ALBANY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE

Laramie, Wyoming

JOB DESCRIPTION: Secondary Counselor

POSITION SUMMARY:

• The Secondary Counselor is responsible for providing academic and career guidance and personal counseling to students in an effort to build self-esteem, help students cope with problems in the school setting and with home situations, and provides students with information they need to be successful academically and personally. To respond to the individual needs and abilities of students, the Secondary Counselor must work closely with the staff and administration.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Secondary Counselor:

1. Administers and interprets assessments of students. *

1. Provides intervention strategies through developmental counseling, group counseling (including whole-class instruction), individual counseling, and crisis counseling/interventions. *

1. Develops and maintains a program which meets student’s needs by being accessible to students, initiating contacts with students who need assistance, working with the parents and families of students in need, connecting parents/families of students in need to resources available to them, and assisting in education planning and placement with students. *

1. Participates in IEP meetings and provides counseling required by individual students’ IEPs. *

1. Serves as a consultant to classroom teachers and administrators. *

1. Assists students in overcoming problems that impede learning and assists students in making sound education/post-high school choices. *

1. Assists teachers in the development and implementation of curriculum modifications and appropriate classroom strategies. *

1. Refers students and their families to appropriate community agencies and services and cooperates with such agencies serving students and families. *

1. Follows the policies and procedures of the school(s) and the District. *

1. Maintains accurate and complete records, including testing and other relevant records. *

1. Ensures that confidentiality is maintained for sensitive records and other information. *

1. Responds appropriately to student behavior in the total school environment by enforcing school rules in hallways, on the grounds, and other areas of the school. *

1. Participates in professional growth (such as professional organizations, coursework, workshops, and conferences) and other professional activities (such as school and/or District committees, taskforces, in-depth studies, or councils). *

1. Demonstrates a sense of professional responsibility, such as demonstrating ethical behavior; providing accurate data and reports when needed; meeting deadlines; maintaining confidentiality; caring for the equipment and materials; and dressing appropriately; exhibiting sensitivity to those with special needs; maintaining good professional relationships with parents and community members; and presenting a good role model. *

1. Other duties as assigned.

* Denotes essential functions

(The tasks listed under the heading of Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities are examples of the variety and general nature of duties performed by employees in positions allocated to the classification. This specification should not be interpreted to describe all the duties which may be assigned to an employee at this level.)

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Ability to develop and maintain a positive relationship with students; ability to use effective communication skills; knowledge of an ability to use counseling strategies and techniques; knowledge of special education law and regulations; ability to use time effectively; good organizational skills; ability to maintain a positive relationship with other staff by collaborating and working cooperatively with them (including supervisors); knowledge of physiological, psychological, emotional and educational behavioral development of children and/or adolescents; ability to lead meetings; ability to help groups achieve consensus; and knowledge of the various categories of disabilities and educational programs appropriate for students with those conditions.

ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:                  Master’s Degree, a Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) Certificate with an endorsement as a school counselor, or candidates may hold professional licensure as a counselor issued by the Wyoming Boards or Mental Health Practitioners.

Work Experience:      Experience as an educator or related-service provider is preferred.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES AND WORKING CONDITIONS:

-       The Physical Abilities and Working Conditions listed in this section are representative of but are not intended to provide an exhaustive list of Physical Abilities and Working Conditions which may be required for this position.  Albany County School District #1 encourages persons with disabilities who are interested in employment for this position and need reasonable accommodation of those disabilities to contact the Chief Human Resources Officer for further information.

-                Vision: (which may be corrected) to read small print; view a computer screen for prolonged periods.

-                Hearing: (which may be corrected) to answer telephones and tolerate exposure to noisy conditions.

-                Speech: to be understood in face-to-face communications; to speak with a level of proficiency and volume to be understood over a telephone.

-                Upper Body Mobility: use hands and fingers to feel, grasp, and manipulate small objects; manipulate fingers, twist and bend at the wrist and elbow; extend arms to reach outward and upward; use hands and arms to lift objects; turn, raise, and lower the head.

-                Strength: to lift, push, pull and/or carry objects which weigh as much as 15 or more pounds on a frequent basis.

-                Environmental Requirements: encounter constant work interruptions; work cooperatively with others; work independently; work indoors and outdoors.

-                Mental Requirements: read, write, understand, interpret, and apply information at a moderately complex level essential for successful job performance; math skills at a high school proficiency level; judgement and the ability to process information quickly; learn quickly and follow verbal procedures and standards; give verbal instruction; rank tasks in order of importance; copy, compare, compile, and coordinate information and records.

-                Additional Work Conditions and Physical Abilities: May require travel to multiple sites.

EVALUATION

-       Evaluation of this position shall be by the Principal/Assistant Principal.

Salary : $47,500 - $79,296