Reading Virtual Academy GR 1-8 School Counselor

About the role

The Guidance Counselor provides a comprehensive guidance program for students and supports the building principal and director of student services in achieving the position goal.

Responsibilities

• Aids students in course and subject selection.
• Obtains and disseminates occupational information to students and classes studying occupations.
• Assists students in evaluating their aptitudes and abilities through the interpretation of individual standardized test scores and other pertinent data, and works with students in evolving education and occupation plans in terms of such evaluation.
• Works to discover and develop special abilities of students.
• Works to resolve students' educational handicaps.
• Schedules students into appropriate classes and orients them to school procedures and the school's varied opportunities for learning.
• Works to prevent students from dropping out of school.
• Helps students evaluate career interests and choices.
• Remains readily available to students so as to provide counseling that will lead each student to increase personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.
• Works with students on an individual basis in the solution of personal problems related to such problems as home and family relations, health and emotional adjustment.
• Plans guidance field trips to schools, colleges, and industry for interested students.
• Guides students in their participation in school and community activities.
• Maintains student records and protests their confidentiality.
• Supervises the preparation and processing of college, scholarship, and employment applications.
• Makes recommendations to colleges for admissions and scholarships.
• Provides student information to colleges and potential employers according to provisions of the Board's policy on student records.
• Confers with parents whenever necessary.
• Assists in the orientation of new faculty members.
• Provides in-service training in guidance for teachers and student teachers.
• Works with teachers and other staff members to familiarize them with the general range of services offered by the student personnel services department, and to improve the educational prospects of individual students being counseled.
• Advises administrators and faculty on the matters of student discipline.
• Takes an active role in interpreting the school's objectives to students, parents, and the community at large.
• Interprets the guidance program to the community.
• Organizes and conducts annual "Career Day."
• Arranges for tutors and summer school work.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Superintendent or his/her designee.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s and/or Master’s Degree
• Pennsylvania Certificate as a Guidance Counselor

Skills

• Ability to speak clearly and distinctly.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively with other employees, students, and parents.
• Ability to apply basic arithmetic calculations.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions for practical situations.
• Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral or schedule form.
• Ability to coordinate activities with related and specialist staff.
• Ability to develop and maintain required records and reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers, parents, and the community.
• Good knowledge of procedures, practices, materials, and equipment required to provide appropriate learning experiences for students to whom assigned.
• Ability to work as a member of a team.
• Must be courteous and able to deal effectively with people.
• Must be cooperative, congenial, and service-oriented.
• Ability to maintain personal self-control in stressful situations.
• Ability to operate a personal computer and software.
• Ability to travel to more than one work location in the course of the day as assigned.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to walk and talk or hear.
• Frequently required to stand and sit.
• Occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
• Some driving is necessary; light lifting - up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.
• Occasionally, yet essential to this position, the individual must meet deadlines with severe time constraints.

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet but may be moderate to loud at times.
• The employee is frequently required to interact with the parents, public, and staff during and after the normal workday.
• The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and exhibit good human relation skills including courtesy, tact, and patience.