REPORTS TO:  Principal and Director of Student Development

DEPT./SCHOOL:  As Assigned 

Wage/Hour Status:  Exempt

Pay Grade 3

No of Days:  197

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Education/Certification: 

1.  Hold an appropriate Texas counselor’s certificate, or
2.  Eligible for a permit for a counselor’s certificate
3.  Certified at the level of assignment based on a bachelor’s degree
4.  Two years of successful classroom teaching experience
5.  Ability to work well with a diverse population 

Terms of Contract:  According to district approved calendar 

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

COMMUNICATION

            Guidance Curriculum/Individual Planning/Responsive Services/System Support

Consistently exhibits effective communication skills when working with superiors, peers, parents, and students so that individuals have confidence in the counselor’s knowledge, concern, and competence. 

1. Interprets and shares information about student achievement and progress with parents, teachers, and other professional personnel.
2. Works closely with teachers to identify at-risk behaviors in students so that intervention can take place.
3. Promptly responds to parent and/or student inquiries through telephone or personal contact.
4. Conducts required classroom guidance activities on a regularly scheduled basis.
5. Informs teachers, administrators and the public about the guidance program; i.e., community meetings, media presentations, and newsletters. 

STUDENT PLACEMENT

          Individual Planning/Responsive Services

Exhibits accurate knowledge of the school program and of ways in which specific students needs can and should be addressed through the program, helping to insure that student placement is most efficacious and appropriate.

1. Assists in classroom and/or behavioral management planning with parents and professional personnel
2. Participates and/or contributes information upon request for campus ARD meetings.
3. Coordinates a program of new student orientation both at the beginning of school and for transfer students during the school year and assists with their placement in instructional programs as needed

INFORMATION SERVICES

            System Support/Guidance Curriculum

Ongoing data collection about students is efficiently conducted, dissemination of information is planned and initiated, and requests for information are honored quickly and efficiently.

1. Establishes and/or maintains the necessary lines of communication between home and school to enhance the development of the student.
2. Explains and interprets the role of the counselor to school staff.
3. Within the bounds of confidentiality, keeps teachers informed of progress made by students who are receiving counseling services, and provide information that will enable the teachers to reinforce the counseling objectives.
4. Provides information to the public regarding guidance program and activities.
5. Collects and disseminates guidance materials that are relevant to the educational, vocational, and personal needs of student.

COUNSELING SERVICES

            Responsive Services/Individual Planning/Guidance Curriculum

Students and parents are made to feel welcome by the counselor and are given the kind of academic, personal, and/or vocational counseling which is appropriate or are referred carefully and caringly to other resources so that a variety of student needs and parent concerns can be met.

1. Is available and accessible to students in such a way that both planned and casual contact with students is achieved.
2. Provides appropriate career and educational counseling for individuals and student groups.
3. Confers with parents, students, and teachers regarding student aptitude, achievement, and ability.
4. Works effectively with students and/or parents to resolve school related conflicts.
5. Conducts failure conferences with students at six weeks.
6. Is knowledgeable about community agencies and coordinates the referral of students to those agencies as appropriate.
7. Follows up on teacher and parent referrals for special diagnosis and counseling of students, working closely with other professionals.
8. Provides for small group activities to emphasize personal and social development.
9. Conducts support groups and/or other activities for at-risk students.
10. Conducts special programs for parents of at-risk students.

ADMINISTRATIVE

            System Support/Individual Planning

Administrative duties are executed with initiative, organization, and efficiency and are completed in a timely manner.

1. Conducts staff development program as requested.
2. Works with receiving counselors during spring transitional activities; i.e., sixth grade preregistration, fourth/fifth grade orientation to new campus.
3. Assists the administration with the appropriate placement of students (to include, at the sixth grade level, coordinating the preregistering of sixth grade students who move into the district after spring Junior High preregistration has been completed).
4. Provides consultant services to faculty and staff.

PROFESSIONAL GROWTH 

            System Support

Seeks methods by which a constant renewal, refinement, and acquisition of skills of counseling and guidance can be achieved; improvement and growth are a priority.

1. Prepares and submits to the building principal an annual performance plan, outlining the guidance and counseling goals for the year, a timeline of activities, and a method of measurement of outcome.
2. Plans for and engages in professional growth through attendance/follow-up activities at meetings, conferences and inservices.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Emotional – Maintain emotional control under stress

Physical – Moderate carrying and lifting.  Standing, sitting, walking, use of fingers, eyes and ears.

Environment – Inside normal office environment

The above statements are intended to describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not intended to represent an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.