Counselor, School (25-26 SY)

Summary: Utilizing leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, school counselors promote student success, provide preventive services, and respond to identified student needs by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program that addresses academic, career, and social development for all students. The major functions of the school counselor job description incorporate the North Carolina State Board of Education's guiding mission that every public school student will graduate from high school globally competitive for work and postsecondary education and prepared for life in the twenty-first century.

Essential Duties: (These duties represent a sample and may vary by position):

DEVELOPS AND MANAGES A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM.

• Discusses the comprehensive school counseling program with the school administrator; develops and maintains a written plan for effective delivery of the school counseling program based on the NC Comprehensive School Counseling Standard Course of Study and current individual school data; uses data to develop comprehensive programs that meet student needs.
• Communicates the goals of the comprehensive school counseling program to education stakeholders (i.e., administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community/business leaders); maintains current and appropriate resources for education stakeholders; uses the majority of time providing direct services through the Guidance Curriculum, Individual Student Planning and Preventive and Responsive Services and most remaining time in program management, system support, and accountability (National standards recommend 80% of time in Guidance Curriculum, Individual Student Planning and Preventive and Responsive Services and 20% of time in program management, system support, and accountability (American School Counselor Association, 2005);
  
  

DELIVERY OF A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM

• Provides leadership and collaborates with other educators in the school-wide integration of the State Guidance Curriculum Standard Course of Study; implements developmentally appropriate and prevention-oriented group activities to meet student needs and school goals; incorporates into their programs the life skills that students need to be successful in the twenty-first century.
• Assists all students, individually or in groups, with developing academic, career and social skills, goals, and plans; accurately and appropriately interprets and utilizes student data; collaborates with parents/guardians and educators to assist students with educational, career, and life planning.
• Provides individual and group counseling to students with identified concerns and needs; consults and collaborates effectively with parents/guardians, teachers, administrators, and other educational/community resources regarding students with identified concerns and needs; implements an effective referral and follow-up process as needed; accurately and appropriately uses assessment procedures for determining and structuring individual and group counseling services.
• Provides appropriate information to school personnel related to the comprehensive school counseling program; assists teachers, parents/guardians, and other stakeholders in interpreting and understanding student data.
• Participates in professional development activities to improve knowledge and skills.
• Uses available technology resources to enhance the school counseling program.
• Adheres to laws, policies, procedures, and ethical standards of the school counseling profession.
  
  

ACCOUNTABILITY

• Conducts a yearly program audit to review extent of program implementation and effectiveness.
• Collects and analyzes data to guide program direction and emphasis.
• Measures results of the comprehensive school counseling program activities and shares results as appropriate with relevant stakeholders.
• Monitors student academic performance, behavior, and attendance and facilitates appropriate interventions.
• Performs related duties as assigned.
  
  

Education And Experience

• Master's degree in school counseling from an accredited college or university, or Master's degree in equivalent field with add-on school counseling licensure required
• Completion of school counseling internship required
• NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI) licensure in school counseling required
• Experience as a school counselor preferred
  
  

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Knowledge of the role of a counselor and national, state and local school counseling standards and requirements, including professional and ethical standards.
• Knowledge of the use of technology in research, school counseling program development, management, and delivery.
• Knowledge of growth and developmental stages of the student population served.
• Ability to work with culturally various populations in meeting individual needs to support academic achievement and student development.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member and independently with staff, students, and parents.
• Ability to assist students in acquiring skills that maximize their personal development.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to speak effectively to both large and small groups.