Long Term Substitute School Counselor - Ponaganset Middle School

Foster-Glocester Regional School District is currently accepting applications for a highly effective school counselor who wants to work as a collaborative member of a team to lead and support in our middle school. Our learning community of educators, students, and parents is one of the best kept secrets in RI. Located in scenic Northwest Rhode Island, Ponaganset Middle School serves approximately 420 students. Our school is staffed by a dedicated team committed to advancing learning and teaching in a collaborative, relevant, and personalized 1:1 blended learning environment Ponaganset Middle School is a member of the Association for Middle Level Education, New England League of Middle Schools, League of Innovative Schools and fully embraces middle-level practices. The current school building was built and opened the doors to students in September 2007. Our middle school has six team suites (a group of five classrooms organized around a central meeting room) to support and enhance our middle school teams. We have strong academic, music unified arts, and athletic programs. The school sits on more than 50 acres of a living campus that supports learning in and out of school. Our school has built in common planning time for teachers, advisory for students, an enrichment period, and supports for students who are struggling and students who excel. GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: The school counselor works cohesively as a member of a team with staff, colleagues, and administrators to develop, implement, and continuously a comprehensive counseling system that advances a personalized, rigorous, relevant, and collaborative learning environment supported by technology. The school counselor works to ensure the school district graduates globally competitive students proficient with the 21st Century Skills and work habits needed for success in post-secondary education, careers, and life in a global economy. SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works under the supervision of the district and school administrators with latitude to exercise independent professional judgment that supports the mission of the district and school. Work is subject to periodic review and evidence of ongoing professional growth is required. Job performance will be evaluated per the RIDE guidelines and district policy for adherence to professional standards of conduct and quality. REPRESENTATIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Actively participate in and positively support all school and classroom functions needed to achieve the mission of the district and meet the learning needs of students, including, but not limited to, the following: REPORTS TO: Building Principal and/or designee REPRESENTATIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 1.Serve as a member of a professional learning community to provide a collaborative, rigorous, relevant, and personalized education supported by technology that purposefully prepares students for college and careers; 2.Collaborate with colleagues, administrators, and others to develop, implement, and evaluate a Comprehensive School Counseling (CSC) model aligned to ASCA standards. 3.Work with colleagues and administrators to develop and implement ASCA aligned school counselor curriculum and services-including the Individualized Learning Plan, policies, procedures, and other components-to meet the needs of the school community. 4.Provide students, families, and staff with accurate information about Ponaganset’s programs and course offerings that lead to college and careers, assist students in the purposeful selection of courses aligned to their academic/career/personal goals, and input student course selections into the student information system used to create the master schedule; 5.Provide students and families with school counselor-related information about college and career opportunities, mentoring, apprenticeship, scholarships, dual enrollment, online learning, etc., and related application processes through college / career fairs, presentations, individual appointments, and print and electronic media; 6.Assist students with scholarship, college entrance, financial aid, career, and apprentice applications to assure completeness, accuracy, quality, and timeline adherence; 7.Provide individual and group services to students related to academic planning and success, career awareness and preparation, and social/emotional development as needed to meet student, school and district goals; 8.Conduct structured goal-oriented counseling sessions in response to identified student needs relating to academic skill building, social skill development, conflict resolution, and family issues, among others; 9.Prepare and communicate information to students, teachers, staff, parents, the community, and post-secondary entities through presentations, print and electronic media; 10.Monitor the record system (cumulative) of students to ensure accurate, relevant, up-to-date information is maintained and support the release of student records to authorized agencies, educational institutions and individuals in accordance with governing laws and policies. and take necessary precautions to protect students privacy, health, and safety; 11.Advocate and support equitable access to programs and services for all students during / after the school day; 12.Develop, compile, and interpret academic and other performance data relating to student pass/failures, college credit, industry certifications and share results with students, parents/guardians, staff, and others as appropriate; 13.Assist in the planning, scheduling, and proctoring, as appropriate, of State and local assessments that include, but are not limited to ACT, PSAT, SAT, ASVAB, etc.; 15.Pursue continuous professional growth and participate in required and voluntary professional development to stay abreast of the field and to develop and maintain skills needed to utilize technology systems; 16.Promote and support the coordination of school activities and resources and communication among home, school, community agencies and business and industry and refer students and their parents to appropriate specialists, special programs and/or outside agencies; 17.Collaborate with teachers, staff and parents to meet the needs of students in the school setting through MTSS, Alternative Learning Programs, and other student support systems; 18.Use data to document the results of strategies and interventions that are used to improve student career/academic performance and report the results of program and student outcomes data; 19.Take a leadership role in the infusion of counseling services into the course curricula, advisory, staff development and parent education programs; 20.Actively participate in department meetings and activities, and shared decision making that contributes to the effective operation of the district, school, and counseling department; 21.Participate, as requested, in the process to recruit, screen, interview, and recommend new staff; 22.Organize and facilitate the transition of students from elementary to middle school. 23.Attend occasional meetings beyond the regular school day to perform the duties of the position; 25.Perform the function of the position in accordance with all governing laws, regulations, school board policies, administrative directives and procedures and the goals of the department, school and/or district; and 26.Any other related duties as may be assigned. The job description is intended for our use so that we mutually understand the responsibilities of the position. The description of tasks is not intended to outline every last detail of the position and the functions of the position are not limited to those referenced within the job description.