26-27SY Teacher, Full-time-School Counselor (Memphis Street Academy)

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. The role also includes addressing issues that impact students' academic success and overall well-being.

Responsibilities

• Provides individual and group counseling and guidance services.
• Develops and implements broad-based programs to address decision-making, conflict resolution, self-esteem, coping strategies, and other issues.
• Conducts classroom guidance sessions focusing on post-high school planning, career exploration, family and peer relationships, and decision-making.
• Offers formal and informal counseling services to students and their families, addressing issues affecting academic achievement and personal development.
• Serves as the primary agent for addressing issues impacting students' academic potential and as the school-based resource for dropout prevention, substance abuse, pregnancy, homelessness, and crisis prevention/intervention.
• Collaborates with parents, teachers, and other staff to support students through team interventions and comprehensive educational programs.
• 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, and maintains accurate and complete records.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with students, families, colleagues, and community partners.

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 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, aiding 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. Keeps abreast of current techniques and trends in bilingual school counseling and guidance.
• 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. Keeps abreast of current techniques and trends in school counseling and guidance for the deaf and hearing impaired.
• GEAR UP 3 Specialty: Provides academic, college, and career counseling services to GEAR UP students. Collaborates with school counselors to schedule college visits, career-related speakers, and workshops. Enters college and career program and student data weekly. Attends regional monthly GEAR UP staff meetings and the GEAR UP Capacity Building and Annual Conferences.

Minimum Requirements

• Regular, Sign Language, and GEAR UP 3 Specialties: Valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania instructional specialist certificate endorsed for Secondary Counselor (or Guidance Counselor Certificate issued prior to July 1, 1969).
• Bilingual Specialty: Original, signed letter from the Certification Officer of an accredited college or university verifying current enrollment in an approved School Counselor certification program.

Disclaimer

The School District of Philadelphia provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, disability, pregnancy, marital status, gender identity, or genetic information. Please refer to Board Policy 348 for further information regarding the District's commitment to Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices.