Guidance Counselor

BGM Junior & Senior High School - High-Performing rating by the Iowa Department of Education (2025)

BGM Community School District is located in east central Iowa on Interstate 80 (between Iowa City and Des Moines) and encompasses the communities of Brooklyn, Guernsey, and Malcom. The Pre-K campus educates students Pre-K through 12th Grade within a one level building and serves just over 560 students. Recently, the district added a new addition that includes six new secondary classrooms, a 500 seat auditorium, practice gym, and a new weight room. BGM CSD website: https://www.brooklyn.k12.ia.us/

The Junior & Senior High School offers many academic and activity opportunities for students. In 2025, the school earned a HIGH-PERFORMING rating on the Iowa School Performance Profile (ISSP). ISPP is an online tool showing how public schools and districts have performed on multiple measures. School rating categories: Exceptional, High Performing, Commendable, Acceptable, Needs Improvement, and Priority.

BGM Coaching Openings: Assistant JV/Varsity Football Coach, Head Junior High School Softball Coach (2026), Head Junior High School Girls Basketball Coach, Assistant Junior High School Boys Basketball Coach.

7-12 BGM Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GoBGMBears/    

7-12 BGM Website: https://sites.google.com/brooklyn.k12.ia.us/bgmsecondary/home

POSITION TITLE: Junior & Senior High School (7-12) Guidance Counselor     

QUALIFICATIONS:  

1. Iowa Department of Education license with 5-12 School Counselor endorsement. 
2. Master’s Degree in School Counseling or Related Field
3. Successful school counseling experience preferred.
4. Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:  

Program Development and Management

1. Develop and implement effective programming for students to promote academic success, college/career readiness, social-emotional development, and healthy lifestyles decisions.
2. Develop and implement school wide efforts to promote positive behaviors and create a safe and supportive learning environment. 
3. Monitor relevant data to evaluate the effectiveness of school programs.  
4. Protect the health and welfare of students through direct service, advocacy, and collaboration with school staff, parents, and outside providers.
5. Maintain student records in a manner consistent with FERPA and District policies.  
6. Participate as a member of the Success Team. Coordinate service delivery and communication with students, parents, staff, and service providers.  
7. Take an active role in communicating and promoting the vision, mission, goals, and beliefs of the school to students, parents, and community. 
8. Maintain a working knowledge of relevant community resources.  Serve as a member of school and community committees designed to address the needs of young people.  

Academic and Career Development

1. Coordinate course registration and assist with the development of the course schedule.  Meet with students individually or in groups to assist in the development of their academic plan.
2. Provide individual, group, or classroom lessons to teach effective strategies and habits.  
3. Welcome and orient new students.
4. Coordinate college and workplace visits.  
5. Coordinate transcript management activities.  
6. Assist with the development of individual plans of student and program placement decisions for students who need educational alternatives.
7. Coordinate the development of Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAP) consistent with Iowa Department of Education Guidance.  Serve as a member of the District ICAP Team, SIAC Team, and 7-12 Building Leadership Team.
8. Develop and deliver programming, in coordination with relevant community partners, to promote post-secondary educational opportunities and/or successful transition into the workplace.  

Mental Health and Counseling

1. Assist in the development and delivery of services designed to promote healthy lifestyles.
2. Provide direct individual and group counseling services to students to encourage school success, mental health, healthy lifestyles, and interpersonal relationships.  
3. Provide education and support to parents.
4. Provide professional development and consultation to teachers.
5. Assist with the development of the school crisis response plan.  Respond, as needed, to crisis situations within the District.
6. Coordinate and communicate with contracted or outside providers as needed and appropriate.  

Advocacy 

1. Communicate individual student needs to relevant members of the school staff.  
2. Meet with parents whenever necessary or requested.
3. Cooperate with others to resolve complaints, grievances, and other problems effectively and efficiently.
4. Work to ensure equity and justice in programming, services, and decisions.  
5. Monitor school data to ensure efficacy and equity in the counseling program and the broader school system.