School Counselor

School Counselor

Under limited supervision, plans, supervises and provides professional guidance services designed to help each student establish a strong academic, social, emotional and physical foundation so that he may be successful in school and life in the future. Provides prevention, intervention and crisis counseling services, and personal and academic support and assistance to students as appropriate. Ensures the maintenance of accurate, up-to-date and confidential student records.

Aids students in course and subject selection; obtains and disseminates occupational information to students and to classes studying occupations. Assists students in evaluating their aptitudes and abilities through the interpretation of individual standardized test scores and other pertinent data, and works with students in evolving educational and occupational plans in terms of such evaluation. Helps students evaluate career interests and choices. Supervises the preparation and processing of college, scholarship and employment applications. Plans guidance field trips to schools, colleges and industries. Guides students in their participation in school and community activities. Conducts individual, small- and large-group, and classroom guidance counseling sessions as needed. Works to discover and develop special abilities of students. Works to resolve students' educational handicaps. Works with students on an individual basis in the solution of personal problems related to such problems as home and family relations, health and emotional adjustment, etc. Provides crisis intervention for students in immediate need. Consults with parents, principals, nursing staff, teachers, school psychologists, special service personnel, and outside experts on individual cases as necessary. Makes referrals to other agencies and service providers as appropriate. Plans and/or participates in staff orientation and staff development activities. Provides in-service training in guidance for teachers and familiarizes the staff with the range of services offered by the student personnel services department. Advises administrators and faculty on matters of student discipline. Takes an active role in interpreting the school's objectives to students, parents and the community at large; interprets the guidance program to the community. Organizes and conducts an annual "career day." Ensures the maintenance of accurate, up-to-date and confidential student records; documents all counseling services and referrals performed; maintains confidentiality as required. Provides necessary student information to colleges and potential employers; makes recommendations to colleges for admissions and scholarships. Plans and administers the department budget; monitors expenditures and maintains financial records as required. Coordinates special events, projects or programs as assigned. Performs general administrative/office duties as required, including but not limited to composing reports and correspondence, entering data into the computer, compiling data for reports, copying and filing documents, conducting and attending meetings, responding to mail and telephone calls, etc. Operates various types of machinery and equipment including a computer, printer, typewriter, copier, fax machine, telephone, calculator, audio-visual equipment, etc. Performs related duties as required.

Physical Requirements: Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (up to 10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.

Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving assignments and/or direction from supervisors.

Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of reports and documentation, policy and procedure manuals, guidance texts, professional journals, etc. Requires the ability to prepare reports, records, recommendations, correspondence, etc., with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control and confidence.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply logical thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; to deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Requires the ability to apply to learn and understand relatively complex principles and techniques; to make independent judgments in absence of supervision; to acquire knowledge of topics related to primary occupation. Must have the ability to comprehend and interpret received information.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow and give verbal and written instructions; to counsel and teach students, employees and parents. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with persons of varying ages and educational/cultural backgrounds and in a variety of technical and/or professional languages including education, psychology, special education, counseling, etc.

Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to add and subtract totals, to multiply and divide, to determine percentages and decimals and to determine time. Must be able to interpret test scores.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape; and visually read various information.

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes using office machinery.

Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, keyboards, office equipment, control knobs, buttons, switches, catches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with emergency situations or tight deadlines. The worker may be subject to danger or risk to a slight degree and to tension as a regular, consistent part of the job. Physical Communications: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear (talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear).

Requires a Master's degree in school counseling, with required course work in school guidance counseling, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Requires a valid South Carolina teaching certificate or eligibility for South Carolina teaching certificate in the appropriate certified area.