Career Counselor

Position Title:              Career Counselor

Category:                    Classified; Bargaining Unit ineligible; FLSA applies.

Contract:                    Initial one year contract; contract days as determined by the Governing Board; other terms and conditions of employment as per the CBA, O.R.C., and/or Board Policy and Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Rules.

Compensation:            Salary, insurance coverage and fringe benefits as per the current Board adopted policies and schedules, with placement for granted education, experience and responsibility. 

Education/Degree:      High school diploma or equivalent with a minimum of three (3) years of a skilled trade or manufacturing experience; or Associate's degree or higher in a related field.

Reports to:                  Coordinator, Career Counseling

Supervises:                  N/A

Job Goal:                    The Career Counselor will assist students in grades 5-12 to understand their choices for post-secondary education and career training; maintaining liaisons with community leaders and business; providing information and/or direction to students, parents, teachers, and administrators about career and educational services available to eligible students; developing and monitoring of Ohio graduation requirements and pathways; report data and creating reports, and promoting programs with students, staff and parents; and participate with the ESCEO's Business Advisory Council.

Qualifications:             The following qualifications are considered as guidelines:                                  

• Exceptional organizational and communications skills.
• Maintains and organizes documentation of service to districts.
• Confident with public speaking.
• Abilities to promote positive internal and external customer relations.
• Proficiency with computer applications, including Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and software/programs.
• Alternatives to the above as approved by the Governing Board.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibilities at Middle School Level – Grade 5-8

1. Communicates with school principal, guidance counselors and intervention specialists on their career exploration needs with students at all grade levels.
2. Provides career exploration through Junior Achievement, Pathful Connect, YouScience, and virtual reality.
3. Assists with career day planning.
4. Participates in career day and trade day events.
5. Creates, plans, and instructs career exploration and life skills courses chosen by administration staff.

Responsibilities at High School Level – Grade 9-12

Areas of Career Exploration:

1. Communicates with school principal, guidance counselors and intervention specialists on their career exploration needs with students at all grade levels.
2. Provides career exploration through Junior Achievement, Pathful Connect, YouScience, and virtual reality.
3. Suggests and teaches career exploration and life skills courses designed to prepare HS students for college and career readiness.
4. Advises, prepares, and schedules students with job shadowing experiences.
5. Serves as a student advocate through communication with business and trade schools, colleges, and universities; communication with parents; collaboration with schools with outside scholarship programs. 

Areas of Graduation Pathway Requirements:

1. Supports administrators with tracking of student credits, End of Course (EOC) data, ACT scores, and ODE graduation pathways.
2. Determines which students are at risk of not graduating through data tracking.
3. Uses templates provided by the Lead Career Counselor to track data for students in each district.
4. Learns how to use school resources such as DASL, EMIS, and Progress Book to acquire student data needed for tracking graduation requirements and pathways.
5. Communicates with the school district EMIS Coordinator on student data and required reports.
6. Knowledgeable of the requirements under ODE's Graduation Pathways.
7. Navigates ODE website for resources/requirements that can be shared with districts, students and parents.
8. Supports home school districts with the implementation of industry-recognized credentials and pre-apprenticeship opportunities.
9. Assists with communication to students and parents regarding at-risk graduation and developing a Student Success Plan.
10. Tracks honors diploma, ACT remediation-free scores, and 12-point industry-recognized credentials for the CCWMR component of the district's state report card.
11. Tracks students participating in College Credit Plus, Advance Placement tests, and International Baccalaureate to calculate bonus measures for the CCWMR component of the state report card.
12. Connects with Career Counselor or Guidance Counselor at Career and Technical Centers to track graduation pathways for students attending from home school.
13. Collaborates with intervention specialists to discuss students on IEP's and assess possible alternative pathways for graduation.
14. Provides school personnel information on ODE updates in regards to graduation requirements required exam scores and total points required for industry-recognized credentials.
15. Supports home schools using Microsoft Office curriculum and certification testing for an industry-recognized credential.
16. Performs year-end assessments with assigned school district administrative staff to evaluate the current school year services provided and set goals for the upcoming school year.
17. Demonstrates ability to provide professional development and coaching to teachers and administrators.
18. Communicates the needs and suggestions of the ESCEO, Business Advisory Committee to your assigned school districts.
19. Contributes thoughts and ideas that will develop the services offered by Career Counselors.
20. Represents management interests in communications with employees, administrators, districts, vendors, and community stakeholders.
21. Prepares confidential reports, recommendations, and correspondence for district leadership regarding students and career/post-graduation programming.    
22. Performs other confidential duties as assigned by the Superintendent or designee.  

REQUIRED ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTES AND BEHAVIORS: 

1. Is regular and prompt in attendance.
2. Seeks opportunities to improve skills and grow professionally.
3. Attends and actively participates in all required/assigned training sessions, meetings, and other responsibilities.
4. Provides quality service to both internal and external colleagues and customers.
5. Seeks opportunities to participate as a productive member of ESCEO, school district, and other committees and teams.
6. Generates internal and external support for ESCEO services.
7. Represents the ESCEO and its service schools with professionalism at all times.
8. Demonstrates at all times integrity and ethical behavior.
9. Responds quickly to directions for improvement from supervisors.
10. Maintains confidentially in all job-related discussions and communications.

OTHER EXPECTATIONS AND DEMONSTRATED SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

1. The position of a Career Counselor is to grow career counseling services in counties outside of Mahoning County. These counties include Columbiana, Trumbull, Portage, Stark, and beyond.
2. Possesses a state-issued driver's license and/or government-issued ID.
3. Reads, analyzes, and interprets data and reports.
4. Writes reports, correspondence, and other appropriate communique.
5. Presents information and responds to questions effectively and efficiently.
6. Prioritizes tasks, requirements, and expectations to perform to a standard of service excellence. 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Exposure to the following situations may range from remote to frequent based on circumstances and factors that may not be predictable. 

1. Duties may require bending, crouching, kneeling, reaching, and standing.
2. Duties may require lifting, carrying, and moving work-related supplies/equipment, up to 50 pounds.
3. Duties may require operating and/or riding in a vehicle.
4. Duties may require traveling to meetings and work assignments.
5. Duties may require working in proximity to moving mechanical parts.
6. Duties may require using a computer keyboard and monitor.
7. Duties may require wearing protective clothing and using safety equipment.
8. Duties may require working extended hours.
9. Duties may require working under time constraints to meet deadlines.
10. Potential for exposure to blood-borne pathogens and communicable diseases.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.