What are the responsibilities and job description for the School Counselor position at The SEED School of Maryland?
SCHOOL PROFILE
The SEED School of Maryland is a statewide, public, college-preparatory boarding school that opened in August 2008. The School educates and boards 400 students in grades six through twelve. The SEED School is an extraordinary educational opportunity for students across the state to receive a tuition-free, college-preparatory, boarding education.
The SEED School of Maryland combines a rigorous and engaging academic curriculum with life skills and enrichment activities to provide students with a thoughtfully balanced learning and living experience. Students and their families commit to a seven-year educational program that offers small class sizes, high quality teaching and learning experiences, mentoring, community service, and extracurricular activities such as sports and arts. The SEED School is centered around its character values: compassion, self-discipline, integrity, respect for oneself and others, responsibility, honesty, and self-determination. The SEED School staff are in partnership with parents, families, and communities to guide and support student success. The School follows a typical academic school year calendar.
SUMMARY
Under the leadership of the Director of Student Support, the school counselor (for academic program) and evening school counselor (for student life program from 4 p.m. to midnight), will Utilize leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, school counselors will also promote student success, provide preventative services, and respond to identified student needs by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program that addresses academic, career, and personal/social development for all students.
- Development and management of a comprehensive school counseling program
- Discusses the comprehensive school counseling program with the school administrator and student support team
- Develops and maintains a written plan for effective delivery of the school counseling program based on comprehensive school counseling standards and current school data
- Communicates the goals of the comprehensive school counseling program to education stakeholders
- Maintains current and appropriate resources for education stakeholders
- Uses the majority of time providing direct services through the guidance curriculum, individual student planning and preventive and responsive services and most remaining time in program management, system support and accountability
- Delivery of a comprehensive school counseling program
- Guidance Curriculum
- Provides leadership and collaborates with other educators in the school-wide integration of the State Guidance Standard Course of Study.
- Implements developmentally appropriate and prevention-oriented group activities to meet student needs and school goals.
- Individual Student Planning
- Assists all students, individually and in groups, with developing academic, career and personal/social skills, goals and plans.
- Accurately and appropriately interprets and utilizes student data.
- Collaborates with parents/guardians and educators to assist students with educational and career planning.
- Preventive & Responsive Services
- Provides individual and group counseling to students with identified concerns and needs.
- Consults and collaborates effectively with parents/guardians, teachers, administrators and other educational/community resources regarding students with identified concerns and needs.
- Implements an effective referral and follow-up process.
- Accurately and appropriately uses assessment procedures for determining and structuring individual and group counseling services
- Implements classroom guidance lessons as required by the needs of the school
- System Support
- Provides appropriate information to staff related to the comprehensive school counseling program.
- Assists teachers, parents/guardians and other stakeholders in interpreting and understanding student data.
- Uses available technology resources to enhance the school counseling program.
- Maintains accurate records of student interactions, concerns, and data related to student development and growth
- Adheres to laws, policies, procedures, and ethical standards of the school counseling profession.
- Supports, participates in, or implements, as required by the needs of the school, IEP team, Student Support Team (SST), Restorative Practices, CASEL Framework, attendance meetings and supports, and other social-emotional supports as required by the need and staffing model of the school.
- Monitor student academic performance, behavior and attendance and facilitate appropriate interventions.
- Completes other duties as assigned that are deemed necessary to support the school
- Accountability
- Conducts a yearly program audit to review extent of program implementation.
- Collects and analyzes data to guide program direction and emphasis.
- Measures results of the school counseling program activities and shares results as appropriate.
- Monitors student academic performance, behavior and attendance and assists with appropriate interventions.
EXPECTATIONS
- Commitment to the mission and vision of The SEED School;
- Ability and willingness to be flexible in a start-up boarding school;
- Comfort functioning in a fluid environment, and ability to make adjustments both in day-to-day and larger-scale activities based on new information and situations;
- Demonstrated leadership in building and sustaining a professional collaborative culture among faculty;
- Experience and leadership with urban education issues, preferably direct experience with inner city students and families;
- Commitment to excellence, equity, and high expectations for students and faculty;
- Ability to make fair and equitable decisions;
- Ability to work with multiple agendas, tasks, leaders, and professionals in service to the achievement and development of every student;
- Unquestioned integrity; and
- Clear judgment
QUALIFICATIONS
Experience & Education:
- Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, or Master equivalent in applicable field of education from an accredited college or university
- Holds or is eligible for an Advanced Professional Certificate appropriate to area of assignment issued by the Maryland State Department of Education
- Dual certification in content and special education preferred
Computer Skills
- Proficient in MS Office Suite; and
- Internet savvy and skilled with technology.
Requirements
- The School counselor must be able to work a rotating schedule to support our boarding model (8am-4pm) 12-8pm.
- Able to attend all professional development days.
