TITLE:  Middle or Elementary School Counselor

QUALIFICATIONS:          

1. The Counselor must hold a minimum of a Master’s Degree in counseling and a valid certificate from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
2. The Applicant may also be eligible for a provsional certificate through a Missouri College and has completed at minimum 7 courses.  This applicant will need to apply for the provisional through DESE. 
3. He/she should be a person able to communicate with both students and adults.

 
REPORTS TO: Building Level Principal 
 
JOB GOAL: As a member of the guidance department staff, a counselor is to provide a comprehensive guidance program for students in grades 6-8, approximately 230 students.  The counselor provides activities to meet the needs of the students, consults with teachers, staff, and parents to enhance their effectiveness in helping students and provides support to other middle/junior high school educational programs.
 
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBLITIES:
 

1. The Counselor will work in cooperation with the Administration at all times.   
2. Work assignments may include occasional data entry, report writing, and other miscellaneous designated duties as assigned by the Administration.
3. Implements the middle school guidance curriculum: Conducts guidance learning activities in the classroom as planned in conjunction with school administration and teachers, consults with and serves as a resource person for teachers to facilitate the infusion of guidance activities into the regular education curricula.
4. Guides and counsels groups and individual students through the development of educational and career plans: Provides orientation activities for students new to the school; participate in orientation programs for incoming parents and students; assist students in the transition from middle school to high school; inform students and parents of test results and their implications for educational and career planning; and provides resources and information to assist in further career awareness and career exploration activities.
5. Counsels small groups and individual students with problems: Conducts structured, goal-orientated counseling sessions to meet the identified needs of groups of students.  Session topics at the middle/junior high school level may include self-awareness, self-identity, academic problems, behavior problems, peer problems, family issues, child abuse and substance abuse, suicide (threats and attempts), and sexuality issues.
6. Consults with teachers, staff, and parents regarding meeting the developmental needs of students:  Participates in staffings; conducts in-service programs for faculty; conducts and facilitates conferences with teachers, students, and parents; conducts or provides opportunity for parent education programs; assists families with school related problems.
7. Refers students with severe problems to appropriate community agencies in consultation with their parents: Consults and coordinates with in-district and community agencies, such as school psychologists, nurses, administrators, community-based psychologists, service agencies, physicians.     
8. Coordinates, conducts, or participates in activities which contribute to the effective operation of the school: Interprets group test results to faculty and staff; establish effective liaisons with all grade levels; acts as an advocate for students as appropriate in conjunction with other staff in the placement of students with special needs in appropriate programs such as gifted education and special education; participates with the administration and faculty as a team member in the implementation of the District testing program.
9. Evaluates and revises the building guidance program: Reviews periodically with staff and administration the guidance program using the program evaluation self-study; reviews and modifies the program calendar and evaluate guidance learning activities.
10. Pursues professional growth: Attends state and local staff development programs; joins professional associations (MSCA, MVA, MACD, AVA, etc.); reads professional journals; attends relevant workshops and conferences sponsored by professional organizations; takes postgraduate courses.
11. Other duties as assigned by the Building Level Principal.

  
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Ten-month school year (200 days). 

Salary and work year to be established by the Board.
 
EVALUATION:                              

The performance of this position will be evaluated following District policy on the evaluation of professional personnel.
 
SALARY:  Determined by Teacher’s Salary Schedule.