School Counselor Guidance Specialist
About the Employer
Job Summary
Warren Woods Tower High School is seeking a student-centered, collaborative school counselor who is passionate about helping students achieve academic, career, and post-secondary success. The successful candidate will work closely with students, families, staff, and community partners to support student achievement, well-being, graduation, and future planning.
Endorsements
Must have valid teaching certificate with NT endorsement or valid school counselor license.
Counseling Activities
• Counsel groups or individual students in the exploration of career pathways and opportunities that encourage student access to a diverse range of professions and industries.
• Counsel students concerning courses to take to fulfill WWTHS graduation requirements and career goals.
• Update EDPs annually.
• Counsel small groups and individual students with problems; refer severe problems to appropriate community resources and other support staff (i.e. social worker, psychologists, care, school resource officer).
Collaboration and Communication
• Consult with teachers, staff, and parents regarding the developmental needs of students.
• Evaluate and revise, as needed, the building comprehensive guidance counseling program.
• Conduct counseling activities in the classroom in conjunction with administration and teachers.
• Consult with teachers to facilitate the infusion of counseling learning activities into the regular education curricula such as job preparedness, completing applications, interviewing skills.
Support Services
• Assist teachers with the continual evaluation of student performance in accordance with established criteria.
• Respond to crisis situations when appropriate; be a member of WWTHS crisis team.
• Proctor local, state, and national assessments; assist with training in test taking skills.
Community Engagement
• Attend 8th grade orientation at high school, and other evening parent information meetings.
• Initiate and maintain an effective relationship with colleges and universities.
• Institute needed programs and projects such as college night, class night, promoting WWTHS culture day, follow-up study of all graduates, and group counseling on common problems such as leisure activities, violence prevention, respect, and responsibility.
Administrative Support
• Prepare applications for scholarships, financial aid, and related activities for college-bound youth.
• Assist in the preparation of the master schedule.
Professional Development
• Participate as a member of the school's professional learning community.
• Respond promptly to students experiencing immediate needs or crisis situations, providing appropriate support and intervention.
• Assist in the planning, coordination, and execution of commencement ceremonies and related senior activities.
Education and/or Experience
Master of Arts degree in Comprehensive Guidance Counseling and Counselor Endorsement.
Other Skills and Abilities
• Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program;
• Ability to plan and implement the comprehensive guidance and counseling program and school objectives, and the needs and abilities of students to whom assigned.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, peers, and parents;
• Skill in oral and written communication.
Working Conditions
Minimum qualifications: Skills, knowledge, and abilities: Knowledge is required to perform basic math, including calculations using fractions, percentages, and/or ratios; read technical information, compose a variety of documents, and/or facilitate group discussions; Ability is required to schedule activities, meetings, and/or events; Flexibility is required to work with others in a wide variety of circumstances; Ability is also required to work with a diversity of individuals and/or groups;
• Skills are required to perform multiple, highly complex, technical tasks with a need to periodically upgrade skills in order to meet changing job conditions.
• Specific skill-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include applying assessment instruments; operating standard office equipment including using pertinent software applications; and preparing and maintaining accurate records.
• Specific knowledge-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include appropriate codes, policies, regulations, and/or laws; age-appropriate activities; content knowledge; lesson plan requirements; stages of child development; and behavioral management strategies.
• Gather, collate, and/or classify data;
• Use job-related equipment.
• Analyze data utilizing defined but different processes;
• Operate equipment using standardized methods.
• Work with data of varied types and/or purposes;
• Utilize specific, job-related equipment.
Problem Solving
Problem solving is required to analyze issues and create action plans. Problem solving with data frequently requires independent interpretation of guidelines; and problem solving with equipment is moderate. Specific ability-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include establishing and maintaining relationships;
• Adapting to changing work priorities;
• Maintaining confidentiality;
• Exhibiting tact and patience;
• Working flexible hours;
• Ability to withstand the physical and mental rigors of teaching.
Preferred Qualifications
Preference will be given to candidates who possess the following qualifications: Prior experience as a high school counselor; Knowledge of the Michigan Merit Curriculum and Michigan Department of Education (MDE) graduation requirements; Experience supporting college and career readiness initiatives; Proficiency with Powerschool student information system; Experience facilitating professional learning for staff with an emphasis on social-emotional learning (SEL);
• Experience implementing and supporting a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) within a school setting.
Responsibility
Responsibilities include: Working under limited supervision using standardized practices and/or methods; Utilization of resources from other work units is often required to perform the job's functions. There is opportunity to significantly impact the organization's services.
• Directing other persons within a small work unit;
• Tracking budget expenditures.
Working Environment
The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: Some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; Generally, the job requires sitting, walking, and standing. This job is performed in a generally clean and healthy environment. Noise level may vary from quiet to loud in varying degrees. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Duties are performed mainly indoors and occasionally outdoors.
• Significant fine finger dexterity.
Physical demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, talk, hear, walk, and sit; The employee is directly responsible for safety, well-being, or work output of other people. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with students, the public, and other staff.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 50 lbs such as boxes of books and educational equipment.
• The ability to adjust focus.
Note
This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.