Counselor (Morrilton Intermediate School, grades 4-6)

Position Title:           Counselor 

Reports To:               Building Principal and Director of Student Services

FLSA Status:             Exempt

Length of Contract:  190  (Salary and work year to be established by the Board of Education.)

SUMMARY:

The main objective of the guidance counselor is to help scholars overcome problems that impede learning and to assist them in making educational, occupational, and life plans.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:

The Counselor will be evaluated by the Building Principal using local district policies and Arkansas Department of Education guidelines.  He/she will work with scholars to promote their psychological, emotional, academic, and social well-being to promote learning and unify district initiatives, and accomplish the mission, vision, purpose, and goals of the SCCSD. 

ESSSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Other duties may be assigned.

• Meets all South Conway County School District licensed instructional staff job description criteria.
• Provides individual and small group counseling in a variety of settings.
• Consults and collaborates with teachers, staff, and parents in understanding and meeting the needs of scholars in the school setting.
• Makes appropriate referrals of students to outside community agencies and specialists.
• Participates in activities that contribute to the effective operation of the school.
• Pursues continuous professional growth to stay abreast of the field.
• Promotes an understanding and appreciation of diverse populations and cultures.
• Conducts structured goal-oriented counseling sessions/social skills training in systematic response to identified needs of groups of scholars (example: conflict resolution, peer pressure, etc.)
• Provides individual/group counseling in response to student request or IEP Team decision.
•  Provides information and skills to parents, school staff, administration and the community to assist them in helping scholars in academic, career and social development.
• Takes a leadership role in the infusion of counseling content into the curriculum, staff development and parent education programs.
• Promotes the liaison and coordination of school activities and resources and communicate between and among home, school, and community agencies.
• Assists parents in addressing school related problems and issues.  Refer students and their parents, as needed, to appropriate specialist, special programs and/or outside community agencies.
• Advocates for equal access to programs and services for all scholars.
• Delivers the curriculum in a systematic manner using diverse strategies and settings.
• Facilitates the instructional process in collaboration with school and community resources.
• Reviews the school-counseling program annually with other district counselors and administrators.  Establishes a planning calendar for activities.
• Articulates the School-Based Mental Health program to scholars, parents, teachers and staff and community.
• Develops and maintains skills needed to utilize technology systems and participate in professional development activities.
• Adheres to the ethical standards of state and national school counselor associations.
• Adheres to preferred practices prescribed by state and national school counselor associations.
• Demonstrates knowledge of local policies and state and federal law pertaining to school counseling.
• Demonstrates personal growth and professional development.
• Assists students in evaluating their aptitudes and abilities through the interpretation of individual standardized test scores and other pertinent data, and works with students in evolving education and occupation plans in terms of such evaluation.
• Remains readily available to scholars so as to provide counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.
• Takes an active role in interpreting the school's objectives to scholars, parents, and the community at large.
• Works with teachers and other staff members to familiarize them with the general range of services offered by the student personnel services department, and to improve the educational prospects of individual students being counseled.
• Initiates, assembles, maintains and interprets accurate cumulative progress records, activity records, and uniform transcript for assigned students.
• Acts as the designee, if designated by the principal, for special programs such as Special Education, Gifted and Talented, etc.
• Performs such duties, within the scope of his/her expertise, as may be assigned by the principal and/or Superintendent of Schools.
• Provides opportunities that will promote success for each student.
• Cooperates with and participates in the planning and evaluation of the school curriculum.
• Maintains professional relationships with colleagues.
• Interprets data from a variety of sources (e.g. formative, summative, demographic, etc.) for the purpose of evaluating and improving school instructional programs and interventions in all curricular areas in which students need additional supports.
• Fulfills all assignments given by the building principal.

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS, AND EXPERIENCE:

Hold a master’s degree in school counseling from an accredited college or university; Meet the certification requirements for school counselor from the Arkansas Department of Education.

 PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to stand and reach with hand and arms.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds such as books and materials. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The ability to travel to other buildings or local training sites may be required for professional development opportunities. The position requires the individual to sometimes work irregular or extended work hours in order to meet multiple demands of the position.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.  The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities (A.D.A) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.

South Conway County School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer