School Counselor

HUNTINGTON COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Title: School Counselor

Terms of Employment: 185 Days

Evaluated By: School Principal

Job Summary

School counselors develop a comprehensive school counseling program to proactively meet students’ needs based on the school’s academic, attendance and behavioral data. School counselors work collaboratively to review data and develop programming that addresses students’ academic development, college and career readiness, and social emotional development. School counselors must balance delivery methods (classroom lessons, small groups, individual sessions, consultation with other professionals and referrals) in order to carry out their program. School counselors’ goals include improvement in academic, attendance and behavioral outcomes related to academic achievement, college and career readiness and social emotional development. Candidates will display natural leadership qualities and a desire to ensure equitable educational outcomes for students.

Employment Requirements

• Master's degree
• Valid educator license or permit as required by the Indiana Department of Education for the position
• Knowledge of the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) comprehensive school counseling model and the RAMP (Recognized American School Counseling Model Program) process.
• Knowledge of social emotional learning framework, including CASEL competencies.
• Knowledge of current developments in college and career readiness standards and approaches.
• Knowledge of graduation requirements and diploma types as established by the Indiana Department of Education.
• Knowledge of differentiated instruction based upon student learning styles.
• Knowledge of data information systems, data analysis and the formulation of action plans.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws regarding education and students.
• Advanced counseling skills that lead to positive outcomes in the academic, college and career readiness, and social emotional domains.
• Ability to analyze educational data.
• Ability to use computer network system and software applications as needed.
• Ability to organize and coordinate work and meet deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students and parents.
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others.
• Other duties as assigned.

Certified Employee Confidentiality Statement

As an employee of the Huntington County Community School Corporation, some job duties may involve access to information/records that are considered confidential. Employees of the school corporation respect the confidentiality of the student and follow procedures to protect privacy in accordance with current HIPAA and FERPA guidelines.

Essential Job Duties

• Uses student, school and district data to identify achievement, attendance and behavioral challenges to be addressed proactively through the comprehensive school counseling program.
• Establish, monitor, and review student four-year plans and high school diploma progress in collaboration with student and family through assisting in the course selection process with the goal of 100% graduation rate.
• Participates in the Master Scheduling process.
• Identifies student competencies to be addressed, creates lesson plans, determines to whom these lessons should target, how lessons/small groups will be delivered and how data will be evaluated to determine impact on student outcomes.
• Ensures equitable access to opportunities and rigorous curriculum for all students.
• Engages students in career exploration activities.
• Provides short term, goal-focused counseling in small group and individual settings.
• Provides tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3 support for students on topics such as bullying prevention, conflict resolution, and/or other social emotional curriculum to support students.
• Collaborates with school social worker and/or other school staff to support students and families with accessing programs offered in our community that support students’ academic achievement, college and career readiness, and social emotional development.
• Maintains familiarity with community resources and refer students and their parents/caregivers to appropriate services.
• Serves on various school committees, such as MTSS, school based leadership team, school improvement, etc.
• Collaborates with school social worker and school leaders to create procedures for individual and group referrals to the school counselor (self-referral or referral by staff members).
• Ensures that students experience smooth academic transitions (from middle school to high school, high school to post-secondary, and upon changing schools for any other reason at any time).
• Assists with the registration and orientation of students who are new to the school and supports them as they acclimate.
• Meets with students, their families/caregivers, and other school staff to better understand students’ personal, educational and college and career readiness needs.
• Coordinates with administrators and other staff members to ascertain students’ abilities and needs, including students with special needs, in order to best support them.
• Increases school-to-family connections and outreach.
• Assists with standardized testing.
• Continues to acquire professional knowledge and learn of current developments in the educational field by attending seminars, workshops or professional meetings, and by maintaining professional relationships with members of professional organizations, institutions of higher learning and the business community.
• Organizes and maintains a system for accurate and complete record-keeping as required by district procedures and applicable laws.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Essential Cognitive Factors

• Plan, organize, and schedule priorities
• Use independent judgment and initiative in making sound decisions and in developing solutions to problems
• Discreetly handle confidential and politically sensitive matters
• Make independent decisions in accordance with established policies and procedures
• Tactfully and courteously respond to requests and inquiries/complaints from the general public and staff

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff and the community

Physical Factors

Occasionally=0-2.5 hours/day; Frequently= 2.5-5.5 hrs./day; Constantly= 5.5 hrs./day) Sitting/standing- constantly

• Stooping/kneeling/crouching- frequently
• Hearing and speaking clearly- constantly
• Lifting (up to 50 lbs)- constantly

The Huntington County Community Schools assures Equal Employment Opportunities for job candidates and employees. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks. This job description is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements. However, management and administration reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary. It is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with all positions.