School Counselor (223 days - 11 months position)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Grade: (Teacher Salary Schedule)

Revision Date: March 16, 2018

Location: Toano Middle School

Job Summary

This position is responsible for the development, management and delivery of a comprehensive school counseling program that addresses the academic achievement, social/emotional development, and career development needs of all students in alignment with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model, ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success and the Standards for School Counseling Programs in Virginia Public Schools.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support, promote, and communicate the mission, vision and goals of the school counseling department, which align with that of the school and division.
• Provide counseling core curriculum through instruction in the classroom or planned group activities outside the classroom to promote the knowledge, attitudes and skills students need to achieve academic success, college and career readiness and social/emotional development.
• Provide ongoing small group counseling to students with similar developmental or situational challenges with the goal of achieving healthy personal adjustment and coping with the stress of changing/complex environments.
• Facilitate individual counseling in the form of planned, goal-focused, short-term sessions to assist students in overcoming issues impeding success or expressing difficulties dealing with developmental tasks.
• Help students navigate critical and emergency situations; to include recognizing and responding to student mental and/or behavioral health crisis and offering short-term intervention, referral and follow up.
• Provide individual student planning services by analyzing students’ abilities, interests, skills and achievement to help them make decisions and develop immediate and long-range educational, career and personal goals. This includes the development, annual review, and update of Academic Career Plans (Secondary) and leading the annual course request/selection process (Secondary).
• Provide developmentally appropriate activities and initiatives to promote post-secondary readiness for all students, to include college and career awareness, exploration, and planning.
• Collaborate with school stakeholders to design and implement support services or programs that promote student achievement, attendance, and behavior and advocate for equity and access for all students.
• Facilitate informational sessions, workshops, or professional development to address student developmental issues with parents/guardians, faculty/staff, and the school community, as needed.
• Consult with professionals inside and outside of the school building to assist in identifying and addressing barriers to student achievement.
• Make appropriate referrals to community services as needed.
• Gather and analyze relevant data (including process, perception and outcome data) to guide annual program planning, inform practice, and evaluate program impact on student achievement, behavior, and attendance.
• Apply the ethical standards and principles of the school counseling profession and adhere to federal and state law and school and division policies and procedures.
• Participate in division, state, and national professional development activities as appropriate and incorporate learning into professional practice.
• Participate in other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and/or Abilities Required)

Master’s degree with an emphasis in School Counseling. Postgraduate Professional/Pupil Personnel Services License with School Counselor endorsement. Working knowledge of appropriate counseling interventions in a school setting, with special emphasis on the study of interpersonal relationships, facilitative skills, brief counseling, group dynamics and group learning activities, family systems, multi-cultural and cross-cultural helping approaches, critical incident intervention techniques, threat assessment protocol, and educational and community sources for special school populations

Must possess ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. Must possess the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, parents, and the public.

Supervision Exercised

Oversees secretarial staff and student interns where appropriate.

Supervision Received

Performs duties under the supervision of the Principal.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

Highly diverse and complex duties.  Must have high tolerance for change and the ability to work with frequent interruptions.  Strong interpersonal skills required in working with diverse groups of students and staff.  Must have initiative and assume responsibility for working productively with a minimum of supervision.