ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide comprehensive guidance program for student’s school-wide, helping teachers improve classroom management and provide quality instruction to assist students in achieving high academic standards.
• Provide activities to meet the needs of students.
• Consult with teachers, staff and parents to enhance their effectiveness in helping students.
• Respond to mental health needs of students, staff, and families related to incidents of school violence, crime, accidents, terrorist activities, or other traumatic events in the school and community.
• Work with teachers and other staff to develop and implement targeted or school-wide programs to improve school functioning, school safety, and student mental health.
• Guide and counsel groups and individual students through the development of education and career plans, offering information and guidance on post-secondary education and training options, and assisting students and their families in meeting the financial requirements for post-secondary education. Provide resources an information to assist in career awareness and career exploration activities.
• Assist students and their families to overcome personal problems or disabilities that affect students' academic achievement and relationships with peers, family members, and others.
• Counsel small groups and individual students with problems.
• Consult with teachers, staff and parents regarding meeting the developmental needs of students.
• Provide a list of resources to students with several problems as to appropriate community resources in consultation with their parents.
• Conduct guidance activities in the classroom as planned in conjunction with school administrators and teachers; consult with and be a resource person for teachers to facilitate the infusion of guidance learning activities into the regular education curriculum.
• Establish effective liaison with all grade levels; act as an advocate for students, as appropriate, in conjunction with faculty or staff.
• Conduct structured, goal oriented counseling sessions to meet the identified needs of individuals or groups of students. Session topics at the elementary level may include self-awareness, self-identity, academic topics, behavior and peer problems, family issues, child abuse and substance abuse.
• Participate in staffing and conduct in-service programs for faculty; conduct and facilitate conferences with teacher, student and parents; conduct or provide opportunities for parent education programs and assist families with school related problems.
• Consult and coordinate with in-district and community agencies after consulting with student's parents. Agencies may include school psychologist, nurses, administrators, community-based psychologists, social service agencies, or treatment facilities.
• Pursue professional growth by attending staff development programs and relevant workshops and conference as required by the grant.
• Maintain student record and protest their confidentiality.
• Assist students in the transition from elementary to middle school
• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in guidance and counseling, social work, school psychology, or a comparable program providing required knowledge of the principles of child development, counseling, guidance programs, and implementation of student support services.
• State certification as a Guidance Counselor, Social Worker, School Psychologist, or equivalent.
• K-12 teaching experience a plus.
• Strong organizational skills needed to develop and implement programs in collaboration with other school personnel, and to ensure compliance with all grant related requirements.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of school-related technology tools and assistive/adaptive technology.
• Good interpersonal communications skills; must be flexible, able to work under pressure and stay on task.