Secondary Counselor - Middle School (24-25)

NORTHWEST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
Job Title: Secondary Counselor (0300)
Reports To: Principal
Dept. /School: Campus Assigned
Wage/Hour Status: Exempt
Duty Days: 205
Pay Grade: A30
Date Revised: 06/2023
Primary Purpose:
Work with school faculty and staff, students, parents, and community to plan, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program at school assigned. Counsel students to fully develop each student's academic, career, personal, and social abilities and address the needs of special student populations. Focus on four component parts that meet the needs of students, parents, teachers, and administration while serving the purpose of the school. The guidance curriculum encompasses structured developmental guidance experience provided systematically through groups to promote growth of the effective aspect of human development. Responsive services are reactions to immediate needs and concerns of individuals whether these concerns involve information, counseling, consultation or referral. Individual planning refers to the activities designed to help students monitor and direct their own learning ad personal development. System support activities are those that establish, maintain, and enhance the preceding three guidance areas.
Qualifications:

• Master's degree in school guidance counseling
• Valid Texas counseling certificate
• Knowledge of counseling procedures, student appraisal, and career development
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to instruct students and manage their behavior

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Provide guidance activities or units in the classroom.
2. Implement a comprehensive and balanced counseling program.
3. Conduct groups for students with identified interest/needs.
4. Provide group teacher advisement by service as an advisor to small groups of student advisees,
5. Coordinate peer programs by selecting, instructing and supervising students helping students. The scope of the peer program depends on the needs of the students but may include study skills, tutoring, peer facilitators and career development.
6. Conduct group counseling sessions for those students experiencing problems or difficulty in handling normal developmental tasks.
7. Provide individual counseling by giving empathy and support to students experiencing problems, while also assisting students in identifying the problem and its causes, alternatives, possible consequences and to take action when appropriate.
8. Provide consultation with parents, teachers, other educators, and community agencies regarding behavior change strategies for resolving student problems.
9. Maintain and disseminate to students current information related to self-exploration, career information, occupational information and community resources.
10. Provide referral sources by utilizing professional resources of the school and community.
11. Provide proper placement for students by assisting students in exploring, selecting, and following through on alternatives in order to achieve life goals.
12. Assist students in assessing their unique characteristics through inventories, interviews, etc., and in processing information about themselves.
13. Read and interpret transcripts at the high school level.
14. Develop the campus guidance program by assessing the guidance needs of the students, faculty and community and design a guidance program addressing the expressed needs.
15. Evaluate the guidance program through various processes to determine if it is on target and goals will be accomplished.
16. Plan and implement staff development related to guidance.
17. Develop appropriate materials for staff development, classroom guidance, and group guidance sessions consistent with guidance program goals.
18. Plan and lead guidance programs for parents, which may include information dissemination and/or skill building to help them become more effective parents.
19. Serve as a member of the attendance committee.
20. Serve as a public relations person to promote the guidance program.
21. Adhere to ethical and legal standards and model behavior that is professional and responsible.
22. Participate in professional development to improve skills related to job assignment.
23. Participate as member of the campus crisis team.
24. Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Duties:
Assigned counseling aide(s) and clerical employees
Equipment Used:
Personal computer, printer, copier, and fax machine.
Working Conditions:
Maintain emotional control under stress. Frequent prolonged and irregular hours. Occasional district and statewide travel. Position may require bending, stooping, twisting, pulling, overhead reaching and keyboarding.
This document describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned, alternative methods of performing your duties, or skills that may be required.