Guidance Counselor - Secondary

Location: Tappahannock

Position Type:
Student Support Services/Professional School Counselor

Date Posted:
6/10/2026

Location:
Essex High School

Date Available:
School Year

Closing Date:
Open Until Filled
Job Title: School Counselor (High School)
Supervisor: Principal
Contract Length: 240 Days
Job Classification: Exempt

Job Summary
Position is responsible for assisting students, school personnel and parents with relevant educational and personal/social goals. Develops and implement effective programs for all students while functioning as a member of a school's multidisciplinary team.

Essential Duties
The minimum performance expectations include, but are not limited to, the following functions/tasks:

Develops and provides an effective comprehensive school counseling program to serve the needs of all students.

Demonstrates knowledge of national, state, and local school counseling standards.

Provides students and families with immediate and long-range educational planning and course selection as appropriate.

Collect, analyze, and use data to develop, implement, and evaluate the school counseling program.

Provides individual and group counseling for students and ensure that at least 60% of time is devoted to counseling of students.

Works cooperatively with school personnel to foster more effective learning climates for students.

Provides workshops for parents and families to assist them in acquiring an understanding of students and techniques and strategies essential for academic and personal/social growth.

Provides consultation and in-service to give teachers and administrators in the school information, strategies, and approaches for maximizing the total development of students.

Makes appropriate referrals to assist parents/families and students to obtain the benefit from needed special school and/or community services.

Maintains accurate and appropriate records.

Provides classroom guidance for students and assist teachers with appropriate follow-up

Coordinate the registration process for students and assist with the transitional process for students.

Initiates career awareness activities within the school.

Schedules students in courses based on academic needs for graduation

Monitors and documents individual student progress toward meeting graduation requirements

Conducts annual graduation progress meetings with students and parents (grades 11 and 12) and obtains parental signature regarding progress toward graduation.

Maintains a current graduation cohort spreadsheet.

Monitors student data spreadsheets from after-school tutoring.

Monitor and record student online course progress every 4 weeks (including creating progress reports for online programs).

Maintain and review semi-annually, data related to student use of virtual/online programs.

Serve as the testing coordinator of the school.

Provides transitional counseling for students transferring into the school to facilitate a positive adjustment.

Creates and bi-annually updates academic and career plans for individual students.

Other Duties

Maintains professional competence by attending staff development programs, and other professional activities.

Participates in various student and parent activities which occur in school including PTA, student clubs and after-school activities.

Performs any other related duties as assigned by the Principal or other appropriate administrator aligned with the mission and vision of Essex County Public Schools.

Job Specifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified, to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and/or Abilities Required)
Must possess a Master's degree in education or a related field and meet the Virginia Department of Education guidelines for School Counselor. Must be eligible or possess Virginia Collegiate Professional License or Postgraduate Professional License with School Counselor endorsement. Must possess ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. Must possess the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, parents, and the public.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity to dial a telephone, to enter data into a computer;

to read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids; hear and understand speech at normal classroom levels, outdoors and on the telephone; speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in normal…