GRASP School Counselor

Young World Physical Education; Hephzibah (GA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Young World Physical Education in Hephzibah, Georgia, seeks a GRASP High School Counselor to provide support for at-risk students in grades 9-12. The ideal candidate will have a Master's degree in education or counseling, along with Georgia state certification. This role requires strong communication skills and experience in counseling programs.

The counselor will be responsible for developing individualized plans and conducting both individual and group sessions while collaborating with school staff and families. The position emphasizes community and work readiness for students.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, school counseling, or a related field.
• Must meet Georgia state certification requirements for school guidance and counseling.
• Preferred three years of successful teaching or counseling experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide a comprehensive developmental program of guidance and counseling to assist students.
• Consult with parents and school staff regarding student needs.
• Conduct individual and group counseling sessions for students.

Skills

Knowledge of school counseling programs

Ability to work effectively as part of a team

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Strong time management skills

Ability to maintain confidentiality

Ability to develop individualized plans for students

Experience with data tracking systems

Education

Master’s degree in education or related field

Job description

Job Description

Starting Date: Immediately

Official Title: GRASP High School Counselor

Salary Range: In accordance with RCBOE Salary Schedules

Grant Funded:

Terms of Employment: Work Year – 200 days (10 MONTHS)

Supervisor: Principal

Location: Richmond County (GA), T.W. Josey High - Augusta, Georgia

Job Qualifications

Education: Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, school counseling, or a related field required.

Certification or Licensure: Meets Georgia state certification requirements for school guidance and counseling.

Skills:

• Knowledge of school counseling programs and related programs of studies
• Knowledge of growth and developmental stages of children
• Ability to read, take notes, and interpret written material
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently with students, administrators, school staff, and parents
• Knowledge of event planning, record keeping, and data collection
• Knowledge of community resources
• Ability to be self‑motivated and work effectively with at‑risk populations
• Ability to speak persuasively and tactfully, write professionally, and create multimedia texts
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent human relations skills with the ability to establish positive relationships with many different types of individuals and groups
• Must conduct self in a professional manner
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Strong time management and organizational skills
• Ability to use computer programs and various software applications
• Ability to develop individualized academic and career plans for at‑risk students
• Familiarity with postsecondary exploration resources and FAFSA/college application processes
• Experience with monthly impact reporting, action planning, and data tracking systems

Work Experience: Three years of successful teaching or counseling experience is preferred. Previously high school experience is strongly preferred. Prior experience working with at‑risk student populations, including credit recovery, dropout prevention, or post‑secondary readiness programs, is strongly preferred.

Primary Duty: This position is responsible for providing a comprehensive school counseling program that supports an identified at‑risk population of students in grades 9‑12 in all areas of counseling with an emphasis on community, family, and work/career skills readiness. This is a dedicated GRASP grant‑funded position focused exclusively on a limited caseload of identified at‑risk students. This position cannot be used for any other responsibilities or roles, including serving as a “regular” counselor or filling allotted FTE positions. It is in addition to the school’s normal complement of counselor positions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide a comprehensive developmental program of guidance and counseling to assist identified at‑risk students in the areas of academic achievement, attendance, soft skills, career/educational decision‑making, college readiness, personal/social development, and conflict resolution.
• Consult with parents, teachers, administrators, and supporting agencies concerning the needs and abilities of students.
• Review data to develop and inform the school counseling program and evaluate the program’s impact on the school’s instructional goals.
• Utilize responsive counseling, initiating individual and group sessions for students’ academic, social, and personal concerns.
• Act as a consultant to school staff, parents, and community members.
• Promote the school guidance and counseling program to students, school staff, parents, and the community.
• Conduct individual counseling with at‑risk students in areas of need.
• Conduct group counseling with at‑risk students in areas of educational, academic, career, and social/emotional needs.
• Coordinate with school staff to provide supportive instructional classroom activities that relate to student, academic, career, and social/emotional needs.
• Interpret results of group and individual tests for students, staff, and parents.
• Work in collaboration with the building school counselor, nurse, social worker, and community agencies.
• Serve as a member of the Student Support Team.
• Ensure at‑risk students receive appropriate career development assistance.
• Consult with school staff and parents on student problems and concerns as needed or requested.
• Promote the utilization of community resources, services, and agencies.
• Attend and participate in professional development activities, workshops, seminars, and conferences to maintain expertise in the counseling field.
• Conduct in‑depth student analyses to understand population needs and establish an appropriate caseload of off‑track and/or at‑risk students, creating individually tailored plans and programs of study.
• Establish and lead a comprehensive support team for each student on the caseload, coordinating services across school staff, families, and community agencies.
• Engage caseload students in discovering, examining, and exploring postsecondary options, including college visits, career exploration, and workforce readiness activities, utilizing student travel funds (up to $10,000) approved in the grant budget.
• Implement a structured counseling program specifically designed to support at‑risk caseload students, within the $10,000 program cost limit outlined in the GRASP grant.
• Maintain accurate and ongoing data collection including Beginning of Year (BOY), Middle of Year (MOY), and End of Year (EOY) submissions tracking student interventions, academic progress, attendance, and discipline.
• Partner with the school counseling team to develop and implement a cluster counseling plan addressing identified at‑risk students.
• Collaborate with the assigned GaDOE GRASP program specialist to ensure interventions and strategies are aligned with identified needs and grant program expectations.
• Complete all GaDOE‑required reporting templates, including data trackers, pre/post student surveys, and the GRASP action plan template.
• Submit Counselor Monthly Impact Reports to the Office of School and District Improvement (SDI) to assess the effectiveness of grant initiatives throughout the grant period.
• Participate in End of Year (EOY) Focus Interviews with students, administration, and the GaDOE program specialist.
• Develop a sustainability plan for counseling activities and programs initiated during the grant period.
• Attend all required GaDOE‑sponsored GRASP training events.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Principal or district office leadership.

Work Environment/Physical Demands: The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk, stand, and sit.

Special Requirements: Attendance at evening meetings, presentations, ceremonies, and school programs is required. Overtime or night work may be required.

This description may be changed at any time. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee. The employee will be required to follow any other instruction and to perform any other related duties as assigned by the Board. Richmond County Schools reserves the right to update, revise, or change this job description and related duties at any time.