High School Counselor

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: Master’s degree in School Counseling from an accredited university.

• Certification: Valid Texas School Counselor Certificate issued by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).

• Experience: Prior experience as a high school counselor is highly desirable.

Special Knowledge & Skills

• Deep understanding of high school graduation requirements, degree plans, and transcript evaluations (e.g., Texas Foundation High School Program, Endorsements).

• Proficiency with student information systems (e.g., Ascender) for schedule changes, online course requests, and academic tracking.

• Strong knowledge of testing coordination (e.g.SAT, ACT, TSIA2).

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and crisis-intervention skills.

• Ability to interpret student performance data (such as MAPS, Star Ren, and classroom metrics) to drive student intervention strategies.

Major Responsibilities & Duties

Academic & Career Guidance

• Review, manage, and audit student degree plans to ensure compliance with graduation requirements.

• Conduct individual and group credit checks; advise students on course selection, career pathways, and endorsement tracks.

• Assist students with college readiness initiatives, scholarship applications, and financial aid processes (FAFSA/TASFA).

Social-Emotional Support & Counseling

• Provide short-term individual and small-group counseling to address student concerns, social-emotional learning needs, and peer relationships.

• Implement preventative programs dealing with peer pressure, conflict resolution, mental health wellness, and bullying awareness.

• Coordinate crisis-response intervention plans as required, working alongside district and county special services teams.

Professionalism & Communication

• Maintain absolute confidentiality regarding student records and personal issues.

• Stay current with state regulations, Texas Education Agency (TEA) updates, and professional development training.