Secondary Guidance Counselor-2026-2027

Watson Chapel Junior High School; Pine Bluff (AR); On-site; USD 38,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

Watson Chapel Junior High School in Pine Bluff, AR, is seeking a Secondary Guidance Counselor. This full-time role reports to the Building Administrator and serves the Secondary department.

The counselor will support academic, personal/social, and career success, and participate in after-hours events as needed. The position requires a Bachelor’s in Counseling (Master’s preferred) and prior school counseling experience is desirable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in counseling or related field is required or preferred.
• Master's degree in counseling is preferred.
• Experience as a school counselor is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Counsel individuals to help students address personal, social, or academic issues.
• Provide crisis intervention to students when needed.
• Maintain accurate student records as required by policy and law.
• Assess student needs and refer to appropriate services.
• Plan counseling programs integrated with the school curriculum.
• Collaborate with administrators to develop master schedules and programs.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Record keeping

Counseling theory

Collaboration

Career guidance

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Counseling

Master's Degree Preferred

Job description

Watson Chapel School District Watson Chapel Junior High School - Pine Bluff, Arkansas Open in Google Maps

Secondary Guidance Counselor-2026-2027

Watson Chapel School District Watson Chapel Junior High School - Pine Bluff, Arkansas Open in Google Maps

This job is also posted in Watson Chapel School District

Job Details

Job ID: 5957220

Application Deadline: Posted until filled

Posted: Oct 12, 2026 5:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: To Be Determined

Job Description

Watson Chapel School District

Guidance Counselor - Secondary

Department: Secondary

Job Status: Full Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: Building Administrator

Grade/Level: Certified

Amount of Travel Required: Varies

Job Type: Regular

Positions Supervised: None

Work Schedule:

210-day contract. Counselors are on duty for 8 hrs., 40 minutes per day but may periodically be required to attend after-school or evening events as a normal expectation of their position.

POSITION SUMMARY

Counsel students to help them achieve academic, personal/social/emotional, and career success.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions Statement(s)

• Counsel individuals to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
• Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at school.
• Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by law, district policies, and administrative regulations.
• Evaluate students' or individuals' abilities, interests, and personality characteristics using tests, records, interviews, or professional sources.
• Report cases of suspected domestic abuse or other family problems and encourage students or parents to seek additional assistance from mental health professionals.
• Counsel students and parents regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.
• Collaborate with department chairs to assist administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of school programs and in the preparation of master schedules for curriculum offerings.
• Assess needs for assistance such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer students to the appropriate services.
• Prepare reports on students and activities as required by the administration.
• Teach classes and present self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and career planning.
• Plan and conduct orientation programs and group conferences to promote the adjustment of individuals to new life experiences such as starting college.
• Attend meetings, educational conferences, and training workshops and serve on committees.
• Address community groups, faculty, and staff members to explain available counseling services.
• Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements and write letters of recommendation.
• Provide students with information on such topics as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs.
• Compile and study occupational, educational, and economic information to assist counselees in determining and carrying out vocational and educational objectives.
• Refer students to degree programs based on interests, aptitudes, or educational assessments.
• Plan, direct, and participate in recruitment and enrollment activities.
• Sponsor extracurricular activities such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.
• Promote an understanding and appreciation of diverse populations and cultures.
• Monitor and advise students and their parents as to progress toward promotion/graduation.
• Assist in the transition from middle school to high school and to post-secondary high school options. as well as student success plans.
• Interpret tests, student data, and other assessment results for students, parents, and staff.
• Produce, maintain, and adjust individual student schedules.
• Create evening events for parents to receive information on academic, graduation, and career opportunities for students.
• Demonstrate knowledge of child and adolescent development.
• Demonstrate knowledge of counseling theory and techniques.
• Establish goals for the counseling program according to the setting and the students served.
• Demonstrate knowledge of state and federal regulations and of resources both within and beyond the school and district.
• Plan the counseling program integrated with the regular school program.
• Develop a plan to assess the counseling program.
• Create an environment of respect and rapport.
• Establish a culture for productive communication.
• Manage routines and procedures.
• Establish standards of conduct and contribute to the culture for student behavior throughout the school.
• Assist students and teachers in the formulation of academic and/or personal/social plans based on knowledge of students.
• Use counseling techniques in individual and classroom programs.
• Arrange resources to meet needs.
• Demonstrate flexibility and responsiveness.
• Reflect on practice and participate in professional development activities to enhance professional learning.
• Communicate with families.
• Participate in a professional community.
• Maintain professionalism with all staff members.
• Assess student needs.
• Report to the proper authorities any cases of suspected child endangerment, neglect, or abuse.
• Report suspected bullying to building principal or designee as required by Arkansas law and district policies.
• Adhere to all policies of the District.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Principal or other administrators.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Competency Statement(s)

• Accountability - Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions.
• Accuracy - Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly.
• Active Listening - Ability to actively attend to, convey, and understand the comments and questions of others.
• Client Oriented - Ability to take care of the clients" needs while following district procedures.
• Communication, Oral - Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word.
• Communication, Written - Ability to communicate in writing clearly and concisely.
• Conflict Resolution - Ability to deal with others in an antagonistic situation.
• Decision Making - Ability to make critical decisions while following district procedures.
• Detail Oriented - Ability to pay attention to the minute details of a project or task.
• Diversity Oriented - Ability to work effectively with people regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or job type.
• Empathetic - Ability to appreciate and be sensitive to the feelings of others.
• Ethical - Ability to demonstrate conduct conforming to a set of values and accepted standards.
• Friendly - Ability to exhibit a cheerful demeanor toward others.
• Goal Oriented - Ability to focus on a goal and obtain a pre-determined result.
• Honesty / Integrity - Ability to be truthful and be seen as credible in the workplace.
• Interpersonal - Ability to get along well with a variety of personalities and individuals.
• Judgment - The ability to formulate a sound decision using the available information.
• Organized - Possessing the trait of being organized or following a systematic method of performing a task.
• Patience - Ability to act calmly under stress and strain, and of not being hasty or impetuous.
• Regular attendance - Exhibiting regular attendance in order to perform duties in a satisfactory manner.
• Relationship Building - Ability to effectively build relationships with students, staff, and parents.
• Reliability - The trait of being dependable and trustworthy.
• Responsible - Ability to be held accountable or answerable for one’s conduct.
• Self‑motivated - Ability to be internally inspired to perform a task to the best of one's ability using his or her drive or initiative.
• Tactful - Ability to show consideration for and maintain good relations with others.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

Education:

Bachelor's Degree (four-year college or technical school) Required, Field of Study: Counseling

Master's Degree Preferred, Field of Study: Counseling

Experience:

Previous experience as a school counselor is preferred.

Computer Skills:

Shall be able to demonstrate an acceptable level of proficiency with computers and programs associated with the position.

Certifications & Licenses:

Current Arkansas teaching license required. Must meet all state and federal requirements for the position.

Other Requirements:

1. Successful completion of pre-employment background checks. 2. Appropriate personal and professional conduct at all times around students, staff, and the general public.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Most work is performed in an indoor office environment. The sound level ranges from very quiet to moderate, depending on the activities being conducted.

Employee Signature:

Date:

The Human Resources Department has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the Watson Chapel School District reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform as the District may deem appropriate. It is the policy of the Watson Chapel School District not to discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, or disability in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices.

Position Type: Full-Time

Job Categories:

Student Services > School/Guidance Counselor

Job Requirements

• At least 1 year(s) of relevant experience preferred.
• Master degree preferred.
• Citizenship, residency or work visa required