Description:Middle School CounselorOVERVIEWAs a member of the school system’s counseling and guidance staff, the middle/junior high school counselor provides a comprehensive counseling and guidance program for middle/junior high school students; consults and collaborates with teachers, parents, and staff to enhance effectiveness in helping students; and provides support to other middle school educational programs.QUALIFICATIONS * Minimum of a B.S. Degree and Alabama State Department of Education Certification in the area of instructional responsibility required.

Alabama State Department of Education Certification in the area of Guidance Counseling.
Minimum of two years of successful public education teaching experience.
Must meet the suitability criteria for employment and/or certification/licensure under the Alabama Child Protection Act of 1999 and Act No. 2002-457.
Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

FLSA StatusExemptSUPERVISORPrincipalKNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES * Skills in the use of oral and written language in order to present ideas simply and clearly to students, teachers and parents.

Ability to speak in a well-modulated voice that can be heard by all students in a regular classroom environment.
Comprehensive knowledge of principles, concepts and skills in the guidance program.
Ability to create interest through the use of materials, techniques and methods appropriate to the varying abilities and backgrounds of individual students.
Skills in the use of evaluation instruments consistent with the goals and objectives.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate and implement the school testing program.
Skills in individual and group counseling for the purpose of identifying and helping students with special needs.
Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, parents and peers.
Skilled and effective in oral and written communication.
Ability to use and manage effectively technology programs including, but not limited to, e-mail, internet, STI, Microsoft Office Programs, CD-ROMS, DVDs, videos, etc.
Physical and emotional ability and dexterity to perform required work and move about as needed in a fast-paced, high-intensive work environment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS * Implements the middle/junior high school comprehensive counseling and guidance program curriculum: Conducts guidance learning activities in the classroom in collaboration with the teaching staff; consults with and is a resource to teachers. Takes a leadership role to facilitate the infusion of counseling and guidance content into the regular education curriculum.

Guides and counsels groups and individual students through the development of personal, social, educational, and career plans: Collaborates with elementary and high school personnel to assist students in making a smooth transition from elementary school to high school; provides orientation activities for incoming students and their parents; guides eighth graders in the development of their high school four-year educational plans; informs students and parents of tests results and their implications for educational and career planning; coordinates career interest assessment and interpretation of results; coordinates registration and enrollment of middle school students; coordinates the implementation of personal, social, educational, and career learning activities; provides individual assistance to students regarding personal, social, educational, and career issues.
Counsels small groups and individual students: Conducts structured, goal-oriented counseling sessions to meet the identified needs of individuals and groups of students.
Consults and collaborates with teachers, staff, and parents in understanding and meeting the needs of students: Participates in staff and team meetings; plans and conducts staff development programs and activities; facilitates conferences with teachers and/or parents and/or students; plans and conducts parent education programs; assists families with school-related problems and issues; writes articles for newsletters and other publications.
Refers students with problems and their parents to appropriate specialists, special programs, or outside agencies: Consults and collaborates with school system specialists such as school psychologists, social workers, and nurses; consults with and refers to community-based resources including psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, service agencies, and others.
Participates in activities that contribute to the effective operation of the school: Cooperates and collaborates with other professionals in enhancing the education of students; establishes and maintains effective relationships with grade levels or departments and administrators; cooperates with other school personnel in placing students with special needs in appropriate programs; interprets group test results to faculty and administration for use in enhancing instruction; communicates with administrators, teachers, staff, students, parents, and the community regarding the counseling and guidance program and its role in the educational program; coordinates the approved testing program for the school.
Plans, evaluates, and revises the counseling and guidance program: Reviews the counseling and guidance program annually with the counseling and guidance department staff and counseling and guidance program advisory committee; communicates regularly with other counseling staff to establish and maintain a sequential comprehensive counseling and guidance program; identifies student needs periodically and uses the results for program planning; establishes a planning calendar for counseling and guidance program activities; evaluates the counseling and guidance program.
Pursues professional growth: Attends local, state, and national staff development programs; joins professional counseling and guidance associations; attends local, state, and national workshops and conferences sponsored by professional organizations; reads professional journals; completes post-graduate courses.
Maintains a valid Alabama professional teaching certificate and is responsible for the renewal of the certificate.
Attends work and arrives/departs work at the appropriate times as determined by the immediate supervisor.
Takes leave time in accordance with Board policy and reports all absences to SubFinder in a timely manner.
Assumes other reasonable and equitable job-related duties assigned by the immediate supervisor.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENTThe terms of employment shall be in accordance with provisions of the Board's Policy Manual, Students First Act and the Board's Salary Schedule - Counselors.EVALUATIONPerformance of this job will be evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the Board's policy on Evaluation of Professional Personnel.SOURCE: Tuscaloosa City Schools, Tuscaloosa, AlabamaDATE: 3/29/77REVISED: 4/1/95REVISED: 9/16/04

Northridge Middle School Counselor

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