Job Description:

Position Summary:

The primary responsibilities are to provide a comprehensive counseling program for all students and consult with teachers, parents, and staff to enhance their effectiveness in helping students grow socially, emotionally, personally, and educationally.   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, career and person/social development for all students.  The counselor collaborates with staff to co-plan, co-deliver, and individualize instruction for all students in a class;  work together creatively to accommodate special needs, diversity and educational backgrounds of the students; and overcome instructional challenges constructively. The  counselor is a hardworking, goal-oriented and enthusiastic professional with excellent subject knowledge and a sound understanding of the Missouri Learning Standards and Common Core State Standards.

Position Responsibilities:

• Implement a school college and career curriculum
• Conduct individual student academic planning, assist students in evaluating interests, abilities, skills and achievement, assist students in goal setting based on academic, career and social/emotional data
• Lead professional development sessions with teachers and support staff around credits, college and career readiness, and personal plans of study
• Assist with ACT planning, preparation, and testing
• Meet with students and parents to complete the following:
  • Individual Plans of Study
  • Schedule Courses that Align with Individual Plans of Study
  • Develop a Post-Secondary Plan
    • Discuss and Plan Post-Secondary Options and Goals
• Counsel individuals and groups of students through the development of educational, personal, social, and career plans
• Consult with and train teachers, parents and staff regarding children’s needs in the areas of trauma, behavior, social, and emotional development
• Refer children with problems and their parents to special programs, specialists and other outside agencies
• Participate in and coordinate activities that contribute to the effective operation of the counseling program
• Provide support and assistance to students and families as they navigate crisis and emergency situations
• Help create and sustain a positive learning environment for all students
• Assist in creating and implementing behavior plans for identified students
• Provide outlets and avenues for students to communicate with staff, serving as a liaison to empower students, develop leadership skills, and build healthy relationships built on trust.
• Demonstrate gains in student performance
• Participate in meetings, training and professional development
• Meet professional obligations through efficient work habits such as: meeting deadlines, honoring schedules, coordinating, etc.
• Act in a professional and ethical manner at all times and comply with school policies, procedures, and expectations.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by their supervisor
• 
  Skills and Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s Degree required, Master’s Degree preferred
• Minimum five years of school counseling experience preferred
• Strong familiarity with education and child welfare policies and best practices and a motivation to continue expanding that knowledge base through self-study and interaction with peers.
• Desire to continue professional development
• Excellent organization skills and an ability to coordinate multiple tasks and activities
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills and an ability to keep multiple stakeholder groups, including parents, teachers, staff, volunteers and partners, informed of critical issues, activities and schedules.
• An ability and enthusiasm for promoting the school and its mission to a broad and diverse group of people.
• Excellent work ethic, positive attitude, flexibility and willingness to perform tasks assigned
• Demonstrates ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students and teachers in the school environment and community.
• Must pass an extensive background check.