Guidance counselor

Professional Educator Guidance Counselor

The base salary range for this position is $49,124 - $71,215, depending on years of experience and degrees. The Guidance Counselor reports directly to the Director of Student Services and works as a collaborative member of the Student Services team to support the academic success of students in grades 9-12.

RDHS Student Services | School Counseling - 10 month position

Job Requirements: Qualified applicants must hold a valid Illinois Professional Educator's License (PEL) with School Counseling endorsement.

Job Summary: The School Counselor will provide comprehensive counseling services to support students' ongoing academic, post-secondary, and personal/social/emotional development. Counselors are knowledgeable about the developmental needs of students.

Counselors must possess strong oral and written communication skills in order to foster effective communication with all stakeholders including families, faculty, staff, and administration. Counselors must demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team to assess the needs of students and act as an intervention strategist by using data to track progress and execute an appropriate support plan.

Job Responsibilities

• Caseload approximately 150 students
• Student Assistance Team (SAT)
• Monitor Student Support and Service Plans (Regina Plans)
• Student, Counselor and Parent Engagement (SCoPE):
• Collaboration with Student Services Team (student safety assessment, link families with outside support services, collaborate with outside programming and school special events such as College Fair, college rep visits, and other programming for families and students).
• Advisory Topics
• Monitor Caritas Academic Study
• Course Selection
• Possibly co-lead the Peer Leader program and participate in Freshman Orientation
• Other duties as assigned in alignment with student needs and the Academic Strategic Plan

Description of Counselor Tasks

• Advisory Topics: Complete Getting to Know You worksheet, review grade expectations, transcript awareness, 4-Year Plan, school resources (slide show), Naviance: Career and Personality Surveys (students have an account set-up by 12/1 of freshman year), Framework for Success (student portion), college readiness, standardized testing readiness (accounts set up for College Board and ACT), student activity involvement (including leadership institute activities), advocacy lesson (appropriate communication with teachers), Social Media Footprint (w/social worker) and various SEL activities (w/social worker)
• Student Assistance Team (SAT): Review weekly grade report listing students earning grades below a "C." Meet with students and teachers to gather data and insight into academic performance. Assist students and teachers with identifying resources and strategies to support student action plans.
• Student Staffing: After utilizing academic resources and teacher/counselor involvement, if students grades have not improved, a staffing may be scheduled with a.) teachers only or b.) with impacted teachers, students and parents. The goal of a staffing is to review areas of concern, interventions, support, and develop an action plan with the student and her team.
• Individual Counseling: course selection, grade concerns, social/emotional concerns (including friendships and family stress) *collaboration with the social worker.
• Group Counseling: Support social workers establishment of group topics, schedule and student participation.
• Student, Counselor and Parent Engagement (SCoPE): Families will have the option of scheduling a SCoPE experience in their Freshman year with their counselor. SCoPE meetings will consist of a 30-minute meeting with the student, parent/guardian and counselor during which families will have the opportunity to share more information about their student's strengths, interests, goals and concerns. In addition, counselors will provide information about their role in helping students and families to navigate the high school experience as well as make the most of programs and resources offered to support students. *Freshmen by 11/1
• Caritas Academic Study (Guided Study): Collaborate with Caritas teachers about students' needs and progress. Caritas teachers send a weekly parent email explaining current grades and any academic concerns. Counselors send a quick follow-up email to acknowledge information and progress.
• Student Service Plan (Regina Plan): Accommodation plans are created from the student's former 504 Plan, IEP or medical note, in collaboration with the Learning Specialist and classroom teachers.