PROFESSIONAL STAFF APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
A letter of interest, resume, transcripts, Commonwealth of PA Professional Certificate and/or Praxis Scores, three (3) letters of recommendation less than one year old, Acts 34, 114, 151 clearances less than one year old, Act 24, Act 126 Certificate and Act 168 disclosure release(s).
Primary Purpose:
To meet and respond to the developmental and special needs of all students as well as to those of individual students. As needed, the School Counselor will facilitate the transition of students from school to community by implementing the person-centered planning process in support of students’ job and adult placement. Under the supervision of the Principal, the School Counselor will coordinate transition activities within a team comprised of the student, parent/guardian, educators and service providers to ensure that transition activities and services are addressed and implemented for each eligible student.
Qualifications:
- PA Certification in Elementary or Secondary School Counseling
- Valid Professional Education License endorsement in one of the following areas: Pre-vocational Coordinator or Vocational Coordinator, preferred
- Experience within a youth program, emphasizing transitioning from school to work, preferred
- Familiarity with career and vocational services for youth
Essential Functions:
- Develops and coordinates a school counseling program in conjunction with the Advisory Team 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.
- Abides by federal, state and local school laws and regulations, mandated programs, District policies and administrative regulations.
- 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.
- Maintains and updates the website and forms as required.
- Plans, schedules, and delivers crisis education and response management; provides evening parent programs and post-secondary programming to high school students.
- Coordinates services and makes referrals to community agencies.
- 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.
- Provides in-service training in guidance for teachers.
- Enters and tracks all data and scheduling related to cyber students.
- Oversees course scheduling for all traditional, nontraditional, and learning support students and confers with parents and teachers to provide support whenever necessary.
- Communicates with parents, teachers and staff members to familiarize them with the general range of services offered by the department in order toto improve the educational prospects of individual students being counseled, including program and services offered within the district, community and state agencies.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Interprets and communicates information regarding school counseling to the community as well as potential stakeholders outside of the classroom.
- Meets the requirements of the district regarding all phases of the transition/career pathway process.
- Serves as a District liaison with area businesses, advisory groups, and agencies to encourage the further development of school-to-work opportunities and career pathways.
- Assists District personnel with all aspects of transitional planning.
- Implements developmentally appropriate transitional goals.
- Investigates and shares ideas regarding post-secondary options and adult services and networks with all appropriate community agencies and organizations.
- Network with parent groups for the purpose of informing them of community and state services available to students post-secondary.
- Plan and implement parent support groups about community services and opportunities to support students with disabilities.
- Develop rapport with students in order to mutually explore career options and interests.
- Keep classroom instructors informed of your input and status of each student assigned.
- Communicate and inform students of career options and available resource.
- Conduct peer group sessions to problem solve employment issues.
- Coordinate job coaching, work sites and individual placement of students referred for transition services.
- Communicate and perform visits regularly to monitor placement of students, address concerns and evaluate effectiveness of placement.
- Work collaboratively with administrators and staff to improve the transition/career pathway services program.
- Assist principal in establishing formal agreements and documents between employer and the student that will validate work experience.
- Participates in student referrals to homebound instruction, alternative education, and similar out of school placements.
- Maintains the confidentiality of student records and information as part of exercising professional duties and discretion in sharing such information.
- Maintain a cooperative, enthusiastic, constructive attitude toward teaching and carry out assignments professionally and efficiently using good communication skills with students, staff and parents.
- Assist in maintaining student data/records and support guidance and administration procedures for student placement.
- Maintain appropriate confidentiality of all student- related information or data
- Plan, conduct and supervise students/chaperones on approved field trips, excursions, and educational tours.
- Submit accurate, legible, and complete information on forms, requisitions, reports, records, surveys in a timely fashion as requested by administration or guidance.
- Responsible for the safety and welfare of student at all times within the school setting, on school property and on approved outings and/or field trips.
- Ensures there is proper supervision for students at all times.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Performs in accordance with school policy, administrative regulations, state and federal laws.
Temperament:
- Ability to work as a team member and independently
- Must possess excellent interpersonal skills.
Specific Skills:
- Planning/organization skills
Other Skills and Abilities:
- Follow written and verbal directions
- Work with minimal supervision
- Exercise good judgment in prioritizing tasks
- Communicate effectively at all organizational level
- Perform duties according to District policies and state and federal regulations
Evaluation:
Performance of this job will be evaluated annually in accordance with the provisions of the applicable policies of the Ringgold School District and/or Pennsylvania Department of Education.
This job description does not state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. The employee in this position will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by his or her supervisor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the required duties.