Middle School Counselor For Fy2024-25

 
Job Title:                                 Secondary Counselor
Reports To:                             Principal
Site:                                         Shawnee Middle School
 
Qualifications                      
Credentials:                           Valid teacher's certificate, Oklahoma Counseling Certificate 
Education:                             Master's Degree 
 
Training or Experience Required:  Teaching certificate and three years of teaching experience with age group served.  
 
Job Summary:  Performs skilled/professional- level counseling services under limited supervision to provide individual, group and classroom counseling services that will enhance each student's self-esteem and increase personal growth.  In addition, consults with teachers and parents and other health care professionals in developing and implementing individual education programs.  Utilizes discretion, ingenuity and independent judgment.  Since there may be several ways to solve a problem, employee will be expected to bring forth recommendations.
 
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1. Communication Skills (oral, written, or business): Basic communication skills to exchange information, give/receive simple to more complex instructions and respond to inquiries.  Includes filling out forms.  Knowledge of grammatical structure, vocabulary for preparing correspondence from rough draft or proofing of completed material. 
2. Communicates in clear, grammatically correct English.  In addition to the above, composes correspondence; trains and directs others and provides complex instructions; conducts interviews.  Uses creativity and may make public speeches or presentations.
3. Data Recording/Record Keeping:  Performs data recording/record keeping operations determining what changes need to be made to existing records, including computerized records.  Most records are confidential.
4. Business Machines: Uses business machines and testing equipment requiring thorough competence and training to perform a wide variety of tests such as individual and group achievement tests and be able to interpret data from a battery of psychological assessments.
5. Reading and Interpreting:  Reads and interprets complex and sensitive and confidential records.  i.e.  Medical records, psychologicals, IEP's.  
6. Contact with Others: Has regular contact by telephone or in-person with the public to determine actual information needed.  Requires interpreting and translating facts and information, explaining situations and issues to persons and advising them of alternative courses of action. Maintains confidentiality of all information.

  Essential Job Functions (Performance Responsibilities):

1. Provides individual, small group and classroom counseling services to students as appropriate. Such counseling may involve drug counseling, self-esteem/stress, study skills, interactive behavioral skills, feelings; may involve small group sessions for those going through family crisis situations (divorce, etc); may involve parent/teacher conferences; may involve response to abuse, welfare, health concerns, pregnancy, suicide, and similar counseling.  
2. Implements needs assessment with staff and principal for each school relative to the counseling program.
3. Conducts in-service with principal and staff at each school relative to objectives for counseling program.
4. Consults with and assists teachers, principals and parents concerning referred students.  Assists with those in homebound or similar programs.
5. Coordinates referrals of students with special needs in the appropriate department or agency within the school as well as to agencies outside the school.
6. Serves as the contact person for the school from referral agencies, parents and other schools for the distribution of information and the receiving of information about students.
7. Attends workshops, in-services and conferences that are available for updating of counseling skills.
8. Conducts testing in-service and provides interpretation of group tests.
9. Performs academic counseling; schedules those for tutoring; may assist with scholarship applications.
10. Assists in registering new students, their placement in classes and orientation to school procedures.  May assist with Parent night and honors programs.  
11. At the High School, helps students evaluate career choices, disseminates occupational information, and conducts appropriate career awareness programs.
12. Remains readily available, providing counseling services that lead to increased personal growth, self-understanding and maturity for each student.
13. May oversee Peer Helper training for student advocate in mediation/conflict resolution. 
14. Provides students with guidance and counseling in order to develop a program of study.
15. Performs other duties as assigned by the Principal.

  Other Performance Measures: 

1. Knowledge of subject matter.
2. Cares for and effectively assists students with special concerns.
3. Establishes guidelines for effective counseling objectives.
4. Encourages effective learning with proper teaching techniques.
5. Ensures students are acquiring skills and knowledge to apply principles, theories and other learning.
6. Properly monitors student progress (grading, feedback, etc.) and provides environment to encourage independent thinking challenges for more motivated students.
7. Maintains proper discipline in counseling setting.
8. Contributes to effectiveness/quality of district programs, including extracurricular programs;
9. Keeps accurate records, reports, etc. pursuant to district policy.
10. Actively supports and looks for ways to improve the quality of customer service as provided by the district.
11. Cooperates with other district personnel to improve the quality of education.
12. When serving on committees, maintains an attitude of constructive/supportive behavioral feedback and input to improve the quality of service.
13. Continues to be involved in personal growth and development. 
14. Must be knowledgeable of the Districts' Exposure Control Plan regarding Bloodborne Pathogens.

Supervision exercised:  Occasionally, may be assigned by building administrator in their absence. 
 
Complies with Shawnee's Mission Statement in which students are to be provided with skills, knowledge and attitudes to become lifelong learners, complex thinkers, and responsible citizens in an ever-changing global society.
 
Physical/Mental Requirements and Working Conditions: 

1. Employee must have the dexterity to operate keyboards, computers, copy machines, and other office/instructional machines.
2. Must be able to supervise students. 
3. Must be able to communicate with student and parents.
4. Must be able to get around the classroom, media center, cafeteria, campus, etc.
5. Must be able to assist students with normal activities.
6. Able to communicate on the telephone.
7. Able to get around the various sites.
8. Able to perform playground, lunch, bus and related duties.
9. Ability to handle sick/injured students.
10. Must be able to communicate on the telephone. 
11. Must be able to get around the individual site where assigned. 

 
Terms of Employment:  Salary and benefits shall be paid consistent with the District's approved compensation plan.  Length of the work year and hours of employment shall be those established by the District. (182-day contract)
Evaluation:  Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Shawnee Board Policy on evaluation of personnel.
FLSA Status:                          Exempt
 
Revised:                                 March 10, 2020