LR School Board Identified Job Description (Secondary)
DESCRIPTION: The position of the high school counselor is to provide a comprehensive guidance and counseling program for students in grades 9-12. The counselor provides activities to meet the needs of their assigned caseload, consults with teachers, staff, and parents to enhance their effectiveness in working with students, and provides support to other high school educational programs. These services are designed to help the students succeed emotionally, socially and academically, and to enable them to become positive contributors to society. Realizing that students must live in a global society, the goal is to help students be prepared for college, career, and life.
Reports to: High School Principal
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES
Implement the Missouri Comprehensive Guidance Curriculum as applicable to this level of student.
Guide and counsel groups and individual students through the development of educational and career plans.
Counsel small groups and individual students with problems.
Consult with teacher, staff and parents regarding meeting the emotional and developmental needs of students.
Refer students with severe problems to appropriate community resources in consultation with their parents.
Participate in, coordinate or conduct activities that contribute to the effective operation of the school.
Evaluate and revise the building guidance program as applicable.
Pursue professional growth.
Key Duties
Implement the Missouri Comprehensive Guidance Curriculum at the high school level: Conduct guidance learning activities in the classroom as planned in conjunction with school administration and teachers; consult with and/or be a resource person for teachers to facilitate the infusion of guidance learning activities into the regular education curricula.
Guide and counsel groups and individual students through the development of educational and career plans: Provide orientation activities for students new to the school; participate in orientation programs for incoming 9th graders; guide all students in the updating of their “High School Four-Year Plans”; guide 11th and 12th graders to assist them in evaluating their current status and requirements needed for high school graduation and college admissions; guide 12th graders to help them develop and take appropriate steps toward implementing their post-high school educational or career plans; assist in pre-registration of students; guide individual and groups of students and their parents in the use of test results and information for education and career planning; guide all students to develop tentative career/vocational plans through the use of resources available in the counseling center.
Counsel small groups and individual students with problems: Conduct structured, goal-oriented counseling sessions to meet the identified needs of individuals or groups of students. Session topics at the high school level may include self-awareness, self-identity, academic problems, behavior problems, peer problems, family issues, grief issues, child abuse, substance abuse, suicide (threats and attempts), sexuality issues, and similar issues.
Consult with teacher, staff and parents regarding meeting the developmental needs of students: Participate in staffings; conduct in-service programs for faculty; conduct and facilitate conferences with teachers, students and parents; conduct or provide opportunities for parent education programs; assist families with school related problems.
Refer students with severe problems to appropriate community resources in consultation with their parents: Consult and coordinate with in-district and community agencies, such as nurses, administrators, community-based counselors and psychologists, service agencies and physicians.
Participate in, coordinate or conduct activities that contribute to the effective operation of the school: Interpret group test results to faculty and staff; establish effective liaisons with all grade levels; act as an advocate for students as appropriate in conjunction with other staff; assist other school staff in the placement of students with special needs in appropriate programs such as gifted education and/or special education; participate with the administration and faculty as a team member in the implementation of the district testing program.
Evaluate and revise the building guidance program: Review periodically with staff and administration the guidance program using the Internal Improvement Review; review and modify the program calendar and evaluate guidance learning activities.
Pursue professional growth: Attend state and local staff development programs; join professional associations (MSCA, ASCA, SMSCA, MVA, AACD, etc); read professional journals; attend relevant workshops and conferences sponsored by professional organizations; take post-graduate courses as applicable.
Other duties as assigned by supervisor(s).