Evaluation: Annually