Reading Virtual Academy GR 1-8 School Counselor

Guidance Counselor

Position Goal: To provide a comprehensive guidance program for students and specifically provide activities to meet the needs of the assigned caseload; consult with teachers, staff and parents to enhance the effectiveness in helping students.

Essential Functions:

1. Aids students in course and subject selection.
2. Obtains and disseminates occupational information to students and to classes studying occupations.
3. Assists students in evaluating their aptitudes and abilities through the interpretation of individual standardized test scores and other pertinent data, and works with students in evolving education and occupation plans in terms of such evaluation.
4. Works to discover and develop special abilities of students.
5. Works to resolve students' educational handicaps.
6. Registers students new to the school, schedules students into appropriate classes, and orients them to school procedures and the school's varied opportunities for learning.
7. Works to prevent students from dropping out of school.
8. Helps students evaluate career interests and choices.
9. Remains readily available to students so as to provide counseling that will lead each student to increase personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.
10. Works with students on an individual basis in the solution of personal problems related to such problems as home and family relations, health and emotional adjustment.
11. Plans guidance field trips to schools, colleges, and industry for interested students.
12. Guides students in their participation in school and community activities.
13. Maintains student records and protects their confidentiality.
14. Supervises the preparation and processing of college, scholarship, and employment applications.
15. Makes recommendations to colleges for admissions and scholarships.
16. Provides student information to colleges and potential employers according to provisions of the Board's policy on student records.
17. Confers with parents whenever necessary.
18. Assists in the orientation of new faculty members.
19. Provides in service training in guidance for teachers and student teachers.
20. Works with teachers and other staff members to familiarize them with the general range of services offered by the student personnel services department, and to improve the educational prospects of individual students being counseled.
21. Advises administrators and faculty on the matters of student discipline.
22. Takes an active role in interpreting the school's objectives to students, parents, and the community at large.
23. Interprets the guidance program to the community.
24. Organizes and conducts annual "Career Day".
25. Arranges for tutors and summer school work.
26. Performs other duties as assigned by the Superintendent or his/her designee.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Qualification Requirements:

• Bachelors and/or Masters Degree
• Pennsylvania Certificate as a Guidance Counselor
• Ability to speak clearly and distinctly.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively with other employees, students and parents.
• Ability to apply basic arithmetic calculations.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to coordinate activities with related and specialist staff.
• Ability to develop and maintain required records and reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers, parents and the community.
• Good knowledge of procedures, practices, materials, and equipment required to provide appropriate learning experiences for students to whom assigned.
• Ability to work as a member of a team.
• Must be courteous and able to deal effectively with people.
• Must be cooperative, congenial and service-oriented.
• Ability to maintain personal self-control in stressful situations.
• Ability to operate a personal computer and software.
• Ability to travel to more than one work location in the course of the day as assigned.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and sit. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. Some driving is necessary; light lifting up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception. Occasionally, yet essential to this position, the individual must meet deadlines with severe time constraints.

Work Environment:

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet but may be moderate to loud at times. The employee is frequently required to interact with the parents, public and staff during and after the normal workday. The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and exhibit good human relation skills including courtesy, tact and patience.

Evaluation:

The employee will be formally supervised and evaluated with regard to his/her duties on a regular basis by the Building Principal.