School Counselor - Middle School

SIDNEY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
JOB DESCRIPTION

MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELOR

Grades 5 - 8

Reports to:
Principal

Job Objectives:

Provides guidance and encouragement to help students develop responsible behaviors and resolve problems that impede learning. Works with colleagues to ensure the provision of all services mandated by state and Federal law. Helps students evaluate and make appropriate choices in the pursuit of academic and vocational goals. Actively encourages parental involvement.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Holds a valid State of Ohio school guidance counselor certificate/license.
• Meets all mandated health requirements (e.g., a negative tuberculosis test, etc.).
• Provides documented evidence of a clear criminal record.

Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

The following skills and duties are representative of performance expectations. A reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform essential functions.

• Consults with administrators and staff to identify, evaluate, and implement guidance strategies that meet the age appropriate needs of students.
• Helps parents and students understand academic and behavioral objectives.
• Helps students think of school as a positive experience.
• Works with teachers to plan and carry out developmental activities that advance students emotional development and interpersonal relationships. Helps students better understand themselves and others. Encourages responsible citizenship.
• Strives to develop rapport with students, staff, parents, and the public. Responds to requests and complaints promptly and tactfully. Is receptive to constructive suggestions. Respects the personal confidences and privacy needs of individuals.
• Communicates high expectations for students. Helps students understand the relationships between subjects and why learning is important. Helps students understand their personal responsibility for setting goals and achieving academic and vocational success. Shows an active interest in their progress.
• Helps maintain a positive learning environment that stimulates student interest, enthusiasm, and inquisitiveness about subjects and events.
• Assists students with the development of appropriate study skills. Consults with parents to identify strategies to help students experiencing learning difficulties.
• Helps communicate school rules to students. Maintains high standards for student conduct. Upholds the student conduct code according to district policy. Protects the due process rights of students.
• Requisition s essential supplies and equipment necessary to carry out the guidance activities.
• Seeks and uses community resources that enhance guidance activities (e.g., parent volunteers, service groups, organizations, businesses, etc.).
• Incorporates the effective use of available technology and media resources in guidance activities. Closely monitors student use of E-mail and the Internet.
• Helps students develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Serves as a resource for students seeking additional information or trying to improve skills.
• Organizes and maintains complete and accurate records, reports, and inventories, as required by law, district policy, or administrative directive. Submits all reports on time. Protects the confidentiality of privileged information.
• Helps maintain continuity and facilitates the transition process for students entering or leaving the school program. Helps with the registration, scheduling, orientation, and follow-up of new students.
• Assists with the development and use of a comprehensive pupil appraisal and record keeping system. Interprets standardized test results. Helps teachers and parents identify individual differences and clarify the expectations they hold for each student.
• Coordinates the proficiency testing programs.
• Provides information services to students, parents, and staff (e.g., program options, testing procedures, etc.). Helps students select and schedule elective courses.
• Assists the principal with the development of the master schedule as directed.
• Assists teachers working with students on career planning activities. Helps students explore and formulate individual career plans…