26-27 SY School Counselor - Sec School Counselor 7-12

School Counselor

Provides counseling services that foster the academic, personal, social, and career development of all students. Provides individual/group counseling and guidance for students and implements broad based programs that deal with decision making, conflict resolution, self esteem, coping strategies, and other issues. Serves as both the primary agent for addressing issues that impact students at risk of failing to attain their full academic potential and the school-based resource for dealing with child abuse/neglect and crisis prevention/intervention.

Acts as a liaison between the school and various community/governmental agencies that may provide services to students and their families and participates on the school's multidisciplinary committee.

Essential Functions

• Provides general school counseling and guidance programs/services including individual and group counseling and guidance;
• Implements broad based programs dealing with decision-making, conflict resolution, self esteem, coping strategies, and other issues;
• Plans and provides classroom guidance focusing on social and emotional issues, family and/or peer relationships, and decision-making;
• Provides formal and informal counseling services to students and their parents concerning issues that are affecting or may affect the students' school adjustment;
• Serves as the primary agent for addressing issues that impact students at risk of failing to attain their full academic potential;
• Serves as the school-based resource for dealing with child abuse/neglect and crisis prevention/intervention;
• Participates in team interventions with other staff to support students;
• Participates on the school's multidisciplinary committee that includes other staff members;
• Collaborates with parents, teachers, and other staff members in the planning and implementation of a comprehensive educational program for students;
• Makes referrals to outside agencies as needed and provides ongoing follow-up services to students and their families;
• Gathers and disseminates information on critical issues such as student substance abuse, child abuse/neglect, suicide prevention/intervention, preteen/teen pregnancy, and homelessness;
• Keeps abreast of current techniques and trends in school counseling and guidance for elementary, middle, and/or high school students;
• Prepares and maintains student counseling records;
• Prepares reports on students, correspondence, and statistical summaries;
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with representatives of various community/governmental agencies to facilitate the availability and accessibility of services to meet the needs of students and their families.

For bilingual Counselors (in addition to the above)

• Communicates with bilingual or deaf/hearing impaired students/families using English and a specified world language, or English and American Sign Language or Signed English;
• Provides students and families with general school and guidance programs and services in English and a specified world language, or English and American Sign Language or Signed English;
• Creates an environment in which schools have access to bilingual counseling/guidance materials that address their needs and interests;
• Keeps abreast of current techniques and trends in bilingual school counseling and guidance.

Minimum Requirements

• Master's degree in school counseling at an accredited college or university

* Certificates/Licenses

• Possession of a valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania instructional specialist certificate endorsed for Elementary Counselor or Secondary Counselor (or Guidance Counselor Certificate issued prior to July 1, 1969) OR;
• Possession of a valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Elementary and Secondary School Counselor (PreK-12) certification OR;
• Presentation of an original, signed letter from the Certification Officer of an accredited college or university verifying current enrollment in an approved certification program in order to be eligible for an Emergency Permit.

* Note:

Certification must match the grade levels you are supporting

Demonstrated knowledge of:

• The principles, practices, and theories of individual/group counseling and behavioral intervention;
• The principles, practices, and theories or developmental/educational guidance;
• The current techniques and trends in counseling and guidance at the elementary, middle, and/or secondary level;
• Theories and principles of adolescent development, individual/group behavior, group dynamics, and interpersonal interactions;
• Communication skills and techniques;
• The current health, economic, and social problems experienced by urban families;
• The functions and resources of community/governmental agencies that provide support services for students and their families;
• For bilingual School Counselors, both English and the specified world language or English and American Sign Language or Signed English, including history and culture.

Demonstrated ability to:

• Provide counseling and guidance on an…