About this role
QUALIFICATIONS:
1. Certification as a counselor 2. A.B. and M.A. degrees, plus four years teaching experience. 3. Such additional qualifications as the superintendent or Board may find appropriate and acceptable.
REPORTS TO: High School Principal SUPERVISES: Clerical Assistant
JOB GOALS: To assist students in achieving their potential by: helping them gain the most from their educational experiences; by providing continuing services that include counseling, information, consultation, coordination, program selection and referral to students, parents, teachers and administrators
RESPONSIBILITIES SPECIFIC TO ADMINISTRATIVE AREA:
The counselor shall spend at least seventy-five (75%) of his/her work time in activities that provide for direct guidance and counseling services with students, parents, teachers, and administrators. The activities shall include:
1. Individual and group guidance and counseling services-provides individual and group counseling and guidance activities in the areas of development, prevention, and crisis situations for students and parents. a. Evaluates grade reports following each grading period to determine the need for individual assistance. b. Intervenes in situations of excessive absence to forestall patterns of truancy.
2. Information services-provides information for use in exploring and making decisions about educational, career, vocational, personal-social, and orientation issues. a. Provides all junior and senior students with the necessary information concerning post-secondary education; organizes and conducts the annual College and Vocations Night in September; mails letters of invitation to post-secondary schools; schedules other meetings or appointments with college representatives; processes college recommendations and applications. b. Informs all senior students of the latest developments in the area of financial assistance for post-secondary education and assists them in obtaining such aid. (November and as available) c. Maintains an up-to-date file of college and vocational materials. d. Provides students with information concerning local scholarships and honors. e. Computes student grade averages and ranks class members. f. Attends faculty meetings and shares necessary information with the staff. g. Provides students with information concerning job opportunities as received in the guidance office. h. Provides students with information concerning course offerings and curriculum requirements, graduation requirements, etc., prior to preregistration. i. Provides orientation for new students who enroll during the school year. j. Provides up-to-date transcripts, test results, recommendations, and other information requested by post-secondary institutions, insurance companies, and employers, as requested and authorized by parent/s. k. Maintains a library of current guidance reference materials; inventories materials on hand, and orders materials for the upcoming school year.
3. Consultation services-confers with parents, teachers, administrators, and community resource people in developing programs or activities to address personal, social, or instructional needs of students. a. Mails deficiency letters to all students who are not up-to-date in credits, and schedules individual counseling sessions concerning these deficiencies when necessary; makes final check on credits and graduation requirements for each senior. b. Provides students with information concerning summer school and correspondence courses when appropriate. c. Provides the staff with information concerning the special needs of students. d. Aids teachers in dealing with underachieving students. e. Arranges and participates in parent/teacher conferences to consider problems students may be having. f. Attends curriculum planning meetings at the request of the superintendent.
4. Appraisal services-assists in the collection, maintenance, dissemination, and interpretation of information based on individual intellectual assessments, group tests, student records, individual assessments, observations, and other methods enabling parents, students, teachers and other support professionals to provide students with appropriate instructional programs. a. Provides and interprets test results to parents and students and to members of the school staff. b. Provides students with information concerning test deadlines and provides help to students in preparing for KIRIS. c. Provides appropriate information concerning grades and point averages to the athletic director and activity sponsors, upon request. d. Attends school-based Admission and Release Committee meetings upon request of the teacher, parent, or principal and participates in appropriate placement. e. Informs students concerning the ACT and SAT and provides necessary registration materials; interprets test results to those individuals who take these tests.
5. Coordination services-provides leadership, assists in plan development and orchestrates the implementation of guidance activities for use by parents, teachers, administrators and the community. a. Aids teachers in finding resources to meet student needs and works with teachers in planning career oriented materials. b. Provides the community support organizations with pertinent information (as permissible with confidentiality procedures) concerning cases in their care. c. Assists in coordinating activities and curriculum of the high school with that of the middle and vocational schools. d. Assists the principal in planning and conducting the high school Honors Evening Program. e. Serves as chairperson of the Scholarship Committee; presents scholarships and awards at graduation at the request of the administration; writes thank-you letters to all individuals and organizations who contributed or were recipients. f. Works with the senior class sponsors and the administration in the organization of graduation exercises.
6. Program selection services-assists in placing students in appropriate instructional, vocational, and career programs. a. Supervises the use of the Career Assessment and Planning Program. b. Pre-registers all students within area of responsibility for the next school year. c. Schedules all students within areas of responsibility making changes as needed. d. Works with the local vocational school in the selection and placement of vocational students. e. Networks with the following programs to assure student needs are met: Gifted, Migrant, Special Education, Homebound.
7. Referral services-uses local and state resources and agencies that provide specialized services to students and parents. a. Provides information about the Youth Service Center, Adult Education and Literacy programs available in the district.
The school counselor shall spend approximately twenty (20) percent of his/her work time in activities aimed at planning and implementing the guidance and counseling program. These activities shall include, but are not limited to:
8. Developing the annual Guidance Plan and evaluating the effectiveness of the guidance program and activities. All counseling staff should work together to: a. Prepare a guidance evaluation checklist for staff to complete and completes own guidance evaluation checklist. b. Annually submit the evaluation of the school's guidance plan to the school council and Board of Education. c. Meets with administration, the SBC and staff members to plan for the following school year.
9. Coordinating the maintenance of guidance records. a. Maintains a cumulative record folder for each student of assigned responsibility containing all pertinent information related to the student's medical and school history, and any other significant data concerning the student. b. Initiates requests for records of students who transfer to and supplies records for those transferring from the high school.
10. Developing and coordinating a planned and continuous public relations program. 11. Maintaining professional standards, skills, and competencies by attending courses, workshops, conferences, serving in professional organizations, and reading professional literature.
12. Conducting research and follow-up studies that help evaluate and improve guidance programs in the school.
The school counselor may spend approximately five (5) percent of his/her work time in activities not defined above.
13. Performs such other tasks as may be assigned by the principal or the superintendent.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Salary and extended employment as established by the superintendent and Board.
EVALUATION: Performance of this job will be formally evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the Board's policy on Evaluation of Administrative Personnel.