FY 25 School Year Job Title: School Counselor Reports to: Principal EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: * Master's degree in education or human services (guidance, counseling, etc.) field from a Professional Standards Commission approved accredited college or university required. * Minimum of three (3) years experience in school counseling is required. CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, PERMITS: Valid Professional Standards Commission approved certificate in guidance and counseling at level S-5 or above required. Under general supervision, provides students with a comprehensive guidance program that promotes self-esteem development, responsible behavior, career exploration and educational planning; provides assistance to students and parents and collaborates with community resource personnel, staff and faculty to create and assist with the development and implementation of programs and services for the school. Establishes and promotes School Guidance and Counseling programs and implements school-based written guidance plans; assesses needs, sets goals, and formulates a plan of action and program evaluation; Initiates and coordinates school-wide counseling services and activities that benefit student and staff development; Knowledge of student information system (Power School); Implements and facilitates delivery of counseling services; Conducts individual and group counseling with students in areas of need (educational, career, and personal, etc.); intervenes during crisis situations; conducts appropriate referrals and meets with school personnel, parents, and agencies as needed; Coordinates with school administrators, support personnel, teachers, and parents to provide supportive instructional classroom activities that relate to student academic, career and personal needs; Assists with coordinating state and local standardized testing of students; interprets test results and other student data; assists teachers with the educational placement of students by using appropriate educational assessment strategies; and Assists school administrators in developing allotments, class schedules etc. to meet the needs of the students. Participates in Student Support Team, RTI, and 504 meetings to address students behavioral, academic and/or speech concerns. Coordinates calendar of counseling activities for local school and guidance staff; develops beginning of year department plan; creates end of semester and end of year counseling reports. Coordinates the transition of students in preparation for promotion to the next grade level. Plan guidance field trips to schools, colleges, businesses and industry for interested students, as well as having those organizations visit the school in an annual "Career Day" program. Help students make the occupational choice, post-secondary educational choices, and career evaluations that will lead them to meaningful, successful and rewarding work. Insure that an up-to-date library of catalogs, school profiles, scholarship information, testing information, advanced placement information, etc. related to schools, colleges, and institutions offering post-secondary training and/or education is maintained by the high school. Also, insure that the school website is updated with most current scholarship information and make sure students and parents are aware that scholarship information is available on the school website. Acquaint students (and parents) with college entrance requirements, and help them to make a realistic comparison between the student's record and abilities, and the specific entrance requirements of the college in which the student is interested. Arrange conferences with students for college admission officers who visit the high school. Aid senior students with all of the processes of college application including application for financial aid where needed. Oversee the calculation of senior grade point averages and class rankings, and processing of transcripts. Prepare and supervise the processing of evaluations, recommendations, and other forms as required in connection with college applications. Maintain an up-to-date file of alumni for the purpose of improving not only the guidance and counseling services, but also evaluating the effectiveness of the high school educational program as it relates to its graduates. Must maintain a constant dialogue and communications relationship with administration, faculty, and parents so as to better meet the needs of each student. Is actively involved in and serves as a resource person for the teacher/student advisor program of the school. Recognize the extent of his/her training and refer to other specialists those pupils whose problems go beyond his/her skills. This description may be changed at any time. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee. The employee will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other related duties as assigned by the Board. Calhoun County Schools reserves the right to update, revise or change this job description and related duties at any time. The Calhoun County School System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender or disability in our educational programs or activities