Secondary School Counselor (Grades 7-8)

For the start of the 2025-26 school year, the Dallastown Area School District has an anticipated vacancey for a School Counselor for our Middle School (Grades 7-8).

As a valued team member with two other counselors, you will play an integral role in inspiring and creating pathways for student success through academic, career and personal counseling for your assigned students. You will help them overcome problems that impede their learning and assist them in making educational and life plans that hold promise for their personal fulfillment as mature responsible adults.

Benefits, as provided to professional employees, would be available on your start date and would include health, dental and vision insurances, paid leave (personal and sick days), and immediate/continued inclusion in the Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS), among many others.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's Degree
• PA Certification: Educational Specialist -
  • Secondary School Counselor 7-12 (1837) or
  • Elementary & Secondary School Counselor PK-12 (1839)
• Knowledge of adolescent growth and development, counseling techniques and approaches, educational psychology, learning theory, career development, and group and individual testing in order to make use of test data and psychological assessments.
• Preferred experience in counseling students in the areas of personal, social, vocational and educational development.
• Demonstrated ability to relate positively and work cooperatively with students, teachers, administrators, and families.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide individual counseling services to the pupil in relation to his/her school experience, progress in learning, and interactions with his environment.
• Provide group counseling to small groups of pupils with common needs or problems.
• Provide guidance and counseling services consistent with pupil needs and development.
• Provide classroom guidance presentations as needed.
• Provide immediate and emergency intervention to those students who are temporarily incapacitated by trauma or serious emotional distress.
• Work with the instructional support teacher and be an active member of the support team.
• Serve on programs and/or committees that affect the students’ well-being, such as, Situation Management Team and the Safety Team.
• Interpret test results to students, parents and/or staff as needed.
• Continue to evaluate present programming and review student needs to initiate programs that would benefit their well-being.
• Serve as a referral agent or as a consultant to teacher and administrator in effecting a proper referral of children with problems.
• Coordinate prevention services for students (i.e., conflict resolution, victim assistance, etc.).
• Organize and coordinate the Student Assistance Program, to include teacher training, target groups, and overall operation of the program.
• Provide continuing help to teachers and administrators as they seek to meet the needs of all children. This could include help to the teacher and/or administrator in his contact with pupils, sharing knowledge of child development, sharing knowledge of “At-risk” children, interpreting test results, assessing the individual child’s potential and achievement, and assisting in differentiating instruction to meet the needs of students.
• Provide individual consultation to the parent in relation to the pupil’s school experience and factors related to the child’s academic, social and emotional progress.
• Provide information about available counseling programs and, if necessary, outside agency services.
• Aid students in course selections and schedule development.
• Help build a positive partnership between the home and the school for the most effective growth and development of students.
• Help to resolve students’ educational handicaps, to discover their special abilities, and to prevent students from failing or dropping out of school.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Principal/Supervisor of Pupil Services.

Minority candidates are encouraged to apply. EOE.