Middle School Counselor

About the role

Through leadership, advocacy and collaboration, professional school counselors promote equity and access to rigorous educational experiences for all students. They support a safe learning environment, work to safeguard the human rights of all members of the school community, and address the needs of all students through culturally relevant prevention and intervention programs that are a part of a comprehensive school counseling program.

Assists in other school and district programs as assigned.

Essential Functions

• Supports and upholds the mission, vision and strategic goals of Lexington County School District One towards increased outcomes for students.
• Interacts, communicates and collaborates with all stakeholders effectively.
• Establishes a safe, supportive, positive and productive working and learning environment.
• Operates general office and technology equipment needed for daily activities.
• Maintains confidentiality regarding all employee and student information.
• Participates in all professional meetings and training sessions as required.
• Requests and maintains materials needed for daily responsibilities and essential functions; provides for safe storage and proper use of all tools, equipment and materials.
• Upholds the ethical and professional standards of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and other applicable professional counseling associations.
• Promotes the development of the school counseling program based on ASCA National Model, the South Carolina Comprehensive School Counseling and Career Guidance Model, South Carolina Education and Economic Development Act and school board policies.

Core Program Components

• Define: Three sets of school counseling standards define the school counseling profession. These standards help new and experienced school counselors develop, implement and assess their counseling program to improve student outcomes.
• Manage: To be delivered effectively, the school counseling program must be efficiently and effectively managed. Program focus, program domains and planning tools guide the design and implementation of a school counseling program that gets results.
• Deliver: School counselors deliver developmentally appropriate activities and services directly to students or indirectly for students as a result of the school counselor's interaction with others. These activities and services help students develop the ASCA mindsets and behaviors for student success and improve their achievement, attendance and discipline.
• Assess: To achieve the best results for students, school counselors regularly assess their program to determine effectiveness, inform improvements to their school counseling program design and delivery and show how students are different as a result of the school counseling program.

Supervisory Responsibility

Responsible for supervising students, as appropriate, in implementing the total school counseling program. Responsible for school counseling materials and supplies budget (if applicable).

Other Skills and Abilities

• Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Lexington County School District One Board policies.
• Must be able to access reliable transportation.
• Knowledge of the policies, procedures, and activities of the school district that pertain to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Knowledge of school policies, procedures, and operations.
• Ability to demonstrate proper maintenance, safe operation, and utilization of equipment, materials, and supplies used in daily activities.
• Ability to maintain high standards of accuracy in exercising duties.
• Ability to anticipate work to be completed and to complete work without the need for direct supervision.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of employee and student records and information.
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively and professionally with supervisors, co-workers, teachers, students, and the general public.
• Personal computer experience required.
• Strong knowledge of word processing, e-mail, spreadsheets, electronic file management, the internet, and reporting and presentation software.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff and the school community.
• Ability to speak clearly and concisely both in oral and written communication.
• Ability to apply knowledge and current research and theory.
• Ability to organize and implement a flexible work schedule in order to meet reporting deadlines.
• Ability to self-monitor and manage multiple tasks while working individually and with members of a group.
• Ability to submit all requested reports and documentation in a timely manner and in accordance with scheduled deadlines.
• Some extended hours and multiple demands from several people are frequently required of the employee.
• Computer literacy required.

Physical Demands

• Occasional lifting/moving of items weighing up to twenty-five pounds.
• Pushing/pulling items such as furniture or boxes of materials.
• Sitting, standing, walking, talking, listening and reaching with hands and arms.
• Close vision, distance vision.
• Occasionally works in a noisy environment.

Evaluation

Performance of this job is evaluated annually according to Board Policy.

Disclaimer Statement

The information contained in this job-description is intended for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

Nondiscrimination Policy

Lexington County School District One is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all students, parents/legal guardians, staff, visitors, personnel and community members who participate or seek to participate in its programs or activities. Therefore, the district does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or any related medical conditions), color, disability, age, genetic information, national origin, or any other applicable status protected by local, state, or federal law. The district will use the grievance procedures set forth in policy to process complaints based on alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act of 1963; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008; and Titles I and II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.