What are the responsibilities and job description for the Counselor 2026/2027 position at McPherson USD 418?
Job Title: Counselor
Qualifications: Appropriate Teaching Certificate
Reports to: Building Principal
Adopted by the Board of Education on June 10, 1991
McPherson Middle School is looking for a full-time guidence counselor for the 2026/2027 school year.
Job Goals:
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.
Performance Responsibilities:
1 Serves as an advocate for students.
Works with students to develop and appreciate uniqueness of students.
Works to resolve students’ educational needs.
Remains readily available to students so as to provide counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.
Works with students on an individual and group basis in the solution of personal problems related to such problems as home and family relations, health and emotional adjustment.
Confers with parents whenever necessary, utilizing the family as part of the systems approach to counseling, as it relates to the students’ school experience.
Assists in the orientation of new faculty members to the guidance program.
Advises administrators and faculty on the matters of student discipline, but disciplinary action is the administration’s responsibility.
Takes an active role in interpreting the school and guidance department’s objectives to students.
Plans and implements orientation for students and parents in taking the net step in the school experience.
Organizes and coordinators support groups for students.
Participates in the building referral process by contributing to the team decision process.
Coordinates referrals to community agencies and treatment programs and coordinates the return of students to the school environment.
Provides educational, emotional, personal, and social resource material to student and parents.
Acts as a liaison among the administrators, teachers, students, and community.
Maintains current knowledge of counseling practices by reading
Plans with students in setting goals and understanding the relationship of school to everyday life experiences.
Assists parents and student in evaluating aptitudes and abilities through the interpretation of standardized test scores and other pertinent data. (Grades 6-12)
Promotes career awareness and development
Aide’s student in course and subject selection.
Enrolls, confers, and orients students new to the school on school procedures and the school’s varied opportunities for learning (grades 9-12)
Makes available information and application for post-secondary institutions, scholarships, and employment information.
Makes recommendations colleges, armed services, and post secondary education for admissions
Provides student information to colleges and potential employers according to provisions of the board’s policy on student records.
Organizes and conducts annual “Career Day / College Night”.
Organizes and conducts “Financial Aid Night”.
Provides GED opportunities for area students and residents.
Organizes and conducts annual honors night for all seniors.
Obtains and disseminates career and occupational information to students when appropriate.
Works with at risk students to maintain a connection between student and school with goal of preventing students from drooping out.
Terms of Employment:
Evaluation
Performance of job will be evaluated in accordance with board of education policy.