Alternative Schools Counselor 2025-2026

POSITION: Alternative Schools Counselor
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Building Administrator

FLSA STATUS: Exempt
 
EMPLOYMENT TERM: Minimum 220 days annually, pursuant to WV Code §18-5-45; extended employment terms may be established by KCSBOE. 
 
SALARY: Pursuant to WV Code §18A-4-2, in accordance with Kanawha County Teacher Salary Schedule, commensurate with experience and education level.
 
EVALUATION: Performance in this position will be evaluated by the immediate supervisor and in accordance with WV State Code §18A-2-12, WV State Board Policy 5310 and KCS G48A.
 
JOB SUMMARY:  The alternative school counselor works cooperatively with the building principal; Ececutive Director for Student Support; teachers; and student support personnel in planning and implementing the school counseling program.
 
GENERAL PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
 
An employee working for Kanawha County Schools is expected to comply with all the Kanawha County Schools Policies and Procedures, including maintaining regular attendance and completing all required training.  Employees are required to follow all safety rules to maintain a safe workplace.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:  Essential Job Duties.
 

• Provides individual and group counseling for personal growth, self-understanding and educational/career planning.
• Provides crisis intervention for students who have serious, urgent and chronic problems or serves on Crisis Response Team.
• Provides group guidance activities for personal growth, self-understanding and education/career planning.
• Maintains procedures for following confidentiality and ethical codes.
• Confers with administrators and parents regarding student and parental needs.
• Consults with teachers regarding the developmental needs of individual students.
• Assists teachers in developing strategies for classroom management and student discipline.
• Serves as a resource person to teachers in developing guidance units for curricular areas.
• Serves as a liaison with Student Support Services and as a member of the Student Assistance Team.
• Serves as a liaison with the Pathways program and attends Pathways meetings.
• Assists in the implementation of school wide programs/interventions/monitoring of tiers of support.
• Provides leadership in planning and implementing career development experiences.
• Contributes to curriculum development.
• Participates in ongoing studies related to student needs.
• Assists in the screening and placement of students in appropriate classes and alternate educational programs.
• Develops written plans for guidance and counseling.
• Maintains student schedules and credit checks.
• Enrolls students in credit recovery, as needed.
• Monitors students credit recovery progress.
• Enrolls students in WV Learns, as needed.
• Monitors students in WV Learns, as needed.
• Enrolls students in summer school, as needed.
• Works with the virtual department on enrollment of necessary classes for students. 
• Prints report cards and performs grade checks as needed. 
• Transcribes grades as needed.
• Schedules and holds meetings with parents and students to discuss student progress and/or needs (grade and graduation progress etc.).
• Works with the principal in developing and implementing a transition plan for students leaving the alternative school and returning to their home school.
• Works with the option pathway program/examiners to assess option 1, 2, or 3 needs.
• May be trained in the future for option pathway testing.   
• Assists in facilitating student transition from one level to the next.
• Seeks participation from staff, students and parents in planning the guidance and counseling program.
• Assists in coordinating the referral of students to student services and to community agencies.
• Maintain ongoing liaison relationships with personnel in other educational institutions and in community-based program.
• Uses a variety of methods to collect and disseminate guidance information.
• Coordinates developmental group guidance activities such as field trips, orientation programs, parent education programs and Career Days.
• Works with student assessment program and assists with test utilization/interpretation.
• Organizes state and county-required testing; proctoring as needed.
• Trains staff to proctor state and county-required testing.
• Utilizes self-appraisal for the improvement of skills and participates in continuing education for professional development.
• Conducts a student intake on every student entering the alternative program.
• In summary, (per WV State Board Policy 5310) the following responsibilities are part of this job description.
  • Providing purpose and direction for schools/county.
  • Demonstrating cognitive skills to gather, analyze, and synthesize information to reach goals.
  • Managing consensus and group behaviors
  • Enhancing quality of total school/county organization
  • Organizing and delegating to accomplish goals, and
  • Communicating effectively.
• Includes supervisory and/or other duties as assigned by Principal. 

 
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. However, accommodations as provided below may be provided to help you perform essential job duties. 
 
QUALIFICATIONS:

• Holds a professional certificate within the grade levels for which the school counselor endorsement is requested.
• Has completed the requirement for a Master’s Degree relevant to the improvement of instruction from an institution of higher education accredited to grant the degree.
• Has completed the institution’s approved Master’s Degree for school counselor including the culminating clinical experience within the grade levels shown on the professional certificate.
• Proficiency in Excel, Google Forms, and Schoology. 
• Possesses individual and group counseling skills.
• Holds current knowledge of guidance and counseling concepts and practices.
• Demonstrates writing and speaking skills.
• Has the ability to function in crisis situations.
• Holds knowledge of contemporary educational, emotional and social issues concerning students and families.
• Demonstrates program organization and management skills.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate as evidenced by personal interview.
• Shows knowledge of community and agency resources.
• Ability to analyze and use data.
• Possesses school counseling experience.
• Possesses ability to work with school-administrators/teachers/parents.
• Holds academic performance in higher education and favorable evaluations.
• Shows ability to work across department and inter-professional lines.
• Presents recommendations from three references with personal knowledge of work and education experiences.
• Willing to work flexible schedule to service students in the alternative programs. 
• Fulfill continuing education requirements through professional development including WVDE School Counseling Conferences, WVSCA Conferences, ASCA offerings, etc.
• Uphold ASCA ethical and professional standards

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described 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 frequently required to reach, stand, walk, lift, grasp, write, talk, hear, see, use technology such as computers and multi-media equipment, and use repetitive motions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may frequently lift and/or move at least 10 pounds of materials. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material and the ability to adjust focus. The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with the public and other staff members.
 
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential 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 quiet to moderate (25-70dB). The employee is continuously interacting with the public and staff.
 
The information contained in the job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of duties performed by this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned by the Superintendent or his/her designee.

Revised: 22APRIL2025