An Academic or Guidance Counselor provides guidance to students in elementary, middle and high schools to help them succeed academically and socially. Works with school teachers and administrators to address problems that affect student performance, and identifies resources for students and families. Helps high school students to plan academic course work and advises on the college search and application process.
To meet and respond to the developmental and special needs of all students as well as to those of individual students.
Essential Functions:
Develops and coordinates a school counseling program that includes individualized education, career planning, and other activities necessary for a successful program. Focuses attention on every student's academic, career, and personal-social development needs and collaborates with others within and outside the school to meet them. Implements a guidance curriculum and responds to teacher invitations to provide classroom guidance lessons on topics such as character education, career and work issues, development of life skills, etc. Seeks input from and revises program to better meet the needs of the school as necessary. Provides individual or small group counseling toward social and emotional growth, new student orientation, at-risk assessment and crisis intervention to include students who are failing classes, exhibit absentee patterns, and in consultation with student's therapist. Provides goal-oriented counseling in systematic response to identified needs. Monitors student progress toward meeting all graduation requirements and works with those who face problems with sufficient credits toward graduation. Supports student's post-graduation process by building transcripts and maintaining graduation credit counts per student, counseling and advising students on the college application process, and writing letters of recommendation. Enters and tracks all data. Assists students in evaluating their aptitudes and abilities through the interpretation of individual standardized test scores and other pertinent data in order to discover and develop their special abilities. Provides information and access to additional resources on potential jobs/careers that align with student's abilities and interests. Communicates with teachers and staff members to familiarize them with the general range of services offered by the department in order to improve the educational prospects of individual students being counseled. Provides in-service training in guidance for teachers. In conjunction with the principal, periodically monitors data on student progress relating to implementation of individualized instructional or behavioral interventions and assists with modifications when indicated. Works in collaboration with others to resolve students' educational needs, including those related to IEPs and GIEPs. Coordinates opportunity for students to take assessments related to post-secondary education such as the PSAT, SAT, ACT or AP examinations. Assists with District preparation for state-mandated testing. Participates in
IEP, GIEP
meetings or Section 504 service agreement meetings, as requested. Participates in, coordinates, and maintains records on the Child Study process. Participates in Student Assistance Program. Oversees course scheduling for all traditional, nontraditional, and learning support students and confers with parents and teachers to provide support whenever necessary. Participates in student referrals to homebound instruction, alternative education, and similar out of school placements. Coordinates services and makes referrals to community agencies. Plans, schedules, and delivers crisis education and response management; provides evening parent programs and post-secondary programming to high school students. Interprets and communicates information regarding school counseling to the community as well as potential stakeholders outside of the classroom. Abides by federal, state and local school laws and regulations, mandated programs, District policies and administrative regulations. Maintains the confidentiality of student records and information as part of exercising professional duties and discretion in sharing such information.
Licenses and Certifications:
Certification in Elementary or Secondary School Counseling -
Required Required Documents:
Child Abuse, PA State Criminal History and FBI Fingerprint Clearances as required by PA School Code at time of hire. For more information on this position, please read the full description document School Counselor JD
