About Job

SUMMARY

The High School Counselor at Richmond High School serves as a student advocate, providing comprehensive support to maximize students' personal growth, potential, and academic achievements. The counselor collaborates with educators, parents, and the community to implement a developmental counseling program addressing academic, career, and personal/social development of all students.

The position reports to the Superintendent or his/her designee.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Academic Advising and Support

Guide students through the development of individual academic plans based on their strengths, interests, and goals.
Monitor student progress toward graduation, including credits earned, course sequencing, and standardized testing requirements.
Assist with course selection each semester, ensuring students are enrolled in appropriate and challenging coursework.
Collaborate with teachers and administrators to identify students in academic distress and develop intervention strategies.
Support students in exploring dual enrollment, career and technical education (CTE), and early college opportunities.

Career Readiness and Postsecondary Planning

Lead efforts to expose students to a variety of college and career pathways, including trades, military service, and apprenticeships.
Facilitate career assessments and interest inventories to help students understand potential occupations aligned to their strengths.
Assist students and families with college applications, financial aid (FAFSA), scholarship searches, and postsecondary transition planning.
Coordinate career fairs, guest speakers, workplace visits, and job shadowing opportunities in collaboration with local businesses and organizations.

Social-Emotional Development and Support

Provide individual counseling sessions for students dealing with personal, family, behavioral, or emotional issues that may impact their academic success.
Implement group counseling and classroom lessons on topics such as conflict resolution, stress management, peer relationships, and self-esteem.
Support students through grief, trauma, and crisis situations by providing immediate counseling and connecting families with outside resources.
Promote a positive school climate by fostering a culture of respect, inclusivity, and emotional well-being for all students.

Crisis Response and Safety

Act as a first responder in student crisis situations (e.g., suicidal ideation, abuse disclosure, threats of violence), ensuring appropriate documentation and referrals.
Work closely with the building principal, school social worker, and school resource officer to maintain student safety and adhere to crisis response protocols.
Participate on the school’s behavioral and threat assessment teams to evaluate student risk and develop support plans.

Program Coordination and Leadership

Develop and maintain a comprehensive school counseling program aligned with the ASCA National Model and the Michigan Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Program.
Use data to track student progress, identify trends, and report outcomes to administration to support school improvement goals.
Maintain accurate, confidential student records in compliance with FERPA and ethical guidelines set by the Michigan Department of Education.
Serve as the 504 Plan coordinator for high school students, including plan development, compliance monitoring, and communication with stakeholders.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

Partner with parents and guardians to support student development and coordinate school-home interventions.
Collaborate with teachers, administrators, and school psychologists to support students with IEPs, behavior plans, and tiered interventions.
Act as a liaison to community agencies that provide mental health, substance abuse, housing, and other support services for families in need.
Engage in professional development to stay current on best practices in counseling, career readiness, and adolescent development.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Certification

Master’s degree in School Counseling (or currently in a program) or a related field.
Valid Michigan School Counselor License (SCL) or School Counselor Endorsement (NT) on a teaching certificate (Or currently working towards teh endorsement).
Compliance with Michigan Department of Education requirements for school counselors.

Experience and Skills

Experience in a school counseling setting preferred.
Strong understanding of adolescent development, counseling techniques, and educational systems.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Ability to work collaboratively with students, staff, parents, and community members.
Proficiency in using technology for data management and communication.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Full-time position (1.0 FTE) during the academic year.
Standard school hours with occasional evenings for meetings or events.
Work is performed in a school environment with frequent interaction with students, staff, and parents.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

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

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to author reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups, staff, parents, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory in specific field. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, and the community. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to fifty pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

COMPENSATION. The compensation is outlined by the collective bargaining agreement with the Richmond Education Association (REA).

APPLICANT SUBMISSION

Anyone interested in applying for this position should submit an application via TalentEd online application system at this link: https://richmondcsd.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx

Questions may be directed to:

Brian J. Walmsley, Superintendent/Interim Director of Human Resources

bwalmsley@richmond.k12.mi.us

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title II of the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, and Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1977, it is the policy of the Richmond Community School District that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, religion, military status, national origin or ancestry, sex, disability, age (except as authorized by law,) height, weight, or marital status be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to, discrimination during any program, activity, service or in employment. Should you need to contact someone about discrimination of any kind in the school district, contact the Superintendent at 35276 Division, Richmond, MI 48062.