Middle School Counselor

School Counselor

The primary responsibility of the School Counselor shall be counseling students and providing those services directly related to counseling. The School Counselor shall be responsible for the effective management of the school counseling department to which he/she is assigned. The school counseling program shall be conducted in accordance with policies adopted by the Board of Education and with regulations and procedures of the district.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Counseling students, providing guidance concerning attendance, enrollment, academics, scheduling, college and career opportunities; maintaining records and files.
• Provides a confidential counseling environment.
• Counsels with students individually and in small groups for specifically identified needs as endorsed by a recognized guidance curriculum.
• Consults with parents, school staff, other pupil personnel specialists and community agency personnel to help students experiencing problems.
• Meets with students to provide information on curricular and extracurricular alternatives and the career goals to which they may lead.
• Assists students in making appropriate post-secondary or vocational choices.
• Assists students and parents in the preparation and processing of college, scholarship, and employment applications.
• Provides orientation for new students.
• Assists in identification, referral and appropriate placement of students with special needs.
• Assists parents in monitoring academic progress of students.
• Provides appropriate feedback to teachers regarding needs of students.
• Provides counseling for departing students: transfers and dropouts.
• Supervises the coordination and interpretation of standardized testing.
• Participates in curriculum development and serves on faculty committees.
• Attends staff meetings and department sponsored workshops.
• Prepares and presents sessions regarding personal growth, school adjustment, career development, self-concept, attendance and related matters.
• Provides scheduled and spontaneous discussions with teachers, administrators, and parents and outside agency personnel.
• Counsels students and provides career information.
• Organizes counseling staff and delegates assignments.
• Manages the guidance department's budget.
• Coordinates summer school registration.
• Consults with the principal regularly concerning the overall operation and implementation of the guidance program.
• Conducts regularly scheduled departmental meetings with staff.
• Maintains students' records.
• Supervises the evaluation of the guidance program.
• Other duties as assigned that are related to the functions of the position.

Essential Functions/Qualifications/Requirements:

• Education and Experience: Master's degree in guidance and counseling and considerable counseling and guidance or teaching experience. A comparable amount of training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications. A Valid Louisiana Ancillary Teaching Certificate - Counseling.
• Work Environment Conditions: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Professional Conduct: The Employees are required to maintain a high standard of professional conduct. Breach of said professional conduct includes, but is not limited to, neglect of duty, dishonesty, engagement in acts that are contrary to East Baton Rouge Parish School System policy, unlawful activities, or any other conduct which is seriously prejudicial to the school system.
• Technological Abilities: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be proficient in general use of a computer, the use of Email as a form of communication, and other job-specific equipment, software, and/or applications.
• Note: New employees coming to EBRPSS/current employees new to a position, must use the Verifent website to verify qualifying years of experience (outside of EBRPSS) aligned to the job description. All new employees to the district/current employees new to a position will receive 0 years of experience aligned to the job description until the verification of previous experience aligned to the job description is received. Verifient Link Experience verifications must be received in the Office of Human Resources within the first 6 months of employment in order to be eligible for a retroactive payment.