About Job
School Counselor
Location: Site Level School
Reports To: School Principal
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary Range: Per WBR Salary Schedule
Terms of Employment: 9 Months/182 Days
Domains and Components will be used for the school counselor evaluation in conjunction with measures of student growth. Measures of student growth will be aligned with West Baton Rouge Parish School System’s accountability measures as outlined in the Louisiana Accountability System and the WBR Personnel Evaluation Plan.
GENERAL OVERVIEW
The School Counselor develops and implements guidance programs which assist students in making effective adjustments to the world in which they live and in and helps them achieve academically. The School Counselor must also respond to the challenges presented by today's diverse student population. Counselors do not work in isolation; rather they are integral to the total educational program. Counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic, career and social/emotional development. School counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set informed career goals and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members in their community.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
Counseling Program Vision, Strategic Goal Setting, and Action Planning:
Development and Communication of Vision- Invests in and seeks input from all stakeholders in the development of the vision for the counseling program, recognizing the importance of ownership in achieving the vision.
- Develops and communicates to all stakeholders a clear and compelling vision for the counseling program that is aligned with the school’s overall vision and goals for school improvement.
- Communicates the vision to all stakeholders through various mediums, ensuring all stakeholders understand their role and how stakeholders can support achievement of the vision.
- Goal Setting, Action Planning, and Monitoring
- Demonstrates the ability to collect, synthesize, and use both qualitative and quantitative student data from a variety of sources (e.g., surveys, academic records, attendance reports, discipline records, resource allocation information) to identify trends that impact students’ academic achievement, self-development, and growth to inform goal setting and action plans.
- Develops counseling goals and action plans that are ambitious and aspirational, aligned with the identified gaps in one or more of the following: student achievement, attendance, discipline, college and career planning, crisis prevention, and/or social development, ensuring goals prioritize closing achievement gaps.
- Monitors student progress toward counseling goals and adjusts support strategies in action plans as needed, demonstrating agility in response to changing student needs.
- Expectations
- Provides strategic, focused support for students experiencing academic and/or behavioral challenges.
- Assists students in setting academic and/or behavioral goals.
- Conducts individual and group counseling sessions with students to address identified concerns and challenges.
- Responds to immediate and urgent concerns, such as emotional crises or traumatic events.
- Uses an assessment tool to determine students’ academic and/or social/behavioral needs to identify support for students.
Student Services:
Student Support and Data Collection- Demonstrates exceptional knowledge and understanding of school counseling theories, techniques, evidence-based practices, and resources that address student challenges and established goals.
- Identifies and facilitates lessons and/or sessions that are relevant, engaging, and developmentally appropriate for students to ensure impact on students’ overall development and growth.
- Collects, analyzes, and uses student data from multiple sources to determine trends and patterns to document impact and inform next steps.
- Promotes collaboration through frequent engagement with school leaders, teachers, and other support staff to ensure the implementation of identified next steps in daily practices.
- Meeting Student Needs
- Uses multiple data sources to facilitate systematic change across multiple student need areas (e.g., discipline, attendance, course enrollment patterns, achievement, opportunity, academic, mental health and well-being, career support).
- Conducts thorough needs assessments to design targeted action plans for support, instruction, and intervention.
- Implements student support plans that include tailored interventions that are aligned to identified needs (e.g., discipline, attendance, course enrollment patterns, achievement, opportunity, academic, mental health and well-being, career support) to enhance students’ overall self-development, academic achievement, and resilience.
- Creates lesson plans/counseling sessions that are aligned to students’ well-being, and/or academic needs, providing opportunities for differentiation that accommodate various learning styles.
- Organization and Management of Time and Student Records
- Prioritizes and manages the allocation of time to optimize opportunities to address the needs of all students (e.g., use of calendars, meetings, lessons, deadlines).
- Organizes accurate records of all counseling activities.
- Maintains student documentation that is thorough, error-free, and easily accessible, including records of behavior, academic performance, and relevant communication with parents.
Leadership, Advocacy, and Reflection
Leadership and Advocacy- Acts as a system advocate for student access for all instructional programs and activities.
- Demonstrates and promotes leadership skills in advocating and fostering positive change within the comprehensive school counseling program through effective communication, responsiveness, empathy, decision-making, and adept problem-solving.
- Develops, implements, and supports effective crisis management skills outlined in the district and school crisis plan during a challenging situation to ensure effective safety measures are taken.
- Facilitates effective communication channels, coordinates resources, and leverages expertise, contributing to a cohesive and supportive response during a crisis.
- Participates in the school improvement process with the instructional leadership team to ensure the inclusion of the school counseling perspective into the development of school goals.
- Reflective Practices
- Demonstrates a profound understanding of personal values and beliefs.
- Engages in insightful and critical self-reflection and analysis of counseling sessions/lessons, identifying key moments of growth, challenges, and areas for improvement.
- Demonstrates a proactive approach to ongoing professional learning by developing a yearly professional learning plan that includes personal self-reflections, consultation, and supervision to promote professional growth and development.
Professionalism and Integrity:
Professional Behavior- Demonstrates an understanding of relevant professional codes through the application of the key principles and guidelines that govern professional behaviors.
- Demonstrates and promotes strong decision-making skills by engaging in critical thinking and/or consulting with relevant resources when faced with complex dilemmas.
- Integrity
- Serves as a role model of professional integrity, honesty, and accountability within the school community and counseling profession.
- Demonstrates and promotes accountability among teachers and staff for each student’s well-being and success.
- Initiates collaboration with other school counselors, education professionals, counseling experts, and legal professionals as a proactive measure to gain multiple perspectives.
- Confidentiality
- Models and applies legal obligations to families, teachers, school leaders, and other school staff.
- Demonstrates an exceptional commitment to maintaining client confidentiality by taking proactive measures to safeguard client information and following guidelines related to privacy.
School and Community Engagement:
Collaboration with School Personnel- Maintains ongoing collaboration with the school leadership team, teachers, and other agencies as appropriate to address student needs (e.g., academic, well-being, and/or physical).
- Establishes protocols to consult with other school personnel and community resources, as appropriate, before making a referral to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the student's situation.
- Communicates and maintains high expectations for all students.
- Collaboration with All Stakeholders
- Initiates, leads, and influences collaboration with families, teachers, leaders, other school staff, and education stakeholders that positively impact the professional environment and student success.
- Explains and provides adequate evidence of progress toward school and student goals to all stakeholders.
- Establishes strong partnerships with relevant agencies.
- Attends and meaningfully contributes school counseling expertise (e.g., crisis management strategies, mentorship, interventions) during teacher collaboration
PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES
Exhibits competency in the following areas:
- Poise and self-confidence
- Enthusiasm and optimism
- Punctuality
- Dependability
- Flexibility
- Willingness to implement recommendations
- Effective communication with students, colleagues and parents/public
- Discreet handling of confidential information
- Unbiased attitude regarding race, sex, creed, religion or disability
- Any and all other duties as assigned by the School Principal.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Must hold Counselor certification per Bulletin 746
- Possess a minimum of a Master's Degree
- Adheres to all West Baton Rouge Parish School Board’s Policies
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Medium: Exerts 20-60 pounds of force occasionally, 10-25 pounds frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly.
Note:
This job description is subject to change at any time. While this job description reflects delegation of essential duties and responsibilities, it does not exclude or restrict management’s right to assign or reassign tasks, duties, or responsibilities to this job at any time.