School Guidance Counselor

POSITION: School Counselor

REPORTS TO: Principal

PURPOSE: Utilizing leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, school counselors promote student success, provide preventive services, and respond to identified student needs by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program that addresses academic, career, and personal/social development for all students.

The major functions of the school counselor's job description are to incorporate the North Carolina State Board of Education’s guiding mission: every public school student will graduate from high school, be globally competitive for work and postsecondary education, and prepared for life in the 21st Century.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. MAJOR FUNCTION: DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM

1.1 Discusses the comprehensive school counseling program with the school administrator.

1.2 Develops and maintains a written plan for effective delivery of the school counseling program based on the NC Comprehensive School Counseling Standard Course of Study and current individual school data.

1.3 Communicates the goals of the comprehensive school counseling program to education stakeholders (i.e., administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community/business leaders).

1.4 Maintains current and appropriate resources for education stakeholders.

1.5 Uses the majority of the time providing direct services through the Guidance Curriculum, Individual Student Planning, and Preventive and Responsive Services, and most remaining time in program management, system support, and accountability (national standards recommend 80% of the time in Guidance Curriculum, Individual Student Planning and Preventive and Responsive Services and 20% of the time in program management, system support, and accountability (American School Counselor Association, 2005).

1.6 Uses data to develop comprehensive programs that meet student needs.

2 MAJOR FUNCTIONS: DELIVERY OF A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM

Guidance Curriculum

2.1 Provides leadership and collaborates with other educators in the school-wide integration of the State Guidance Curriculum Standard Course of Study.

2.2 Implements developmentally appropriate and prevention-oriented group activities to meet student needs and school goals.

2.3 Incorporates into their programs the life skills that students need to be successful in the twenty-first century.

Individual Student Planning

2.4 Assists all students, individually or in groups, with developing academic, career and personal/social skills, goals, and plans.

2.5 Accurately and appropriately interprets and utilizes student data.

2.6 Collaborates with parents/guardians and educators to assist students with educational, career, and life planning.

Preventive and Responsive Services

2.7 Provides individual and group counseling to students with identified concerns and needs.

2.8 Consults and collaborates effectively with parents/guardians, teachers, administrators, and other
educational/community resources regarding students with identified concerns and needs.

2.9 Implements an effective referral and follow-up process as needed.

2.10 Accurately and appropriately uses assessment procedures for determining and
structuring individual and group counseling services.

System Support

2.11 Provides appropriate information to school personnel related to the
comprehensive school counseling program.

2.12 Assists teachers, parents/guardians, and other stakeholders in interpreting and
understanding student data.

2.13 Participates in professional development activities to improve knowledge and
skills.

2.14 Uses available technology resources to enhance the school counseling program.

2.15 Adheres to laws, policies, procedures, and ethical standards of the school
counseling profession.

3. MAJOR FUNCTION: ACCOUNTABILITY

3.1 Conducts a yearly program audit to review extent of program implementation and effectiveness.

3.2 Collects and analyzes data to guide program direction and emphasis.

3.3 Measures results of the comprehensive school counseling program activities and shares results as appropriate with
relevant stakeholders.

3.4 Monitors student academic performance, behavior, and attendance and facilitates
appropriate interventions.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; and significant fine finger dexterity. Work in this classification is considered light physical work requiring the exertion of up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects. Generally, the job requires sitting, walking, and standing. This job is performed in a generally clean and healthy environment.

Certificates & Licenses Master’s Level School Counselor License

Continuing Education/Training Maintain Licensure & CEUs

Requirements:

To qualify for a provisional school counselor license, the applicant must have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher, be enrolled in a school counselor EPP, and have completed either:

• 24 credit hours of coursework in the school counselor EPP; or
  
• A master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education in one of the following counseling areas:
  
  • Addiction
    
  • Career
    
  • Clinical Mental Health
    
  • Clinical Rehabilitation
    
  • College Counseling and Student Affairs
    
  • Marriage, Couple, and Family
    
  • Rehabilitation

Employment will require an extensive background check.

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  All employees are to adhere to ALL of Richmond County Schools Board of Education Policies. They are located on the RCS County website under District Information. Click on Board of Education. Policies are located at the bottom. Call if you need assistance.