SCHOOL COUNSELOR

JOB DESCRIPTION OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR REPORTS TO: Principal PURPOSE: To help all students develop skills in the areas of personal-social growth, educational planning, and career and vocational development. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Must be licensed by the State of North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in counseling or able to obtain licensure in this area. School counselors shall implement a comprehensive developmental school counseling program in their schools. Counselors shall spend at least eighty percent (80%) of their work time providing direct services to students. Direct services do not include the coordination of standardized testing. Direct services shall consist of: (1) Delivering the school guidance curriculum through large group guidance, interdisciplinary curriculum development, group activities, and parent workshops. (2) Guiding individual student planning through individual or small group assistance and individual or small group advisement. (3) Providing responsive services through consultation with students, families, and staff; individual and small group counseling; crisis counseling; referrals; and peer facilitation. (4) Performing other student services listed in the Department of Public Instruction school counselor job description that has been approved by the State Board of Education. (b) School counseling program support activities do not include the coordination of standardized testing. During the remainder of their work time, school counselors may assist other staff with the coordination of standardized testing. (2013-360, s. 8.35(a); 2014-100, s. 8.33(a).) DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES MAJOR FUNCTION: Program Planning The school counselor establishes the school-counseling program and develops activities and resources to implement and evaluate the program. The school counselor involves other school staff in making decisions about the school counseling program. MAJOR FUNCTION: Counseling The school counselor provides individual and group counseling services to meet the developmental, preventive, and remedial needs of students. MAJOR FUNCTION: Consulting The school counselor consults with students, parents, teacher, and other school a community personnel to assist in meeting the needs of students. MAJOR FUNCTION: Coordinating The school counselor coordinates all counseling services for students and assists with the coordination and implementation of student services in the school. The counselor also assists teachers with the Guidance Curriculum. MAJOR FUNCTION: Student Appraisal The school counselor accurately interprets test results and other student data. The counselor also assists teachers with the educational placement of students by using appropriate educational assessment strategies. MAJOR FUNCTION: Professional Practices and Development The school counselor adheres to ethical standards of the counseling profession, and abides by the laws, policies, and procedures that govern the schools. The counselor also participates in professional associations and upgrades professional knowledge and skills when needed. MAJOR FUNCTION: Learning Management system for Online Program All online courses are taught using the Alpha Academy or other recommended Learning Management System. Counselors assigned to the Virtual Learning Program are expected to attend professional development trainings in order to be proficient in the use of the management system. MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE Completion of an approved program in school counseling at the master's level or above. Required coursework as determined by the institute of higher education approved school counseling program at the master's level or above. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment including computers, typewriters, copiers, calculators, etc. Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, and pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or composite characteristics (whether similar or divergent