Counselor - Chickasha Middle School

Position: Counselor - Secondary

Required Qualifications:

Master’s Degree in school counseling or related field. Current Oklahoma Teaching Certificate in School Counseling.

Primary Purpose:

The job functions of an Oklahoma school counselor include maintaining a professional identity, supporting all PK-12 students in their social and emotional, academic, and career development, and being an active school leader who is reflective about his/her comprehensive school counseling program. School counselors will align actions to the mission and vision of the district and their school.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

(Note: The listed duties are illustrative only and are not intended to describe each and every function that may be performed in the job class. The omission of specific statements does not preclude management from assigning specific duties not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.)

• Uphold and enforce board policy, administrative procedures, and school rules, and regulations, and are supportive of them to the public.

• Follow requirements as outlined in Federal, State, and District professional development.

• Use learning theory to support student achievement and success, including students with diverse learning needs.

• Use established and emerging evidence-based counseling theories and techniques that are effective in a school setting to promote academic, career, social, and emotional development.

• Use career development theories and align them with career and technical education when possible to promote and support postsecondary planning.

• Use the principles of a multi-tiered system of support within the context of a comprehensive school counseling program to provide instruction and interventions matched to student needs.

• Plan and implement a program of instruction that adheres to the district philosophy, goals, and objectives as outlined in Oklahoma and District Standards.

• Consult with other education, counseling, and legal professionals as needed when ethical and legal questions arise.

• Individual and group counseling; assists individual students in learning, personal, social, and educational problems. Provides instructional and social guidance in appropriate groupings.

• Provide assistance to teachers in studying, diagnosing, and understanding individual students in identifying the learning potential and in recognizing the instructional needs of students.

• Utilize community resources; coordination of youth service agencies in the community with the school program.

• Instructional planning and testing; assist in planning the instructional program to fulfill pupil needs.

• Use student, school, and district data to help identify achievement, attendance, and discipline issues to be addressed through instruction.

• Maintain a list of current referral resources, consistent with school and district policies, for students, staff, and families to effectively address academic, career, and social and emotional issues.

• Has an understanding of the supplemental services including but not limited to GT, SPED, EL, students experiencing homelessness, and trauma beneficial to students as an extension of general classroom activities and assessments.

• Share responsibility during the school day for the supervision of students in all areas of the school.

• Maintain appropriate work habits, including regular and punctual attendance and appropriate use of conference and planning time.

• Work cooperatively with parents/guardians/caregivers to strengthen the educational program for their children.

• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with other staff members.

• Attend staff, department, and committee meetings as required.

• Respect the confidentiality of records and information regarding students, parents, and teachers in accordance with accepted professional ethics, and state and federal laws.

• Prepare for and demonstrate an understanding of distance learning strategies and/or virtual days including but not limited to establishing a Google Classroom and providing instruction utilizing Google Meets.

• Actively participates in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) as requested by site administrator.

• Responsible for assisting the administrators in making the master schedule.

• Advise and schedule all students’ classes and provide counseling to students in choosing core, electives, career tech and concurrent enrollment courses that are appropriate for each individual.

• Monitors student transcripts and conduct credit checks.

• Distribute and collect materials required in the referral of students for testing into any special education program.

• Pre-enroll all students for the next school year prior to the end of the current school year.

• Assist Student Success Advisor in assisting students in completing his/her ICAP.

• Assist students in locating and completing scholarships and OK Promise.

• Serve as administrative designee in IEP meetings when the administrator is absent.

• Assist in the implementation of District Initiatives including but not limited to the District Strategic Plan.

• Contribute to a caring, positive school culture.

• Will demonstrate respect and dignity in the workplace.

• Use good judgment at all times.

Other Job Functions:

• To complete other tasks that may be necessary to achieve an efficient operation of the school.

• Complete reports and other job related paperwork as required, at or before the time requested.

• Attend approved professional development activities that may improve professional competence or enhance the job purpose.

Skills, Knowledge and abilities:

• Ability to administer and interpret tests and assessments.

• Exhibit leadership skills.

• Maintain the counselor’s code of professional conduct.

• Competency in individual counseling and group counseling techniques.

• Familiarity with inter-agency referral systems.

• Propensity to assume the role of child advocate.

• Computer literacy.

• Effective communication both orally and written.

• Excellent interpersonal skills.

• Ability to relate courteously with children and adults.

• Work independently.

• Plan, schedule and organize work.

• Maintain a positive learning and work environment.

• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, and policies.

• Ensure the quality of work as measured against established standards.

• Ability to facilitate the personal, social, and intellectual development of students.

• Ability to work effectively with community organizations.

• Able to react to change productively.

• Maintain confidentiality.

• Proficient in multitasking.

Physical requirements:

• Good health and high energy level.

• Ability to lift objects weighing 20 lbs or more.

• Ability to climb and descend a ladder.

• Extensive kneeling, crawling, and bending.

• Ability to tolerate a stressful environment.

• Ability to lift objects above shoulder level.

• Extensive pushing/pulling and twisting.

Coordinates With: Site Staff and Administrators, Parents, Community Stakeholders, District Staff, Coordinators, and District Administrators

Reports To: Site Administrators