GRASP School Counselor

RICHMOND COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM (RCSS)

JOB DESCRIPTION

OFFICIAL TITLE: GRASP High School Counselor

SUPERVISOR:
Principal

SALARY RANGE:
In accordance with RCBOE Salary Schedules


** GRANT FUNDED**

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Work Year - 200 days (10 MONTHS)

Job Qualifications

Education: Master's degree from an accredited college or university in education, school counseling, or a related field required.

Certification or Licensure: Meets Georgia state certification requirements for school guidance and counseling.

Skills: Knowledge of school counseling programs and related programs of studies. Knowledge of growth and developmental stages of children. Ability to read, take notes, and interpret written material. Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently with students, administrators, school staff, and parents. Knowledge of event planning, record keeping, and data collection. Knowledge of community resources. Ability to be self-motivated and work effectively with at-risk populations.

Ability to speak persuasively and tactfully, write professionally, and create multimedia texts. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Excellent human relations skills with the ability to establish positive relationships with many different types of individuals and groups. Must conduct self in a professional manner. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Strong time management and organizational skills. Ability to use computer programs and various software applications.

Ability to develop individualized academic and career plans for at-risk students. Familiarity with postsecondary exploration resources and FAFSA/college application processes.

Experience with monthly impact reporting, action planning, and data tracking systems.

Work Experience: Three years of successful teaching or counseling experience is preferred. Previously high school experience is strongly preferred. Prior experience working with at-risk student populations, including credit recovery, dropout prevention, or post-secondary readiness programs, is strongly preferred.

Primary Duty

This position is responsible for providing a comprehensive school counseling program that supports an identified at-risk population of students in grades 9-12 in all areas of counseling with an emphasis on community, family, and work/career skills readiness. This is a dedicated GRASP grant-funded position focused exclusively on a limited caseload of identified at-risk students. This position cannot be used for any other responsibilities or roles, including serving as a "regular" counselor or filling allotted FTE positions.

It is in addition to the school's normal complement of counselor positions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide a comprehensive developmental program of guidance and counseling to assist identified at-risk students in the areas of academic achievement, attendance, soft skills, career/educational decision-making, college readiness, personal/social development, and conflict resolution.
• Consult with parents, teachers, administrators, and supporting agencies concerning the needs and abilities of students.
• Review data to develop and inform the school counseling program and evaluate the program's impact on the school's instructional goals.
• Utilize responsive counseling, initiating individual and group sessions for students' academic, social, and personal concerns.
• Act as a consultant, to school staff, parents, and community members.
• Promote the school guidance and counseling program to students, school staff, parents, and the community.
• Conduct individual counseling with at-risk students in areas of need.
• Conduct group counseling with at-risk students in areas of educational, academic, career, and social/emotional needs.
• Coordinate with school staff to provide supportive instructional classroom activities that relate to student, academic, career, and social/emotional needs.
• Interpret results of group and individual tests for students, staff, and parents.
• Work in collaboration with the building school counselor, nurse, social worker, and community agencies.
• Serve as a member of the Student Support Team.
• Ensure at-risk students receive appropriate career development assistance. (See also item 18 for GRASP-specific postsecondary exploration activities.)
• Consult with school staff and parents on student problems and concerns as needed or requested.
• Promote the utilization of community resources, services, and agencies.
• Attend and participate in professional development activities, workshops, seminars, and conferences in order to maintain expertise in the counseling field.
• Conduct in-depth student analyses to understand population needs and establish an appropriate caseload of off-track and/or at-risk students, creating individually tailored plans and programs of study to meet each student's unique academic, personal, social, and career development needs.
• Establish and lead a comprehensive support team for each student on the caseload, coordinating services across school staff,…