Director of School Counseling K-12 Unit B

Director of School Counseling K-12 Unit B

GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Director of School Counseling will have the general responsibility for all guidance services and also direct, supervise, and insure the proper and efficient operation of the entire counseling department. The Director of Counseling will devote full time to general supervision over all guidance programs and counseling services in the school system, excepting Special Education services.  The Director of Counseling will ensure all counseling faculty to participate enthusiastically and energetically in all school activities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in guidance and counseling.
• Valid license from the MA DESE as School Counselor (K-12) and Director/Supervisor.
• At least five years of satisfactory, full-time paid experience as a professional public or private school counselor.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of current trends in education including most up to date curriculum frameworks.
• Understanding of course scheduling process.
• Experience with assisting students with college application process.
• Have experience managing a budget and making sound fiscal decisions.
• Successful experience with planning and conducting meetings; and facilitation and training methodologies.
• Strong organizational skills, with outstanding attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently within a collaborative team environment.
• Comfort with handling multiple projects simultaneously as well as working with rapidly shifting priorities and targets.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to create trusting relationships

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supervise and coordinate K-12 counseling programs.
• Collaborate with staff to establish goals and objectives for each level.
• Maintain accurate academic records in accordance with DESE regulations
• Ensure that all graduates have met the High School graduation requirements
• Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of counseling services
• Collaborate with teachers, principals, counselors and other school personnel in sharing a student’s profile to establish and plan his/her respective roles in the modification of student behavior.
• Direct and monitor all aspects of the Department budget process.
• Organize, supervise, and evaluate the work of the school counselors (K-12)
• Organize and facilitate guidance PLC meetings to communicate curriculum initiatives, share ideas, and plan for ongoing improvements in the department. Ensure that these meetings are regularly held and productive.
• Foster parent awareness as well as involvement in student-centered activities.
• Develop and monitor a student record system, which assures access to current and appropriate information and data.
• Maintain an awareness of the student population and placement in various programs.
• Coordinate registration procedures in the district.
• Create and maintain a safe and collaborative learning environment that values diversity and motivates students to take academic risks, challenge themselves, and claim ownership of their learning.
• Facilitate the implementation of the curricula/programs for all students which foster increased self-awareness, academic responsibilities, career options, future planning, social and emotional growth

• Work with the principals, directors, and assist principals in planning, communicating, and evaluating the standardized assessments; this includes coordinating and administrating all testing proceedings in connection with MCAS, AP, SAT, Access, and PSAT exams.
• Cooperate with the Special Education Director to provide guidance services to students on IEP’s 
• Coordinate the high school 504 responsibilities by maintaining the files of up-to-date accommodation plans, assisting with 504 meetings/issues 
• Ensure compliance of and coordinate Title II, IX, Civil Rights and 504 training and enforce these regulations at all schools.
• Supervise the processing of school and/or college scholarship applications 

• Ensure that counselors meet the multi-faceted needs of counselees.
• Establish the value of group counseling sessions at each instructional level.
• Review and establish counselors’ role in testing programs, assuring that counselors manage testing programs as part of their regular duties.
• Demonstrate knowledge of current developments in the field through professional journals, participation in professional associations, course work and in-service offerings.
• Plan and conduct in-service training program for school counselors and teachers (e.g., director’s meetings, workshops, etc.)
• Plan for hiring and retention of high-performing counselor personnel.
• Deploy guidance staff at the high school to assist with the scheduling process.

• Assist the high school principal in the development of the master schedule

• Works closely with and seeks input from principals/designees and directors on class schedules, student registration and placement, program of studies, and cumulative record keeping for all students in the district
• Facilitate meetings with college admissions personnel or college alumni and arrange pupil conferences with these officials
• Review transcripts of incoming students and make placement recommendations to building principals and counselors.
• Initiate a tracking system for transferees, graduates and dropouts.
• Oversee career development and College Night programs.
• Monitor compliance with district, state, and federal regulations.
• Manage compliance with supervision and evaluation protocol/timelines.
• Coordinate extended learning opportunities like Early College, Dual Enrollment and After Dark for high school students.
• Articulate to other staff and the community the goals and expected outcomes of counseling program.
• Perform such other tasks and assume such other responsibilities as may from time to time be assigned by the superintendent or designee.

The Peabody School Committee reaffirms its policy of nondiscrimination related to race, religion, color, age, gender, national origin, sexual orientation or handicap in all matters involved in procuring, employing, promoting, transferring or terminating the employment of personnel. In similar manner, it reaffirms its policy against discrimination related to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or handicap in the admission, instruction, counseling or dismissal of students regarding any courses or programs offered by the Public Schools and indicates its desire that each student be provided educational opportunities consistent with his/her aspirations and abilities .The Committee further indicates its acceptance of all federal and state laws and regulations dealing with the civil rights of parents, students and employees of the School Department.