High School Counselor For 2026-2027 School Year

Decatur Public Schools District #61; United States; On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A school district is seeking a High School Counselor for the 2026-2027 school year at MacArthur High School. The counselor will assist students in their educational and personal development, providing support for course selection and resource guidance. A valid Illinois Professional Educator License and a master's degree are required. Strong organizational and communication skills are essential for collaboration with parents, staff, and external institutions. The position starts on August 10, 2026.

Qualifications

• Holds a valid Illinois Professional Educator License.
• Holds a certificate as a guidance counselor or type 73 certificate.
• Master’s Degree or higher education required.
• Ability to function effectively as a member of the school staff.
• Good organizational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Counsels students in course selection and personal/social goals.
• Assists with college and career applications.
• Collaborates with teachers and parents on student success.
• Provides resources for community programs.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Ability to follow instructions

Counseling skills

Education

Illinois Professional Educator License

Guidance Counselor Certificate or Type 73 Certificate

Master’s Degree or higher

Job description

High School Counselor For 2026‑2027 School Year JobID: 10068

• Position Type: High School Teaching
• Date Posted: 4/15/2026
• Location: MacArthur High School
• Date Available: 08/10/2026

Title

High School Counselor

Purpose

To assist students in making educational, career, and/or life plans that holds promise for their personal fulfillment as productive citizens.

Qualifications

• Holds a valid Illinois Professional Educator License
• Holds a certificate as a guidance counselor – or holds a type 73 certificate
• Master’s Degree or higher education
• Ability to function effectively as a member of the school staff
• Good organizational skills, detailed oriented, and ability to prioritize tasks effectively and efficiently
• Ability to understand and follow basic oral and written instructions
• Good written and communication skills
• Ability to communicate to students, parents, staff, and administration in a courteous manner

Reports To

The Principal or Designee

Liaison With

Parents, Staff, Administration, and post‑secondary institutions. Communicates on a regular basis or as requested by parents, staff, and/or administration.

Duties and Responsibilities

(The following are the essential fundamentals to include but not limited to the following job duties.)

Management and Coordination of Student Services

• Assists teachers, parents/guardians, and other stakeholders in interpreting and understanding student data.
• Counsels and assists students in course and subject selection.
• Assists students individually, or in groups, with developing academic, career, and personal/social skills, goals, and plans throughout their educational career.
• Assist new students with scheduling, orientation, and transitioning to new environment.
• Help students with coping and/or problem‑solving skills.
• Remains readily available to students so as to provide counseling that will lead each student to increased personal growth, self‑understanding and maturity.
• Assist with the preparation and mailing of college, scholarship, financial aid and employment applications.
• Initiates, assembles, maintains, interprets, and protects the confidentiality of student information and data.
• Assists with and updates Individual Career Exploration Plan and transcripts for assigned students.
• Provides resources for students who express interest in school and/or community activities/programs.
• Consults and collaborates with teachers, school psychologist, social workers, administrators, families, and community resources to develop student success.
• Assist students with gathering information regarding admissions for trade schools, special skills schools, programs, colleges, universities, and/or military.
• Arranges and organizes conferences between students and college/career/vocational representatives. Reviews students’ academic performance and confers with students and parents as needed.
• Counsels students who are enrolled in DPS alternative schools/programs (This applies to counselors assigned to alt ed.)
• Will evaluate high school students’ transcripts prior to alternative education placement.
• Schedule meetings with students and parents for education‑related purposes.
• Assists students with post‑secondary options.
• Collaborate with Innovation Programs to assist with referring students for part‑time job placement and/or college visits/fairs.
• Conducts follow‑up of students new to the school to determine their academic and social adjustment to school.
• Utilize data to identify student struggles, needs, and/or barriers to academic success.
• Explores alternative educational opportunities with students.
• Monitors student Service‑Learning Hours and monitors all high school graduation requirements.
• Works with administration to obtain school records from the student’s previous school (where applicable) and forwarding student records when appropriate.
• Keeps current with changes in counseling strategies and implementation techniques.
• As part of the school leadership team, assist in improving equity and access for all students.
• Provide counseling for students struggling with attendance, discipline, and/or academics.

Assistance to Instructional Staff

• Works cooperatively with other school personnel in the identification, diagnosis, and remediation of individual students with specialized needs.
• Meets with appropriate department chairperson regarding that department’s course offerings and curriculum changes.
• Assists in the planning for and supervision of all standardized testing programs.
• Arranges for conferences with parents and teachers as needed.
• Participates in multi‑disciplinary conferences as needed.
• Works with teachers, special service personnel, administration, and staff to develop new programs and explore innovative developments in the total school program.

Staff and Professional Responsibilities

• Takes an active role in interpreting the school’s objectives, rules, and policies.
• In cooperation with local agencies, participates in Career Awareness Programs and/or assemblies.
• Provides approved material for press releases and/or newsletters.
• Maintains and submits accurate and timely records/reports as required by law, Board policy, and administrative guidelines.

Terms of Employment

Wages, hours, terms, and conditions of employment pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement.

Evaluation

Each employee shall be evaluated according to the District’s guidelines, policies, and procedures in accordance with the DEA contract. The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to handle work which deals mostly with people, objects, and equipment in a general setting. The employee may be required to use repetitive hand motions, including prolonged use of a computer terminal. The employee is frequently required to sit, see, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, bend, stoop, and kneel. The employee may be required to lift up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus with or without correction. The employee must recognize differences in sound, such as voices/noises that are loud and playful instead of angry and combative. The employee must have the ability to differentiate tones and volumes in conversation. The employee should hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Work Environment

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Mental Functions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly is required to compare, analyze, communicate, coordinate, compile, instruct, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, negotiate, and maintain emotional control under stress. The employee frequently is required to compute. The employee occasionally is required to copy.

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills that may be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Decatur Public Schools is an equal employment opportunity employer with an affirmative action plan