School Counselor

Description

The School Counselor reports to the Principal/School Director of the assigned Charter School and is responsible for providing emotional, mental, and professional support to students, and guides them through steps to promote their positive behavior.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following is an explanation of the duties of the School Counselor.  It includes the major highlights of the requirements of the position.   There should be a clear understanding that the duties outlined below are not all encompassing.   Additional responsibilities may be assigned to the School Counselor as required.

1. Develop, deliver, evaluate and revise the school counseling program.
2. Assist students in the areas of academic, social, behavioral, and emotional development as well in career awareness.
3. Collaborates with parents/Guardians and educators to assist students with educational, career and life planning.
4. Provide individual and small group counseling to students with identified concerns and needs.
5. Consults and collaborates effectively with parents/guardians, teachers, administrators, and other educational/community resources regarding students with identified concerns and needs.
6. Consult and collaborate with teachers, staff and parents in understanding and meeting the needs of students in school setting.
7. Accurately and appropriately interprets and utilizes student data.
8. Implements an effective referral and follow-up process as needed.
9. Make appropriate referrals of students and parents to outside agencies.
10. Participate in activities that contribute to the effective operation of the school.
11. Monitor and advises students of their progress and provide on-going communication with parents.
12. Accurately and appropriately uses assessment procedures for determining and structuring individual and group counseling services.
13. In collaboration with teachers, parents, and staff, prepare students for transition to the next levels.
14. Provides appropriate information to school personnel related to the comprehensive school counseling program.
15. Participates in professional development activities to improve knowledge and skills.
16. Uses available technology resources to enhance the school counseling program.
17. Adheres to laws, policies, procedures and ethical standards of the school counseling program.
18. Conducts a yearly program audit to review extent of program implementation and effectiveness.
19. Collects and analyzes data to guide program direction and emphasis.
20. Measures results of the comprehensive school counseling program activities and shares results as appropriate with relevant stakeholders.
21. Monitors student academic performance, behaviors, and attendance and facilitates appropriate interventions.

PROFESSIONALISM -Interpersonal/Teamwork

1. Maintains positive and professional relationships with colleagues, children and parents.
2. Contributes as a team member and actively collaborates with others to meet the mission and goals of the Charter School.

Work Habits

1. Knowledgeable and supportive of the Charter School's policies and procedures, including those in the Policy and Procedure Manual, and implements them consistently.
2. Knowledgeable of laws, regulations, and standards pertinent to his or her work and demonstrates compliance.
3. Demonstrates integrity by striving for safe and effective service delivery, as well as accurate, timely and complete documentation.
4. Contributes to maintaining a ‘Culture of Safety’ for students, parents, colleagues and visitors.
5. Reports to work, as well as all meetings and appointments, in a timely manner.
6. Dresses appropriately and professionally based on scheduled activities of the given day.  Strives to serve as a role model to clients.

Professional Development

1. Participates in individual supervision as scheduled by supervisor.
2. Accepts and follows suggestions, directives, and requests to perform additional duties willingly and flexibly.
3. Consults his or her supervisor or others, as appropriate, for collaborative problem solving.
4. Exercises sound judgment, knowledge, and creativity in decision making.
5. Takes on personal development and building a learning environment.
6. Completes and demonstrates competency in all mandatory trainings as identified by the organization including knowledge of child and adolescent growth and development.
7. Participates in additional trainings as identified in supervision or by external licensing contractual, and accreditation organizations.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The School Counselor will work indoors, outdoors, on campus and off campus with frequent stressful situations.
• There is a 37.5 hour plus work week that includes occasional weekend and evening work.

SALARY IS COMMENSURATE WITH EXPERIENCE

Benefits package includes:
*Health, Dental and Vision Coverage *Short & Long Term Disability *Life Insurance - We offer a life insurance policy that covers $10,000 *Retirement Benefits

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education, Training and Experience

1. Bachelor’s Degree in guidance in counseling, in psychology, in social work, in education or related field from accredited university or college required.
2. Bilingual (Spanish and English) preferred
3. Knowledge of child development - specifically of physical, emotional, and developmental patterns.

​​​​​Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations

Pennsylvania Teacher’s Certificate as a School Counselor required