About this role
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT Salary & Benefits POSITION OVERVIEW The High School Counselor provides comprehensive counseling and guidance services to support students' academic achievement, personal and social development, and preparation for college, careers, and other post-secondary opportunities. The counselor works collaboratively with students, families, educators, administrators, and community partners to provide individual and group counseling, academic and schedule planning, career and post-secondary guidance, and support for personal, social, emotional, and educational needs. The position assists students with course selection, graduation requirements, High School and Beyond Planning, college and career exploration, scholarships, financial aid, and connections to community and post-secondary resources. The counselor collaborates with Special Education and other support staff, maintains accurate and confidential student records, and promotes an inclusive, culturally responsive environment that helps every student achieve personal and academic success.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATION:
• Educational Staff Associate (ESA) counseling certification required.
• Masters Degree with emphasis in high school counseling.
• Demonstrated interest, commitment, and ability to work with students, staff, and community at the high school level.
• Demonstrated experience in working effectively with a wide range of student abilities, both academically and socially.
• Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a counseling team.
• Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Knowledge of current high school graduation requirements for Washington State.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical standards in counseling.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and listening skills.
• Empathy, compassion, and a nonjudgmental approach to working with students.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Bilingual preferred
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Successful experience as a school counselor.
• Interest in and evidence of continued professional growth in the area of school counseling
• Experience with college, career and post-secondary education and counseling.
WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF:
• Strong understanding of adolescent development, psychology, and counseling techniques.
• Test administration and test result interpretation to students, parents and others.
• Community agency and community resource use.
• Individual and group counseling techniques.
• Multicultural education and counseling.
• Helping students with social and emotional needs.
• Intervention techniques common to school counseling.
• Special Education and Section 504 laws, regulations, handicapping conditions, and Individual Education Plans.
• College and vocational school admissions, scholarships, and financial aid forms.
• Provide students with career, college and post-secondary education instruction, guidance and connections.
• Development of and support for programs of study for strengthening High School and Beyond planning for students.
• ASCA national model.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
• Adheres to Moses Lake School District's vision and mission, is a lifelong learner and is receptive to positive growth and change.
• Familiar with high school level educational philosophy and scheduling including effective use of technologies and research-based methodologies.
• Aide students in course and subject selection and effectively balance classes and keep track of schedules.
• Maintain student records and protect their confidentiality.
• Initiate, assemble, maintain and interpret accurate health records, attendance records, cumulative progress records, activity records and uniform transcript records for students.
• Work to resolve students' educational handicaps.
• Plan alternative programs and up-to-date training for all levels of students.
• Remain readily available to students so as to provide counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self-understanding and maturity.
• Work 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.
• Familiar with concerns of high school level student's parents.
• Able to meet with parents, whenever necessary, including before and after the regular workday.
• Arrange and facilitate conferences with teachers and parents as appropriate
• Provide career orientation, exploration, occupational information and educational planning to parents, staff and students
• Work with Special Education staff to provide programming for special education students.
• Actively participate in designing counseling services to facilitate the transition from middle school to high school and from high school to post-secondary education and employment.
• Help develop new programs that better meet the needs of students.
• Guide students in their participation in school and community activities.
• Provide individual and group career counseling services.
• Other duties as assigned
• Must have excellent attendance.
• Additional responsibilities as assigned by the building administration.
The Moses Lake School District #161 does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boys Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the school district's Title IX, Civil Rights, Affirmative Action, and Equal Opportunity officer, Michelle Musso, 1620 S Pioneer Way, Moses Lake, WA 98837, (509) 766-2650, [email protected]; OR Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Samantha Burgess, 1620 S Pioneer Way, Moses Lake, WA 98837, (509) 766- 2670, [email protected].