School Counselor, Middle School

Reading School District l Reading, Pa.; Reading (Berks County); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The Reading School District in Reading, PA seeks a Guidance Counselor to provide a comprehensive guidance program for students and collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators. The role involves counseling, college and career planning, and supporting students with personal and academic challenges.

Qualifications include a Bachelor's or Master's in counseling and Pennsylvania certification as a Guidance Counselor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in counseling or equivalent.
• Ability to provide individual and group counseling to students.
• Experience coordinating guidance activities and programs.

Responsibilities

• Aids students in course and subject selection.
• Disseminates occupational information to students and classes.
• Interprets standardized test data to help plan education and occupation paths.
• Develops and supports students' education and career goals.
• Plans guidance field trips to colleges and industry sites.
• Maintains student records and protects confidentiality.
• Coordinates admissions and scholarships applications with colleges.

Skills

Counseling

Student assessment

Career guidance

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Counseling

Job description

Position Title: Guidance Counselor

Classification: REA

Reports To: Building Principal / Director of Student Services

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: Other duties may be assigned.

The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to the following fundamental duties:

• Aids students in course and subject selection.
• Obtains and disseminates occupational information to students and to classes studying occupations.
• 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.
• Works to discover and develop special abilities of students.
• Works to resolve students' educational handicaps.
• 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.
• Works to prevent students from dropping out of school.
• Helps students evaluate career interests and choices.
• Remains readily available to students so as to provide counseling that will lead each student to increase personal growth, self-understanding, and maturity.
• 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.
• Plans guidance field trips to schools, colleges, and industry for interested students.
• Guides students in their participation in school and community activities.
• Maintains student records and protests their confidentiality.
• Supervises the preparation and processing of college, scholarship, and employment applications.
• Makes recommendations to colleges for admissions and scholarships.
• Provides student information to colleges and potential employers according to provisions of the Board's policy on student records.
• Confers with parents whenever necessary.
• Assists in the orientation of new faculty members.
• Provides in service training in guidance for teachers and student teachers.
• 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.
• Advises administrators and faculty on the matters of student discipline.
• Takes an active role in interpreting the school's objectives to students, parents, and the community at large.
• Interprets the guidance program to the community.
• Organizes and conducts annual "Career Day".
• Arranges for tutors and summer school work.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Superintendent or his/her designee. This job description does not constitute an exhaustive list of responsibilities and management may revise it at any time.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Bachelors and/or Masters Degree

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Pennsylvania Certificate as a Guidance Counselor

Language Skills:

• Ability to speak clearly and distinctly.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively with other employees, students and parents.

Mathematical Skills:

• Ability to apply basic arithmetic calculations.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions for practical situations.

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral or schedule form.

OTHER SKILLS And ABILITIES:

• 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:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 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 work environment characteristics described here 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 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.

The position holder must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. It is the responsibility of the employee to inform the school district administrator designated as immediate supervisor of the position, of any and all reasonable accommodations that will be required. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

The Reading School District is an equal opportunity employment, educational and service organization.