EAST MUSKINGUM SCHOOLS

Job Description

JOB TITLE:  High School Counselor

BOARD APPROVAL DATE: January 9, 2004

REPORTS TO: Building Principal

SUMMARY:  Provides guidance and counseling services to students by performing the following duties.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

• Serves as a positive role model for students.

• Develop and follow a career guidance plan for the building/district to meet the needs of individual students.
• Serve as resource and consultant for classroom teacher and the principal in meeting the social/emotional/academic needs of students.
• Provide support for teachers and administrators in working with students at risk of school failure.
• Collects, organizes, and analyzes information about individuals through records, tests, interviews, and professional sources, to appraise their interests, aptitudes, abilities, and personality characteristics, for vocational and educational planning.
• Compiles and studies occupational, educational, and economic information to aid counselees in making and carrying out vocational educational objectives.
• Assists individuals to understand and overcome social and emotional problems.
• Engages in research and follow-up activities to evaluate counseling techniques.
• Teaches classes.
• Assists with all special education responsibilities in the building.
• Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance.
• Helps instill in students the belief in practice of ethical principles and democratic values.
• Maintains required licenses and certificates.
• Performs all other duties as required or requested by the superintendent.

Professional Responsibilities:

Assumes responsibility for professional growth and development as related to local LPDC planning for renewal of license, keeping current in literature, research and techniques.

Participates in various faculty and professional meetings, conferences, and other school related activities.

Counselors are encouraged to participate in one or more activities or student organizations, assisting pupils in selecting course of study, and counseling students in adjustment and academic problems. 

Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance.

Maintains required licenses and certificates.

Dresses in a professional manner that is appropriate for the assignment and/or activity.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Directly supervises all students in classroom and building.  May supervise teacher aides and student teachers.  Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.

USER-DEFINED:

The employee must have basic knowledge of Board policies and procedures.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and /or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND /OR EXPERIENCE:

Master’s degree (MA/MS) with a major in the field identified for this position from an accredited college or university.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, instructional material, textbooks, and educational publications and teaching aides.  Ability to write reports, lesson plans, and other written communication for parents, students, and administrators.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from students, administrators and parents.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as interest, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.  Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

TECHNOLOGY SKILLS:

The employee will have an operational knowledge of either Macintosh or Windows based computers and related technology.  The employee will take advantage of all district level technology training that is appropriate to their teaching assignment. 

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Must possess a valid Ohio Guidance certificate appropriate for a Counseling assignment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to  successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to manipulate, handle, or feel objects; tools; controls; reach with hands and arms; and taste or smell. 

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essentials functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The employee will be using either Macintosh or Windows based computers and related technology on a regular basis.

The employee is determined to be at risk of exposure to bodily fluids including blood, human tissue or body fluids and must make “universal precautions” a standard operating procedure.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION:

The employee will be evaluated in accordance with the district requirements and within the timelines specified by law.

This job description in no manner states or implies that these are the only duties and responsibilities to be performed by the position incumbent.  The incumbent will be required to follow instructions and perform the duties required by the Board of Education.