Secondary Guidance Counselor

Summary:  To provide counseling, consulting, organization, guidance and coordination in the social-emotional, academic, and career domains.

Essential Job Functions: 

Personal

• Provide short-term individual counseling services to students
• Conduct small group counseling sessions as needed
• Encourage goal setting through individual and group activities
• Express concern for the sensitivity to the needs of all students regardless of their race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability
• Provide 9th grade transitioning once the student is at the high school

Educational

• Take primary responsibility for registration and schedule changes/conflicts for all students
• Provide ongoing information regarding graduation status
• Work with students on post-secondary planning, applications, scholarship information and recommendations
• Organize, administer, and/or interpret district testing programs and college boards
• Update and post pertinent scholarship and financial aid information
• Provide access to scholarship information through the Counseling Center and internet

Career

• Provide career and educational programs to students in the classroom setting
• Disseminate and/or coordinate information for college/career days
• Update college and career information files
• Guide students in accessing career information in library, Counseling Center, and internet
• Provide 11th and 12th grade advising for post-secondary plans

Parents

• Consult and assist parents in decisions regarding the educational and emotional development of their child
• Plan and conduct parent groups on pertinent topics
• Encourage parent communication to facilitate home/school contacts
• Conduct 4-year plan of studies meeting with 8th or 9th grade parents and their students

Staff

• Arrange parent, teacher, administrator, agency, and student conferences as needed
• Consult with teachers and provides information and in-service relevant to improving the educational environment
• Assist teachers and AEA personnel in placing students in appropriate educational programs
• Assist teachers in utilizing and interpreting the district's testing program
• Work courteously and cooperatively with other staff members regardless of their race, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or national origin

Community

• Serve as liaison between school and authorized agencies
• Address community organizations on pertinent school counseling issues when requested
• Provide school-to-work assistance and programming

Other

• Attend workshops and meetings for professional and personal growth
• Collect and organizes data for state and district reports, accelerated classes, advanced placement classes, and special education programs
• Provide input through membership on various district and high school educational committees
• Conduct ongoing evaluations of the counseling and educational programs
• Perform such other duties as are assigned by authorized representatives of the School Board

• Maintain a positive rapport with students, staff, parents and the community
• Cooperate with and work in a courteous manner with co-workers and other personnel
• Demonstrate a positive attitude toward school, students and job and communicate the same to the community
• Accept constructive criticism and suggestions and seek to improve each performance responsibility
• Maintain confidentiality in the school operation
• Adhere to applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations, board policies and administrative rules

Qualifications:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  

Education and Experience:

*Iowa Professional Service License and a Master's degree in School Counseling.

Physical Requirements:  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk freely throughout the school.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment:  While performing duties of this job, the employee is exposed to various classroom temperatures.