Counselor, Guidance Counselor: Social​/Educational, Education ​/ Teaching

Secondary Counselor Job Description

The Secondary Counselor works under the direction of the school principal and is supported by the Director of Counseling. The role of the school counselor is to implement a comprehensive, equity-focused, data-driven school counseling program that supports all students in their academic, career, and social/emotional development as they prepare students for success in the next stage of their lives. The ASD Counselor Contract is 195 days at 8 hours/day.

Secondary counselors implement a comprehensive counseling program and carry out the core counseling competencies as outlined by Utah Board Rule R277-464:

• College and Career Readiness - School counselors help students establish a foundation in college and career readiness by helping them identify their interests, abilities, and skills as well as explore educational and career opportunities, expectations, or requirements. In the secondary setting this includes facilitating individual and group meetings that provide student academic planning and goal setting (CCRs) and college and career exploration activities.
• Collaborative Classroom Instruction - School counselors teach the School Counseling Curriculum in alignment with Utah Core Standards, College and Career Readiness Student Mindsets and Competencies, Alpine District Vision for Learning, and Social & Emotional Well-Being Framework (Mind Up, Pure Edge, RULER).
• Systemic Approach to Dropout Prevention - School counselors provide assistance and support to students during times of transition, critical change, or other situations impeding student success. This includes, but is not limited to collaborating with families, teachers, administrators, and the community for student success, advocating for all students at student-focused meetings (SST, IEP, 504, etc.), analyzing data to identify student needs, issues, and challenges and working under the direction of administrators to improve equity and access, attainment, achievement and opportunities for all students.
• Social and Emotional Supports - School counselors support the social and emotional wellbeing of students by providing short-term individual counseling and small group counseling, crisis response, as well as implementation of suicide prevention programs.
• Systemic Program Management - School counselors provide indirect student services to effectively implement a comprehensive, systemic school counseling program and promote equity and access for all students through consultation, collaboration, and referrals.

In addition to these critical competencies, school counselors schedule students using the district SIS system, assist the administration in building school climate and culture, and perform other duties as assigned.

• Master's Degree in School Counseling and current USBE certification
• High levels of confidence in interpersonal skills, collaboration, coaching and mentoring
• Ability and experience consulting with administrators, teachers, parents, and other professionals about student concerns, prevention and intervention strategies
• Experience facilitating groups, public speaking, and conflict resolution
• Experience in working with students directly in addressing a wide range of student behaviors
• Knowledge and expertise in implementing a high functioning counseling program in a secondary setting