26-27SY Teacher, Full-time-School Counselor 7-12-Bilingual

About the role

The School District of Philadelphia is seeking dedicated professionals to serve as school counselors at assigned secondary or middle schools. This position involves providing counseling services that foster the academic, personal, social, and career development of students. Counselors will also act as a primary agent for addressing issues that impact students' academic potential and serve as a school-based resource for dropout prevention, substance abuse, pregnancy, homelessness, and crisis prevention/intervention.

Responsibilities

• Provides individual and group counseling and guidance services.
• Implements broad-based programs dealing with decision-making, conflict resolution, self-esteem, coping strategies, and other issues.
• Plans and provides classroom guidance focusing on post-high school planning, career exploration, family and/or peer relationships, and decision-making.
• Communicates with bilingual or deaf/hearing-impaired students and families using English and a specified world language or English and American Sign Language or Signed English.
• Serves as a liaison between the school and various community/governmental agencies that may provide services to students and their families.
• Participates in team interventions with other staff to support students.
• Collaborates with parents, teachers, and other staff in the planning and implementation of a comprehensive educational program for students.
• Makes referrals to outside agencies as needed and provides ongoing follow-up services to students and their families.
• Gathers and disseminates information on critical issues such as student substance abuse, suicide prevention, teen pregnancy, and homelessness.
• Keeps abreast of current techniques and trends in school counseling and guidance for secondary and/or middle school students.
• Prepares and maintains student-counseling records; prepares reports on students, correspondence, and statistical summaries.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships.

Qualifications

• All Specialties: Master’s degree in school counseling from an accredited college or university.
• Bilingual Specialty: Master’s degree in school counseling from an accredited college or university.
• Sign Language Specialty: Master’s degree in school counseling from an accredited college or university.
• GEAR UP 3 Specialty: Master’s degree in school counseling from an accredited college or university.

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of principles, practices, and theories of individual/group counseling.
• Demonstrated knowledge of principles, practices, and theories of developmental/educational guidance.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current techniques and trends in counseling and guidance at the secondary/middle school level.
• Demonstrated knowledge of theories and principles of adolescent development, individual/group behavior, group dynamics, and interpersonal interactions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of communication skills and techniques.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current health, economic, and social problems experienced by urban families.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the functions and resources of community/governmental agencies that provide support services for students and their families.
• Demonstrated ability to provide counseling and guidance on an individual/group basis and to conduct group support/guidance sessions.
• Demonstrated ability to employ tact, diplomacy, and sound judgment in dealing with sensitive or personal problems and hostile attitudes.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students and their families and to aid them in the constructive use of their capacities to address their specific problems.
• Demonstrated ability to identify the signs of substance abuse and students at risk for suicide.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and interpret standardized test scores, marking guidelines, and promotional policies.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in crisis intervention.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare and maintain student-counseling records, reports, correspondence, and statistical summaries.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Additional Functions

• Bilingual Specialty: Provides students and families with general school and guidance programs and services in a specified world language as well as English. Creates an environment in which students have access to bilingual counseling/guidance materials that address their needs and interests.
• Sign Language Specialty: Provides students and families with general school and guidance programs and services in American Sign Language and Signed English as well as English. Creates an environment in which deaf/hearing impaired students have access to specialized counseling/guidance materials that address their needs and interests.
• GEAR UP 3 Specialty: Provides academic, college, and career counseling services to GEAR UP students. Provides career and college entrance information and assistance to students, teachers, parents, and counselors in small groups and one-to-one. Collaborates with school counselors to schedule college visits, college representative visits, career-related speakers, workshops, etc. Plans, organizes, develops, and implements career events and publications; prepares letters, flyers, mailers, and other materials to publicize GEAR UP counseling services, resources, and speakers. Counsels cohort students regarding state and district tests and in preparing for college entrance exams. Provides financial aid counseling and FAFSA completion support. Provides support for students involved in mentoring, job shadowing, and internship programs. Participates in the development of the annual action plan. Submits all matching funds documents regarding career and counseling activities to the program manager. Enters college and career program and student data weekly. Maintains appropriate, accurate, and complete records. Provides monthly program updates to the program manager. Shares GEAR UP information with other GEAR UP school counselors. Participates in on-site visits. Participates in all GEAR UP training and professional development. Attends regional monthly GEAR UP staff meetings. Travels to school district monthly meetings. Attends the GEAR UP Capacity Building and Annual Conferences.