Secondary Counselor

Position Purpose
Under the general Supervision of the Principal, to help students overcome problems that impede learning and to assist them in making educational, occupational, and life plans that hold promise for their personal fulfillment as mature and responsible men and women.

Essential Functions

• Develop a program based on objectives that consider the abilities and needs of students and fall within the district program goals.
• Work with teachers and other staff members to familiarize them with the general range of services offered by the guidance department, and to improve the educational prospects of individual students being counseled or to be referred for counseling.
• Work with students on an individual basis in the solution of personal problems related to such problems as home and family relations, health and emotional adjustment.
• Remains readily available to students so as to provide counseling that will lead each student to increase personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.
• Works to discover the special abilities of students.
• Works to prevent students from dropping out of school
• Helps students evaluate career interests and choices.
• Obtains and disseminate occupational information to students and to classes studying occupations.
• Aide administrative personnel in the planning of the school program to meet the needs of the students.
• Conducts a pre-registration and prepares the necessary materials and help for the administration to formulate the master schedule for the next school year.
• Arranges for appraisals, referrals and staffing of students with special educational, health or psychological needs.
• Be responsible and accountable for keeping accurate information and records available on each student.  These are to include the student’s record of progress, subjects taken, grades, standardized test score, G.P.A., and rank in class.
• Establish and maintain a career library.
• Keeps the home/school communications open by reporting and interpreting student information, conferring with parents in regard to their children’s ability and special needs, progress, performance, or problems in school.
• Takes an active role in interpreting the schools objectives to students, parents, and the community at large
• Performs all other duties within the scope of the guidance program as determined and agreed to with the Principal.
• Director of school’s Advisor/Advisee program.
• Makes recommendations to colleges for admissions and scholarship.
• Provide student information to colleges and potential employers according to the provisions of the Boards policy on student records.
• Organizes and conducts an annual “Career Day”.
• Conducts a yearly study of dropouts.
• Conducts follow-up surveys of graduates as directed by the Board.
• Acts as the district contact with colleges, Armed Services personnel, Etc.
• Acts as the director of testing for the Elbert County School District C-2.

Additional Duties

Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Principal.

Note:  The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities.  It is not meant to be all inclusive of every task or responsibility.

Equipment

Uses standard office equipment such as personal computers, printer, copy and fax machines, and telephone.

Travel Requirements

Travels to school district buildings and professional meetings as required

Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards

Works in standard office and school building environments.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to effectively communicate with staff, parents and community.
• Ability to understand, apply and use personal computers and software applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Ability to analyze situations to define and draw conclusions
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws regarding safety and health, and other areas under responsibility
• Ability to develop and implement projects
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to organize multiple tasks and conflicting time constraints
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to leadership, performance and professional growth
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information regarding students and employees.
• A valid certificate as a guidance counselor issued by the Colorado Department of Education.
• A master’s degree representing intensive work in the principles and practice of educational guidance; educational testing and measurement; counseling; the organization and administration of guidance services and the psychology of learning.
• At least three years teaching experience with proven ability to keep information confidential.
• Have the ability to work and communicate at various levels with minors, adults, professional personnel, administrators, teachers, students and citizens of the community under trying and unfavorable conditions.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the board may find appropriate and acceptable.

Fringe Benefits (Reference School Board policy GCBD/GDBD)

• 72 Discretionary hours renewing annually July 1.  
• Discretionary not used by June 30th will be moved to sick bank days.
• Eligible for School District’s benefits plans.

Salary : $43,400 - $60,000