Middle School Counselor

Job Title : Middle School Counselor

Reports to (Title) :   Principal

Terms of Employment :

Hours per day :   8

Days per year :  190

Type of position : Full-time

Status : Exempt

General Summary :

Through leadership, advocacy and collaboration, professional school counselors promote equity and access to rigorous educational experiences for all students. Professional school counselors support a safe learning environment, work to safeguard the human rights of all members of the school community, and address the needs of all students through culturally relevant prevention and intervention programs that are a part of a comprehensive school counseling program. Assists in other school and district programs as assigned.

Essential Functions :

• Supports and upholds the mission, vision and strategic goals of Lexington County School District One.
• Effectively interacts, communicates and collaborates with students, parents, colleagues and other stakeholders to foster student learning.
• Establishes a safe, supportive, positive and productive learning environment for all students.
• Upholds the ethical and professional standards of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and other applicable professional counseling associations.
• Promotes the development of the school counseling program based on ASCA National Model, the South Carolina Comprehensive School Counseling and Career Guidance Model, South Carolina Education and Economic Development Act and school board policies. The South Carolina state model highlights six defined standards for school counselors.
• Middle school counselors must complete an Individual Graduation Plan for each 8th grade student.

Core Program Components are Define, Manage, Deliver and Assess.

Define :  Three sets of school counseling standards define the school counseling profession. These standards help new and experienced school counselors develop, implement and assess their counseling program to improve student outcomes. These are composed of Student Standards which are ASCA mindsets and behaviors for students success :  K-12 college and career readiness for every student. Professional standards include ASCA ethical standards for school counselors and ASCA school counselor professional standards and competencies.

Manage : To be delivered effectively, the school counseling program must be efficiently and effectively managed. Program focus, program domains and planning tools guide the design and implementation of a school counseling program that gets results. Program focus is composed of beliefs, vision statements and mission statements. Program domains incorporate learning to live (social / emotional), learning to learn (academic) and learning to work (career). Program planning includes school data summary, annual student outcome goals, action plans (classroom and group and closing the gap), lesson plans, annual administrative conference, use of time, calendars (annual and weekly) and school counselor advisory council. No more than 20% of a school counselor’s time should be spent in program planning and school support activities.

Deliver : School counselors deliver developmentally appropriate activities and services directly to students or indirectly for students as a result of the school counselor’s interaction with others. These activities and services help students develop the ASCA mindsets and behaviors for student success and improve their achievement, attendance and discipline. Direct student services are composed of instruction, appraisal and advisement, and counseling. Indirect student services include consultation, collaboration and referrals. A minimum of 80% of a school counselor’s time should be spent in direct and indirect student services. The national and state model identifies the appropriate and inappropriate activities for school counselors. School counselors serve all students and activities will provide brief, solution focused strategies and interventions. Time allocations may be adjusted by district or schools when supported by data. For middle school counselors, instruction time allocation is 20-30 percent, appraisal and advisement is 20-30 percent, counseling is 30-40 percent, and indirect on behalf of students is 15-20 percent. Non-school counseling tasks are duties and tasks outside the role of the school counselor and program implementation. Time allocation is 20 percent or less.

Assess :  To achieve the best results for students, school counselors regularly assess their program to determine effectiveness, inform improvements to their school counseling program design and delivery and show how students are different as a result of the school counseling program. School counselors also self-assess their own mindsets and behaviors to inform their professional development and annually participate in a state’s school counselor performance appraisal with a qualified administrator. Program assessment incorporates school counseling program assessment and annual results reports. School counselor assessment and appraisals includes the ASCA school counselor professional standards and competencies assessment and the school counselor performance appraisal template.

Minimum Education / Work Experience :

Preferred Qualification :

Knowledge / Skills :

Knowledge of the policies, procedures, and activities of the school district that pertain to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Knowledge of school policies, procedures, and operations. Ability to demonstrate proper maintenance, safe operation, and utilization of equipment, materials, and supplies used in daily activities. Ability to maintain high standards of accuracy in exercising duties. Ability to anticipate work to be completed and to complete work without the need for direct supervision. Ability to maintain confidentiality of employee and student records and information. Ability to interact and communicate effectively and professionally with supervisors, co-workers, teachers, students, and the general public.

Working Conditions :

Conducts duties in an environment with no significant exposure to adverse environmental conditions. Requires ability to perform counseling duties often subject to tight deadlines, legal ramifications, crisis and emergency issues, etc. Physical demands are restricted to work requiring occasional lifting / moving of items weighing up to twenty-five pounds. Limited travel is required.

Responsibility :

Responsible for supervising students, as appropriate, in implementing the total school counseling program. Responsible for school counseling materials and supplies budget (if applicable).

Evaluation :

Performance of this job will be evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the school board’s policy on evaluation of certified personnel.

Disclaimer Statement :

This job description is not intended as a complete listing of job duties. The incumbent is responsible for the performance of other related duties as assigned / required.