The School City of Hammond embraces its diversity and communicates consistently high expectations. SCH provides a rich and challenging learning environment that encourages academic excellence and the development of talents that prepares students to make positive contributions to our world. District leadership provides continuous, system-wide, professional growth opportunities enhanced by technology and guided by data-driven, research-based strategies, assessments, and timely interventions. Highly effective teachers and support staff collaboratively utilize best practices to maximize student growth and achievement. Supported by the pillars of sound, fiscal management, accountability, and community partnerships, SCH maintains a focus on transparency and good stewardship.

The School City of Hammond values:

• A highly qualified, highly effective, and culturally diverse staff.
• The cultivation of internal leaders.
• Facilities that are clean, safe, and orderly, that facilitate optimal learning and promote the emotional and physical wellness of students and staff.
• A technologically integrated curriculum.

Purpose of Position:

Utilizing leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, school counselors promote student success, provide preventive services, and respond to identified student needs by implementing a comprehensive school counseling program that addresses academic, college and career readiness, interpersonal and intrapersonal development and social emotional learning for all students.

Basic Functions:

The School Counselor is responsible for developing, implementing and managing a comprehensive school counseling program to serve the academic, social emotional, along with college and career readiness developmental needs of students enrolled in the School City of Hammond. To ensure success, School Counselors should be accessible and authentic with excellent communication skills and a profound interest in helping students to attain their academic and career goals. Candidates will display natural leadership qualities with problem-solving and conflict resolutions skills. We are looking to hire a School Counselor with outstanding assessment and listening skills. The School Counselor will provide counseling and college and career readiness services to facilitate self-understanding, responsibility, social and emotional awareness, decision-making, development of values, and attainment of attitudes and skills necessary for the success of each student.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Develop knowledge of the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) National Standards

• Using data to develop and evaluate the program’s impact on the school’s goals
• Establishing personal objectives and developing a plan for implementation and evaluation of those objectives
• Communicating and sharing the goals of the comprehensive school counseling program to stakeholders including students, families, staff and community partners
• Working cooperatively with the principal and/or his/her designee in the performance of the school counselor responsibilities
• Proctoring assessments, gather and interpret test data to assist with the analysis of results
• Assisting in the administration of school basic testing program and interpret the test results to students, parents, and staff members, if applicable
• Serving as a resource in the formation of the master schedule as called upon by the administrator
• Using the majority of time (80%) to provide direct services to students through preventive and responsive services, including individual student planning, and use the remaining time in the development and management, system support and accountability
• Conducting individual and/or group counseling sessions to advise and assist students with academic, college and career readiness, social-emotional learning and social/personal concerns
• Planning, coordinating and providing classroom sessions to meet the identified counseling competencies in the areas of academic achievement, college and career readiness, education development, and personal and social emotional development to assist students in developing decision-making skills and identifying life goals
• Consulting with families and staff to appraise student needs and interests to discuss appropriate recommendations for educational options
• Assisting in the development of a career pathway for each student and assist in providing the proper placement services for students with special needs
• Collecting and disseminating to students information concerning programs and courses offered in the local school, the Hammond Area Career Center, 21st Century Scholars, Educational Talent Search, continuing education, and future career opportunities while collaborating with parents, teacher, community organizations and all stakeholders in working to maximize the opportunity for development in each student
• Attending staff professional development and city-wide meetings and conferences approved by the principal and participating in meetings which foster professional growth
• Working closely with ancillary and professional personnel responsible for student attendance, discipline, health, safety and welfare
• Intervening during crisis situations and participating on the school crisis team
• Promoting equitable access to opportunities and rigorous curriculum for all students
• Preparing students for the transition to the next level: middle school, high school and post high school activities/options
• Working closely with those in the school in charge of data processing for assured accuracy on individual student records, including grade reporting, directory information, graduation requirements, student program changes, class rank, grade point average, transfers, cumulative record information for students, sharing appropriate data with authorized persons and scheduling new enrollees
• Assisting in the enrollment, withdrawals, programming, introduction, and orientation of students new to the school
• Providing current information on college admission and college and career readiness opportunities
• Reviewing student transcripts and providing placement, college, and employment recommendations

• Participating in school management teams in order to advocate for student needs and provide guidance for school staff
• Valuing and promoting an understanding and appreciation of diverse populations and cultures
• Implementing and facilitating educational and training workshops for school staff related to the school counseling program and supporting student achievement
• Conducting at a minimum a yearly program audit to review the extent and quality of program implementation
• Implementing a Student Support Team Meeting (SST) twice a year to share the design and implementation of the school counseling program with stakeholders identified on your ASCA Framework Form
• Using all available data, including grades, discipline referral and attendance data, to identify students in need and to deliver services
• Other duties assigned by Administrator

Requirements

• Three (3) years of combined teaching and/or counseling experience preferred
• Developing knowledge in curriculum development and/or administration
• Valid Indiana Counseling Certification

Physical Requirements:

Candidate should be physically capable of successfully performing the essential functions of the position.