School Counselor - Oakland Technical High School

Ref. 423

TITLE:

School Counselor

REPORTS TO: Assigned Supervisor

DEPARTMENT:

As Assigned

CLASSIFICATION: Certificated

Non-Administrative

FLSA:

Exempt

WORK YEAR/HOURS: Per OEA Contract

ISSUED:

Created:

SALARY GRADE: COUN

BASIC FUNCTION: Under the direction of assigned supervisor, provide counseling and guidance services to promote student success, provide preventive services, and respond to identified student needs by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program that addresses academic, career, and personal/social development for all students.


REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES: (Incumbents may perform any combination of the essential functions shown below. This position description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, knowledge, or abilities associated with this classification, but is intended to reflect the principal job elements accurately.)


ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Develop, plan, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive developmental school counseling and guidance program that imparts academic achievement, career planning, and personal and social development based on the National Standards for school counseling; constantly review and modify the school counseling program to best meet the needs of the school and students.
• Plan, monitor, and manage students' educational development, such as short and long-range educational goals, academic development, four-year plans, graduation requirements, academic honors, college entrance requirements, post-secondary opportunities, career development, financial aid, and personal/social development; communicate and involve parents in this process.
• Develop post-secondary success plans for students, evaluate transcripts, identify and initiate interventions.
• Provide structured, goal-oriented prevention, intervention and responsive services to meet the identified needs of individuals or groups of students regarding academic, career, and personal/social issues.
• Make provision for being available by appointment to counsel students and consult and collaborate with school personnel, parents and other community members to increase the effectiveness of student education and promote student success.
• Act as a resource for teachers, such as consulting on the solution of classroom behavior problems and conducting in-service programs for faculty; provide opportunities for parent education programs.
• Advocate for individual students and specific groups of students to ensure equal educational opportunities; promote personalizing education for all students where feasible; assist with placements for students in appropriate specialized District programs.
• Identify and counsel a variety of students with special needs including truants, potential dropouts, special education, and GATE students, academically deficient individuals and students with social or behavior problems; develop educational goals for students.
• Utilize data to identify opportunity gaps for students; interrupt inequitable practices and policies; and educate the larger school community regarding polices that lead to inequities.
• Refer students to social service and governmental agencies, support groups, and other community resources as appropriate; consult with law enforcement agencies regarding students as necessary.
• Serve as liaison to students and their families, District personnel, and community organizations and other agencies; maintain relations between schools, the community, and community services.
• Participate in multidisciplinary conferences concerning individual cases of special need and Section 504 meeting for assigned students; participate in ELL and IEPs as necessary.
• Advocate for the high academic achievement and social development of all students.
• Provide counseling and conflict mediation groups to enhance student communication skills; provide crisis intervention as needed; consult parents concerning students with social or behavior problems.
• Collaborate with school personnel and community-based providers to coordinate school-wide prevention and intervention strategies and counseling services.
• Provide individual and group guidance counseling to students.
• Provide guidance and referrals to families to assist students with school and social adjustment problems. Provide consultation, training, and staff development to teachers and parents regarding students' needs. Develop and present parent and student workshops for all students.
• Design and teach curriculum units for academic, career, personal and social growth.
• Prepare and deliver oral presentations as requested; attend and participate in a wide variety of meetings, conferences and seminars.
• Prepare and maintain accurate, complete, and correct records and reports related to the assignment as required by law, District policy, and administrative regulations; prepare letters to parents, letters of recommendations, progress reports, referrals, and related documents.
• Submit forms, evaluations, and reports as required by the federal and state agencies and the District.
• Supervise a District-approved advisory program as described in California Education Code, Section 49600, including academic counseling, career and technical counseling, and personal and social counseling.
• Participate and provide supervision and control at school-sanctioned programs and activities. Perform related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:


The District determines whether a candidate is qualified based on fulfillment of prerequisites, relevant work experience, ability to perform the essential functions, reference checks, effective interpersonal and communication skills demonstrated by interview performance and/or writing samples, and achievement on performance-based assessments (if applicable) that demonstrate the candidate possesses the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities. Meeting prerequisites only satisfies the initial screening process and does not indicate the candidate is qualified to perform the essential functions of the position.


KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures governing work scope
• Principles, practices, and procedures of personal, educational and career counseling
• Curriculum and promotion requirements
• Counseling theory, ethics, and associated legal confidentiality requirements
• Specific laws regarding minors and child abuse reporting
• Normal and abnormal child behavior and development and behavior modification techniques and strategies Student assistance programs and community referral resources
• Diverse academic, socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, and disability backgrounds of District students Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy
• Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary
• Record-keeping and report preparation techniques
• Principles of training and providing work direction and guidance
• Computer software, hardware, information and related technology

ABILITY TO:

• Consistently interpret, apply and explain rules, regulations, policies and procedures governing work scope Maintain current knowledge of applicable laws, codes, rules and regulations governing work scope Maintain current knowledge of new developments and research in the field
• Maintain professional boundaries and limits
• Prepare and deliver clear and concise presentations to a variety of audiences
• Communicate effectively in English orally and in writing
• Complete work despite interruptions
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action
• Work independently
• Meet schedules and timelines
• Work confidentially and with discretion
• Maintain accurate and confidential records
• Establish and maintain effective working relationship among students, parents, District staff, and the community Operate personal computer, related software, and other office equipment
• Train, assign and provide work direction to assigned personnel
• Maintain punctual and regular attendance

PREREQUISITES

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in counseling, psychology, social work or related field
• A Master's degree in school counseling
• Experience working with children or in an educational setting
• Teaching experience as a fully-credentialed teacher preferred
• Valid California Pupil Personnel Services Credential with School Counseling authorization Complete District's training on universal precautions
• Valid California Driver's License, if applicable

PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROCESS:


Employment eligibility will include fingerprints, tuberculosis and/or other employment clearance


WORKING CONDITIONS

ENVIRONMENT:


Office, school and classroom environment; driving a vehicle to conduct work; fast-paced work; constant interruptions; potential exposure to violent and emotional students and dissatisfied adults


PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:


Consistent mental alertness; standing, walking, or sitting for extended periods of time; lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling light to moderate weight objects; bending and stooping at the knees; twisting at the waist, and neck; climbing up and down stairs and stepladder; crouching and kneeling; reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally; dexterity of fingers and both arms and hands to perform duties; seeing to read and write to perform duties; hearing and speaking to exchange information, in person or on the telephone, and to make presentations.


NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY:


The Oakland Unified School District does not discriminate in any program, activity, or in employment on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, gender, sex, or sexual orientation.