Counselor Substitute

Primary Purpose:
Plan, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program at assigned campus.
Counsel students to fully develop each student’s academic, career, personal, and social abilities and address the needs of special population students.

Qualifications:
Education/Certification:
Master’s degree in guidance counseling from an accredited college or university
Valid Texas school counseling certificate

Special Knowledge/Skills:
Knowledge of counseling procedures, student appraisal, and career development
Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
Ability to instruct students and manage their behavior
Ability to present information in one-on-one, small group, and large group situations to students, parents, and district staff

Major Responsibilities and Duties:
Guidance
1.    Plan and conduct structured group lessons to deliver district’s guidance curriculum effectively and in accordance with students’ developmental needs. Collaborate with teachers who teach guidance-related curriculum.
2.    Guide individual students, groups of students, and parents to plan, monitor, and manage the student’s own educational and career development including creating and reviewing personal graduation plans and providing information about post-secondary opportunities.
3.    Use accepted theories and effective techniques of developmental guidance to counsel individual students, small groups of students, and parents to plan, monitor, and manage a student’s own personal and social development. Provide preventive, remedial, and crisis counseling as needed.
4.    Serve as an impartial, non-reporting resource for interpersonal conflicts and discourse involving two or more students, including accusations of bullying.

Consultation
5.    Coordinate school, home, and community resources and refer students, parent, and others to special programs and services as needed.
6.    Work collaboratively to advocate for individual students and specific groups of students.

Assessment
7.    Interpret standardized test results and assessment data to guide students in individual goal setting and planning.

Program Management and Administration
8.    Plan, implement, evaluate, and promote continuous improvement of a balanced comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program that includes guidance curriculum, responsive services, individual planning, and system support
components.
9.    Advocate for a school environment that acknowledges and respects diversity.
10.  Compile, maintain, and file all reports, records, and other documents.
11.  Comply with policies established by federal and state law, State Board of Education rule, and board policy. Comply with all district and campus routines and regulations.
12.  Adhere to legal, ethical, and professional standards for school counselors including current professional standards of competence and practice.

Other
13.  Follow district safety protocols and emergency procedures.

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:
Tools/Equipment Used: Personal computer and peripherals; standard instructional equipment
Posture: Prolonged sitting; frequent standing, kneeling/squatting, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting
Motion: Frequent walking
Lifting: Regular light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds)
Environment: Work inside, may work outside
Mental Demands: Maintain emotional control under stress; may work prolonged or irregular hours

*Includes information from the Counselor Job Description and Evaluation Form distributed by the Texas Education Agency.