Counselor-

Provide all students with counseling and guidance as needed to help them fulfill their potential for intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth;

enable students to develop competencies and skills to function successfully in society.

Qualifications

Education / Certification

Master’s degree in counseling from an accredited college or university, preference, or Master’s degree with an approved certification from an EPP

Valid Texas counseling certificate

Special Knowledge / Skills

Effective communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills

Strong organizational skills

Knowledge of counseling and guidance

Ability to evaluate instructional programs and teaching effectiveness

Ability to interpret policy, procedures, and data

Demonstration of counseling and guidance leadership

Computer skills consistent with district expectations

Experience

Minimum of 3 years teaching experience

Major Responsibilities and Duties

Guidance Curriculum

Coordinate the developmental guidance curriculum in units with planned lessons for small or classroom-sized groups of students at all grade levels;

topics to be included are as follows :

Self-confidence development

Motivation to achieve

Decision-making, goal-setting, planning and problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Cross-cultural effectiveness

Responsible behavior

Identify appropriate resources and materials necessary for presenting the guidance curriculum.

Collaborate with and provide assistance to other school team members who may integrate the guidance topics with other curricula.

Coordinate guidance lessons with campus and district goals.

Coordinate a monthly calendar of guidance curriculum activities, which includes the topic / programs to be presented; calendar should indicate the grade level and presenter and be made available to campus staff.

Responsive Services

Consult through conferences, phone calls, and individual meetings with :

Teachers

Parents

Administrators

Psychologists

Diagnosticians

Nurses

Other professionals

Identify appropriate resources for referral to community resources.

Train campus staff on child abuse and how to make referrals to Children’s Protective Services. Initiate and / or assist other campus staff in making referrals to Children’s Protective Services and respond to requests for information from Children’s Protective Services.

Train campus staff on suicide prevention and respond to campus staff referrals of students who are in crisis.

Serve as a member of the campus intervention team.

Conduct small group or individual counseling sessions on various topics such as :

Self-esteem

Academic progress

Getting along with others

Anger management

Grief and loss

Divorce

Social skills

Special needs

Substance abuse

Family issues

Harassment issues

Coping with stress

Counsel with individual students; assess on an as needed or limited basis the student’s need for additional intervention from school, home or community services.

Through a needs assessment, develop and implement campus counseling and intervention programs.

Follow up with students returning from JJAEP, etc.

Inform supervisors of student threats to themselves and / or other students.

Individual Planning

Serve as member of campus intervention team.

Consult with parents regarding student needs.

Coordinate the referral / appraisal placement process.

Consult with students individually in several areas.

Educational

Acquisition of study skills

Awareness of educational opportunities

Appropriate course selection

Lifelong learning

Utilization of test scores

Approve four-year plans

Monitor and evaluate graduation requirements

Career

Knowledge of potential career opportunities

Knowledge of career and technical training

Knowledge of positive work habits

Personal-Social

Development of healthy self-concepts

Development of adaptive and adjusted social behavior

Interpret assessment data, testing results, etc. and consult with school staff, parents, and students in order to assist in formulating realistic goals for students

System Support

Plan, organize, and implement campus-wide Developmental Guidance Program.

Participate in and contribute to district and campus leadership teams including the following :

Campus administrative teams

Counselor meetings and committees

Cluster meetings

Campus instructional improvement teams

Principal / counselor regular meetings

Support campus programs and special events.

Contribute articles to the campus newsletter that further knowledge and understanding of the counseling and guidance program.

Coordinate staff development at campus and district levels that furthers knowledge and understanding of the counseling and guidance program.

Provide parent education programs at campus and district levels.

Professional Growth and Work Habits

Stay up-to-date professionally through the selection of quality staff development opportunities for personal growth.

Research district policy, precedent, and current practices prior to taking action.

Participate as an effective team member who contributes to district, department, and content goals.

Demonstrate integrity and ethics.

Display proficient levels of technology applications.

Utilize time wisely for effective management of job responsibilities.

Maintain punctuality in daily work times, appointments, and meetings.

Meet task completion deadlines established by supervisor.

Maintain friendly customer-service-driven interactions with all stakeholders, students, teachers, administrators, and co-workers.

Work cooperatively with co-workers and supervisors to ensure that the goals of the school / department are met.

Maintain a positive and professional tone in all communication (i.e. email, written, and verbal).

Additional campus duties and responsibilities should be cleared through the Director of Student Personnel Services.

Working Conditions

Mental Demands

Effective verbal and written communication; concentration while performing duties; ability to maintain emotional control under stress;

occasional prolonged and irregular hours; ability to work with frequent interruptions

Physical Demands / Environmental Factors

Moderate standing, walking, bending, lifting; prolonged use of computer; repetitive hand motions.

Term : 202 days