QUALIFICATIONS: (1) Master's Degree or higher with major in guidance and counseling; (2) Certification in elementary guidance and counseling by Kentucky Department of Education; (3) At least three years successful classroom teaching experience at the elementary level.
JOB GOALS: (1) Strives to implement the school's philosophy of education, instructional goals and objectives in all contacts with parents, teachers and other professionals; (2) Coordinates a well organized program of guidance/counseling services which provides individual counseling, group counseling and preventative group guidance sessions with each class at least once a month; (3) Provides up to date career and vocational information appropriate to the age of the student; (4) Assists the students in the development of understanding of themselves in relationship to their abilities, interests and achievements; encourages self-direction, decision making and problem solving; promotes wholesome attitudes and concepts about the student and others and assists students in their search for ways of improving their approach to learning.
CHARACTERISTICS: As part of his/her responsibilities, the elementary school counselor must demonstrate the following characteristics:
(1) listens well; (2) has respect for confidentiality; (3) organizes his/her work and resources; (4) is willing to continue formal and informal education in order to improve counseling skills; (5) deals successfully with both large and small groups of students and adults; (6) has a good self concept and is able to help students improve their owns self concepts; (7) possesses excellent oral and written expression skills.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
(1) CLASSROOM GUIDANCE: Takes counseling to the classroom by providing classroom guidance at least once each month in each classroom;
(2) SMALL GROUP: Initiates small group sessions for students on various significant topics when needed.
(3) INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING: Counsels children individually about a variety of concerns, development tasks and problems when requested.
Students receiving individual or small group guidance/counseling may be referred by parents, school staff, themselves, community agencies or through counselor initiation.
(4) CONSULTATION: Be available to teachers and parents in a consultants role, relative to children's growth and development, a specific problem or any school-related student concern.
(5) SCHOOL ASSESSMENT COORDINATOR: Serves as the school assessment coordinator for standardized testing and interprets test data to teachers and parents as needed.
(6) ORIENTATION: Coordinates and is involved with kindergarten and new student registration, orientation and acclamation of their new school environment. Assists and plans in the transition of students from the elementary school to the middle school. Assists in the orientation of new faculty members.
(7) RECORDS: Assists with the maintenance of the permanent records system and helps provide information for the placement and scheduling of students in classes appropriate to their needs. Interprets permanent record data to parents/guardians upon request. Acts as health record coordinator for the school and is the liaison with the school nurse to insure needed services are provided.
(8) PARENT EDUCATION: Conducts group sessions for parents at times when parents can attend as the need arises.
(9) GUIDANCE PROGRAM NEEDS ASSESSMENT: Periodically collaborates with students, school staff, parents and community representatives in assessing student needs and utilizes the data to plan and evaluate the guidance program.
(10) OTHER DUTIES: Helps the principal deal with crises situations; will function as the individual in charge in the principal's absence; within the framework established by the principal; performs other guidance duties as assigned by the principal; performs other duties as assigned by the principal; supports and promotes teachers; selects and attends appropriate workshops, meetings, conferences, etc., in order to fulfill the Effective Leadership Hours as required by the State and District; goes beyond the call of duty in order to get to know the students; is highly visible throughout the building to students, staff and parents.