TITLE:                    Junior High School Counselor

REPORTS TO:           Building Principal

JOB GOAL:

To provide a comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program for students; to

consult with parents/guardians, teachers, and other school staff members to enhance their

effectiveness in guiding and supporting students in progressing through the grade levels in

planning their careers; to provide support for other education programs in the individual schools

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

N/A

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:               Other duties may be assigned.

• Program Development and Evaluation
  • Organizes a guidance committee that functions in an advisory capacity
  • Develops a guidance calendar of activities that lists on-going and regular events and activities
  • Secures and makes available to students information and material on further educational opportunities, personal growth and development, and occupational opportunities and trends
  • Develops procedures for programs
  • Implements the guidance curriculum in each teacher’s classroom and/or systematically conducts developmental counseling programs for each grade level in schools throughout the year
  • Provides resources to teachers to facilitate their teaching of counseling content in their regular lessons
• Counseling and Consultation
  • Provides time in the daily schedule for individual counseling for students
  • Plans and implements group guidance activities
  • Consults with families, teachers, administrators, and other appropriate individuals regarding services and programs available to/for students
  • Prepares a list of contact personnel in agencies, programs, and services external to the school setting for collaboration and referral
• Student Appraisal
  • Interprets test results to appropriate individuals
  • Assists in identifying students that need special services
  • Assists in reviewing students’ progress at the end of each grading period
• Academic Advisement and Educational and Occupational Planning
  • Assists with registering and orienting new students
  • Provides orientation to students from feeder schools
  • Conducts course selection
  • Provides students with materials and information on school district policies regarding counseling services, student activities, competency and grade level testing, graduation, and college admission requirements
  • Provides students with materials and information regarding career and post high school educational opportunities; assists with college application, scholarships, and employment applications including the writing of letters of recommendation
  • Informs families of student-related career and educational opportunities
  • Consults with administrators and teachers in the planning of course offerings that meet the needs of interests so students
• Referrals and Follow Up
  • Receives and acts upon referrals from administrators, teachers, families, agencies, and other professional staff
  • Assist families in effective use of community and school resources such as identification of students needing special assistance; maintaining a current file of alternate programs and schools
• Professional Responsibilities and Development
  • Organizes office for effective use and prepares/submits reports, records, lists, and other paper work
  • Participates in meetings on the local, district, state, or national level as required
  • Keeps informed of developments within the profession by maintaining active membership in appropriate organization, attending professional meetings, reading professional journals and other publications
  • Adheres to district policies, procedures, and administrative directives
  • Communicates effectively using standard oral and written English
  • Abides by the American School Counselor Code of Ethics
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

Master's degree in guidance and counseling from an accredited college or university; Experience preferred but not required. Possession of (or eligible for) a valid regular Mississippi educator license in guidance and counseling.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and analyze, and interpret general business periodicals professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations;  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals;  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of administrators, staff, and the general public.

• MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume;  Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

• REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions;  Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

• PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk or listen. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach, bend, and sometime lift up to 25 pounds. Mobility skills are necessary to access a variety of work locations.

• OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES

Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory in specific field;  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff and the community;  Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form;  Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.

• WORK ENVIRONMENT

The employee will work in an environment adhering to school board policy. This position may require work hours that vary as a result of evening activities or emergencies. In addition, job requirements may require work on weekends, holidays and attendance at meetings.  

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

Employee acknowledges that he/she is required to maintain a high standard of professional conduct in compliance with the Mississippi Code of Ethics. Breach of said professional conduct includes but is not limited to: neglect of duty, dishonesty, and engagement in acts that are contrary to VWSD policy, unlawful activities, or any other conduct which is seriously prejudicial to the school district.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

205 Days