School Counselor - SY24/25

OnTop/Horizon Alternative Program

Burlington School District (BSD) is seeking a passionate and energetic School Counselor to join the District’s dynamic administrative team at our wonderful OnTop/Horizon Alternative Program. The primary goal of the School Counselor is to promote and enhance student learning through academic development, career development and personal/social development. The school counselor utilizes a variety of strategies, activities, delivery methods and resources to promote the desired student development.

Horizon's Mission: To equip every student to find and walk their pathway to a successful career through a renewed experience and relationship with school. Within small community, internships, and project-based learning, we will educate one student at a time for a highly personalized and interest-based learning environment.

Horizon's Vision: We seek to provide students with a highly personalized educational experience that applies learning in real-world contexts, cultivates deep, sustaining relationships with peers, parents and the community while promoting the development and transferability of essential skills.

We will ensure students possess the academic, social, and workplace competencies to find high-quality employment they enjoy, to successfully engage in postsecondary learning opportunities, and to productively engage in the greater community.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Implements effective classroom guidance focusing on understanding of self and others; coping strategies; peer relationships and effective social skills; communication, problem-solving, decision-making, conflict resolution, and study skills; career awareness and the world of work; substance education; and multicultural awareness.
• Provides individual and small group counseling dealing with self-image and self-esteem, personal adjustment, family issues, interpersonal concerns, academic development, and behavior modification, as well as peer facilitation and peer mediation.
• Provides assessment by helping students identify their skills, abilities, achievements, and interests through counseling and guidance activities, and interpretation of standardized tests.
• Works with specialized populations and needs that require special attention, such as culturally diverse populations and students with varying abilities.
• Develops students’ career awareness as a lifelong process of forming basic values, attitudes, and interests regarding their future world of work.
• Coordinates school, community and business resources, school wide guidance-related activities, and extracurricular programs, which promote students’ personal growth and skill development.
• Provides consultation with teachers, administrators, school psychologists, school social workers, and outside agencies and social services concerning the welfare of the students.
• Makes appropriate referrals for special services for students and families within the school and community.
• Communicates and exchanges information with parents/guardians by way of conferences, parent education workshops, and newsletters.
• Participates as members of the school improvement and interdisciplinary teams.
• Provides consultation services to teachers and provides staff inservice.
• Serves on school and community committees addressing the needs of young people.
• Aids students in course and subject selection.
• Works to discover and develop special abilities of students.
• Works to resolve students’ educational handicaps.
• Maintains student records and protects their confidentiality. Initiates, assembles, maintains, and interprets accurate health records, attendance records, cumulative progress records, activity records, and uniform transcript records for assigned students.
• Provides career guidance and information to students and parents.
• Maintains an up-to-date library of career and post secondary school information. Networks with post-secondary schools.
• Assists in school wide master scheduling and individual student scheduling.
• Assists in coordinating and administering annual school wide assessments.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

 Job Requirements:

• A Master’s degree with a concentration in guidance or its equivalent.
• Licensed or eligible for Vermont Educators License.
• Endorsement in School Counselor (64) or eligible for Vermont Provisional License.
• Eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Preferred Attributes:

• Training and/or experience with English Language Learners.
• Experience in a professional/teaching learning community; experience in co-teaching/collaborating with other educators.
• Evidence of student-centered learning approaches including personalizing instruction and supporting students meeting core proficiencies
• Evidence of implementing inclusive practices for students with special needs.
• Ongoing educational post graduate coursework in education or subject area, including diversity, equity and inclusion.

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS/TERMS:

• SALARY: As per the Master Agreement between the Burlington Board of School Commissioners and the Burlington Education Association. This is a salaried position paid Bi-Weekly with a lump sum payment for the summer period.
• SCHOOL YEAR: 10 months, 187 workdays (based on start date), 7.75 per day/38.75 per week
• BENEFITS: Benefits eligible on start date. 30 days to enroll in coverage from start day. BSD Benefits!
• PAID TIME: Sick Time / Personal Time As per the Master Agreement.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Burlington School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.

Applications from women, veterans, individuals with disabilities and people from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds are encouraged.

The Burlington School District will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.