Lead Counselor Supplement 26/27 SY

Qualifications

Holds or is eligible for a Virginia School Counselor License.
Minimum of three (3) years of successful experience as a school counselor preferred.
Demonstrated leadership, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Knowledge of the Virginia School Counseling Framework, graduation requirements, student records, and student support services.
Experience with student information systems, Naviance, graduation planning, and master scheduling preferred.

Performance Responsibilities

• Program Leadership
  • Collaborate with the Division Counseling Coordinator to implement and monitor a comprehensive school counseling program aligned with division priorities, the Virginia School Counseling Framework, and student mental health initiatives.
  • Provide day-to-day leadership and coordination of the counseling department to ensure efficient operations and consistent implementation of counseling services.
  • Collaborate with school administration on school-wide initiatives, student support services, graduation planning, scheduling, and other operational priorities.
  • Facilitate counseling department meetings and communicate division initiatives, expectations, and updates to department staff.
  • Coordinate counselor caseload assignments and registrar responsibilities to promote equitable workload distribution.
  • Monitor completion of counseling responsibilities, timelines, and required follow-up activities.
  • Mentor and support newly hired school counselors through onboarding, coaching, and professional guidance.
  • Provide day-to-day direction and coordination for registrar and counseling support personnel, ensuring efficient office operations and recommending improvements to office procedures.
  • Coordinate the annual student course selection process to ensure accuracy, consistency, and alignment with graduation requirements.
• Systems Management and Student Services
  • Develop and maintain systems to monitor student academic progress, graduation requirements, verified credits, diploma seals, On-Time Graduation (OTG) status, and other state accountability indicators.
  • Verify student records, graduation coding, and end-of-year reporting for accuracy and compliance with state and division requirements.
  • Collaborate with the School Testing Coordinator to identify student assessment needs, monitor participation, and maintain required testing documentation.
  • Manage the school's Naviance platform, including student records, graduation plans, career development activities, and postsecondary reporting.
  • Aid school administration with development and implementation of the master schedule by providing expertise regarding student course requests, graduation pathways, and scheduling priorities.
• Communication and Collaboration
  • Serve as the primary liaison between the counseling department, school administration, the Division Counseling Coordinator, central office staff, students, families, and community partners.
  • Promote consistent communication to students, families, and school personnel regarding academic progress, graduation requirements, diploma pathways, and post-secondary planning.
  • Collaborate with teachers, administrators, special education staff, and student support teams to develop interventions that promote student success.
  • Participate in leadership meetings, committees, and division initiatives as assigned.
• Compliance and Accountability
  • Ensure departmental compliance with applicable federal and state laws, Virginia Board of Education regulations, School Board policies, and division procedures related to school counseling, student records, graduation requirements, and confidentiality.
  • Monitor implementation of division counseling initiatives and maintain required documentation, reports, and program records.
  • Analyze student achievement, graduation, and program data to identify trends and recommend continuous improvement strategies that support academic achievement, college and career readiness, and student well-being.
  • Perform other leadership responsibilities as assigned by the Principal or Division Counseling Coordinator.

Physical Requirements

• Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Exhibit manual dexterity to dial a telephone and to enter data into a computer.
• See and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids.
• Hear and understand speech at normal classroom levels, outdoors and on the telephone.
• Speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in normal classrooms, outdoors, and on the telephone.
• Able to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Physical agility to lift up to 25 pounds the ability to bend, stoop, sit on the floor, climb stairs, walk and reach overhead.
• Some teaching specialties (i.e., music, art, physical education, etc.) may require hearing, vision and physical coordination and/or exertion and effort in excess of those listed above.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks.