REPORTS TO:  Principal

FAIR LABOR STANDARD ACT:  Exempt

POSITION CLASSIFICATION:  Professional

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:  10 months

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Baccalaureate Degree in Education preferred; Master’s Degree in School Counseling
2. Valid Missouri Certificate from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
3. Teaching experience preferred
4. School Counseling experience preferred
5. Excellent written and oral communication skills

JOB SUMMARY:

The School Counselor, grades 5-8, will provide a comprehensive guidance program for all students grades 5-8.  He/she will work to help ensure their school has a fully implemented comprehensive school counseling program that supports the academic and social/emotional development of all students; through the delivery of the counseling curriculum, individual student planning, and responsive services.  The comprehensive school counseling program includes activities organized and implemented by school counselors with the support of parents/guardians, teachers, administrators and the community.

REQUIRED EXPECTATIONS:

• Be punctual and have consistent and regular attendance.
• Ensure the safety and well-being of each child by responding to their emotional, social and physical needs, as well as their education needs.
• Supports the mission of the Webb City R-7 School District.
• Supports the value of education.
• Complies with the privacy rights of students; safeguards confidential and/or sensitive information.
• Utilize developmentally appropriate practice and best practice methods at all times.
• Be warm and nurturing with students.
• Be customer service oriented and professional.
• Provide excellent customer service according to the standard of the District.
• Works to meet goals of the department and District with a spirit of cooperation.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The duties of the School Counselor will include, but are not limited to the following:

• Implement the Middle/Junior High School guidance curriculum by conducting guidance learning activities in the classroom as planned, in conjunction with school administration and teachers, and by consulting with and/or being a resource person for teachers to facilitate the infusion of guidance learning activities into the curriculum.
• Counsel small groups as well as individual students.
• Conduct structured goal-oriented counseling sessions to meet the identified needs of individuals or groups of students (i.e. self-concept, academic problems, attendance and behavior problems, peer problems, family issues, child abuse, substance abuse, suicide threats and/or attempts, sexuality issues, etc.).
• Facilitate building Student Intervention Team to help identify students who are at-risk or need academic, social/emotional or behavioral support.
• Work with parents/guardians to refer students to outside community agencies when appropriate.
• Guide and counsels groups and individual students through the development of educational plans and career exploration by providing resource and information to assist in career awareness.
• Consult with teachers, staff and parents regarding meeting the developmental needs of students.
• Conduct in-service programs for faculty; conduct and facilitate conferences with teachers, students and parents; conduct or provide opportunities for parent education programs; assist families with school-related problems.
• Refer students with severe problems to appropriate community agencies in consultation with their parents (i.e. school psychologists, nurses, administrators, community-based psychologists, service agencies, physicians, etc.).
• Evaluate and makes recommendations for guidance program revision.
• Provides orientation activities for students new to the school.
• Assist in pre-registration of students.
• Assist students in grade level transitions and into post-secondary opportunities.
• Inform students and their parents of test results and their implications for educational planning.
• Assist students with the development, implementation and revision of Personal Plans of Study, as needed.
• Attend all meetings and training sessions as directed.
• Coordinate and facilitate state testing procedures.
• Assist administrations with the distribution and interpretation of standardized test(s) scores for students and parents.
• Establish effective liaisons with the various instructional departments (I.e. acting as a liaison with various instructional departments, act as an advocate for groups or individual students as appropriate in conjunction with other staff, assist other staff in the placement of students such as special needs or gifted, etc.).
• Assist administration in coordinating counseling in crisis situations.

• Participate in informational evening sessions for parents.
• Attend IEP and Section 504 meetings as appropriate.
• Models positive behavior for students (i.e. inter-personal communication, processes, social interactions, etc.) for the purpose of providing educational and life skills training.
• Demonstrate professionalism and appropriate judgment in behavior, speech, dress and appropriate professional manner for the work setting.
• Demonstrate effective human relations and communication skills.
• Adhere to good safety practices.
• Ability to understand and adhere to all District rules, regulations and policies.
• All other duties as required or assigned.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• stand, walk, sit and talk/hear;
• occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl;
• occasionally push, pull or lift up to 50 lbs; and
• be able to see, including close, distance and depth perception.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.