High School Counselor

The vision of the Arlington Public Schools is to be an equitable educational community where all learners feel a sense of belonging, experience growth and joy, and are empowered to shape their own futures and contribute to a better world.

High School Counselor Description:
High school counselors are educators uniquely trained in child and adolescent development, learning strategies, self-management, and social skills who understand and promote success for today’s diverse students. They implement a school counseling framework to support students through this important developmental period (ASCA, 2019).

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Use school counseling research-based standards and competencies to inform the implementation of a comprehensive school counseling framework.
• Create systemic change through the implementation of a comprehensive school counseling framework.
• Provide appraisal and advisement to all students through large group, classroom, small group and individual settings.
• Implement a developmentally appropriate school counseling curriculum to all students.
• Collaborate with teachers, families and other staff on early identification and intervention of children’s academic & social-emotional needs.
• Consult with families, teachers, administrators, and supporting agencies in regards to the students’ academic & social-emotional needs.
• Make referrals to appropriate school and community resources.
• Provide short-term small group and individual counseling to help students learn coping skills for personal, social, academic, and family concerns.
• Develop and implement action plans aligned with annual student outcome goals and student data.
• Collaborate with middle school staff to assist students in making a smooth transition to high school; and provide orientation activities for incoming students and families.
• Consult and be a resource for teachers. Take a leadership role in seeing the infusion of counseling content into the curriculum.
• Provide family education materials and programming, helping families with school-related problems and issues (e.g., college nights, financial aid nights, career fairs).
• Work collaboratively with school psychologists, social workers, school nurses and other agencies to provide multi-tiered systems of support to students & families.
• Participate in team meetings, student strategy teams, and 504 meetings as appropriate.
• Guide high school students starting in 9th grade to help them develop their postsecondary educational/career plans, coordinate career assessments & interpret results to help students in their planning.
• Provide individual assistance to students regarding their academic, career and social-emotional needs.
• Review and evaluate student transcripts.
• Review credits, grades and transcripts with students, helping them meet graduation requirements and develop academic plans for success and future career planning.
• Provide college & career counseling to all students. Provide information on scholarships, NCAA requirements, financial aid and college fee waivers.
• Assist students in preparing for and navigating the college admission process.
• Review the comprehensive school counseling framework annually, revising it as needed and planning yearly/monthly calendars of counseling program activities as well as conducting annual needs assessments.
• Advocacy for all students for fair, just and compassionate treatment, including of high needs populations and families.
• Advocate for rigorous courses and higher education for underrepresented groups.
• Use data to identify gaps in achievement, opportunity and attainment.

Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in School Counseling, DESE School Counselor license
• Training and/or experience with college and career equity counseling or experience.
• Demonstrate knowledge and expertise with the Mass Model and the ASCA National Model
• Demonstrate knowledge of best practices and methodologies in school counseling, aligned with current state and national standards
• Ability to work cooperatively with school leadership, staff, families and the community
• Ability to utilize technology and data to address student and department needs
• Superior communication skills (oral and written)
• High standards of ethics, honesty, and integrity

Arlington has a well established new teacher induction program with mentoring throughout the school year.

Salary and Benefits are consistent with the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Arlington School Committee and the Arlington Education Association.  

The Salary Schedule is on our website.  Salary placement is based on Education and Experience. 

The Arlington Public Schools are committed to creating an inclusive and safe learning and working environment that reflects a diversity of perspectives, values, and experiences. We welcome staff who are aware of the role that bias and prejudice play in society, are creative and willing to try new approaches, and are reflective about their daily practice. We are looking for candidates who welcome a challenge, are eager to collaborate and contribute to the success of students, are ready to engage in two-way partnership with families, and who will contribute their diverse talents to the organization as a whole.