Elementary Counselor

This Elementary Counselor position is for the 25-26 Calendar Year 

Each week 40%- 2 days will be at Meadowlark Elementary and 60%-3 days will be at George Nettels Elementary

QUALIFICATIONS

•Must hold a current Kansas License
•Bachelors degree in EC-Late Adolescence/Adulthood PreK-12
•Desire to continue career improvement

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
•Assist students in dealing with school and personal problems
•Is accessible to students
•Conducts counseling in private and/or groups as appropriate
•Uses effective techniques to establish rapport and collect initial information.
•Develops and maintains programs to assist students
•Chooses appropriate individual or group techniques to help the student
•Maintains confidentiality in student contacts- within limits of “Need to Know” and district policy
•Follows up immediately in cases including serious student problems.
•Maintains effective individual and group counseling relationships over time- without encouraging continued dependency.
•Recognizes own limits- and makes referrals to other professionals or agencies when necessary
•Collects information and resources on age appropriate career opportunities and requirements
•Provides opportunities for students to gain information from individuals and organizations representing career groups
•Conducts diagnostic work useful to students in making career choices
•Advises students of the meaning of the diagnostic findings
•Provides information on the costs involved in pursuing career choices and of the comparative benefits
•Advises students on course choices desirable for preparation for specific careers
•Provides authorized placement information to potential employers upon student requests
•Maintains a library of catalogs from post-secondary institutions including vocational schools
•Assist students in evaluating that information with respect to their career goals and personal attributes
•Assists students in completing application and financial assistance materials
•Provides authorized placement information to post-secondary institutions in a timely fashion- upon request by the student
•Assists faculty in familiarizing students with school policies- procedures- and physical layout of the building
•Helps to make students aware of curricular offerings
•Helps to inform students of participation opportunities
•Informs students of the nature of counseling services and other student personnel services
•Assists the administration with the standardized achievement test program- based on district/school choices
•Conducts or prepares others for the conducting of that testing under proper administration conditions and using the proper protocol
•Collects completed tests and arranges for their scoring and interpretation- with the interpretations reflecting district achievement data interpretation goals
•Explains test results to students- parents and school faculty
•Uses achievement information properly in advising students of educational and career choices
•Maintains proper security for tests and test results
•Responds to teacher requests or referrals- including collecting relevant information
•Conducts conferences with the teacher- or both the teacher and student when requested or necessary
•Helps the teacher to decide on courses of action- and- if appropriate- to plan and implement actions chosen
•Helps the teacher to implement action if necessary
•Assists administrator(s) in interpreting achievement data and in identifying the possible need for curricular or instructional revisions
•Consults with the administrator(s) regarding disciplinary and other building-level school problems or concerns
•Provides the administrator(s) with appropriate data in cases which may result in an administrative disciplinary action regarding a student
•Consults with the administrator(s) regarding possible courses of action for a student
•Assist in referrals to special education by serving on a pre-assessment team
•Assists special education personnel in collecting comprehensive evaluation data when appropriate
•Participates in IEP development and implementation when appropriate
•Informs parents of the nature and purpose of the counseling team
•Assists parents in understanding the school curricular and extra-curricular program
•Assists parents in identifying appropriate in-school and out-of-school resources and resource agencies
•Encourages parents to bring child-related problems to the counselor
•Seeks child behavioral information from the parent which may be useful in working with a home/child or child/school problem
•Assists the parent in identifying possible home or home/school collaborative actions which may resolve the problem
•Assists the parent in planning implementation of the action and in implementation
•Assists parents in making contacts with needed resources
•Uses effective listening skills
•Avoids behaviors which may interfere with communication with students- parents- and staff
•Attends to the needs and concerns of students- parents- teachers- and administrators
•Treats others with dignity and respect
•Carefully chooses communication style and wording to match the audience
•Maintains proper security of all case files and testing materials/data
•Efficiently manages time and scheduling of professional responsibilities
•Collaboratively works with students- parents and school staff
•Demonstrates behavior consistent with the American School Counselor Association code of ethics
•Contributes to group problem-identification and problem solving in the school
•Shares information and practices which can contribute to the school climate for students and staff
•Seeks to improve the effectiveness of the counseling program
•Participates in school improvement efforts
•Manages one’s own behavior in conflict and emergency situations
•Seeks feedback from staff and clients
•Takes part in conferences- courses- and staff development activities to maintain and upgrade professional skills
•Other duties as they are assigned

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
• Requires prolonged sitting and standing.
•Occasionally requires physical exertion to manually move- lift- carry- push or pull heavy objects or materials.
•Occasional stooping- bending- and reaching.
•Must work in noisy and crowded environments.

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