High School Guidance Counselor

High School Counselor Certification or Statement of Eligibility required. Salary and benefits per CBA.

About the Role

The guidance counselor works with pupils, teachers, and parents, emphasizing the developmental needs of all students through counseling, consultation, and coordination. The guidance counselor reports directly to the building principal.

Responsibilities

Individual Counseling

• Helps students resolve and/or deal with personal problems that arise in dealing with peers, family, school, and other situations causing stress.
• Helps students become adequate and responsible in their own choices and decision making.
• Assists students in discovering themselves as worthwhile people, developing understanding and acceptance of themselves and others.
• Allows individuals (students, parents, teachers) to discuss problems or concerns with a professional counselor who will listen carefully, discuss available options, keep confidence, and neither judge nor disapprove of them as a person.
• Assists students in fulfilling their educational requirements and needs by observing their academic growth.
• Evaluates records of all new students for placement.
• Periodically summarizes progress of counseling in guidance records.

Group Guidance

• Works with special needs groups to supplement individual counseling and to focus on common issues and needs.
• Provides whole-class guidance as time permits, with needs determined by counselor, class, teacher, and/or principal.
• Facilitates effective education and vocational exploration within the classroom as time permits, provided by counselor, teacher, or other qualified person.
• Provides family counseling as time and need allow.
• Adolescent Health Education program – teaching and discussing issues dealing with puberty and adolescence.

Consultation

• Provides services to school staff; consults with teachers/administration about specific students.
• Works to enhance or help set up behavior management programs.
• Serves as a consultant to teachers and an active consultant to the Pupil Placement Team.
• Acts as a resource person for teachers/administration, especially in areas of adjustment problems and child developmental needs.
• Consults with outside agencies such as Child and Family Services, Welfare Department, Juvenile Officer, school psychologists, social workers, staff, and other schools and programs (e.g., TAC).
• Serves as a resource to parents/families by directly contacting and/or responding to parents to discuss personal adjustments and areas of concern.
• Interprets previous grades and tests as needed; discusses discipline cases.
• Makes appropriate referrals and recommendations.
• Consults with other counselors to discuss common concerns, evaluate needs, and improve/maintain professional competence.
• Consults and works closely with school nurses.

Coordination

• Evaluates records of new students to identify special needs areas and/or for placement.
• Assists students in fulfilling their educational requirements and needs by observing academic growth through test results and teacher/parent/student consultation.
• Makes appropriate referrals for special testing.
• Coordinates services with other counselors, students, parents, teachers, and others as needs arise.
• Sets up, coordinates, and supervises counselor intern programs for maximum effectiveness.

Additional Responsibilities

• Develops the master schedule and coordinates course registration and drop/add procedures.
• Assumes responsibility for updating the program of studies.
• Works with students individually and in groups regarding career and educational decisions.
• Ensures each senior has an individually tailored program to suit their post-graduation plans.
• Assists seniors planning on college or vocational schools with Financial Aid Forms, loans, and scholarships, serving as a resource and reference person.
• Acts as a liaison with vocational centers, screening students wishing to enroll and monitoring their progress throughout the year.
• Organizes and participates in student/parent informative sessions, including Freshman orientation, career planning, and financial aid workshops.

Requirements

• Certification in guidance counseling from the Department of Education is required for the position.

Conditions of Employment

• The term of the contract will be for 200 days or in accordance with the current master agreement.
• Each school counselor will be evaluated on an annual basis by April 1, completed by the building principal.