Summary

Middle School Teaching | Guidance Counselor | Hastings Middle School

Description

MIddle School Counselor – 1.0 FTE

Job Summary:
 
Under the direction of the Principal, the Counselor is responsible for providing developmental, guidance, proactive, preventive and remedial services to students.  Counselors work collaboratively with students, parents, staff and the community to empower learners by assisting them in acquiring competencies in their educational, career, personal and social areas.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Counsels students individually and in groups by teaching skills for achieving success; to promote positive attitudes towards self, family, peers and the community; and to address attendance issues.
  • Provides support to students in personal crisis.  Coordinates referrals to resources in the community such as mental health, child protection, chemical dependency services, and judicial agencies.  Designs interventions to address problems, issues and enhance student success.  Teaches students techniques in anger management, conflict management and mediation skills.
  • Provides assistance to building administrators in the development of the master schedule.  Conducts scheduling changes and maintains school schedules throughout the year.
  • Registers and orients new students.  Advises students on curriculum choices and extra-curricular activities.  Leads orientation sessions for parents and incoming students.  Develops and leads newcomer groups.  Leads the Peer Helper Program.
  • Consults with students, parents and teachers to identify and remove barriers to learning.  Arranges for and leads student/teacher/parent staffing.  Attends parent/teacher conferences.  Refers students for special education assessments.  Recommends students for support program(s).
  • Assists in the administration of building discipline and administrative activities such as conduct of student conferences; assist in planning disaster/preparedness drills; works with police liaison to investigate drug offenses, vandalism or weapons violations; conducts and analyzes safe school student survey.
  • Assists in performing various student management responsibilities including monitoring students during lunch periods, serves as detention supervisor or substitute teacher, as needed.  Supervises students during various building activities such as dances, field trips or fun days.
  • Performs other duties of a comparable level or type, as required.
  1. Provides professional expertise and assistance to individuals, other district staff and the community concerning areas of instructional expertise/knowledge.
  2. Attends training sessions, conferences, seminars, district and departmental meetings.
  3. Keeps abreast of changing development and trends in area of assignment.

Essential knowledge and specialized subject knowledge required to perform the essential functions of the job:

  • Knowledge of teaching principles, practices, techniques and approaches.
  • Knowledge of current trends, theories and technologies pertaining individual student planning and school guidance curriculum.
  • Knowledge of laws, statutes, guidelines and district policies or procedures pertaining to school responsibilities and duties.
  • Knowledge of the principles, theories and trends pertaining to child development theories and development stages and needs.
  • Advanced knowledge of educational, personal and career counseling principles, trends, methods and procedures;
  • Knowledge of district educational and administrative policies and procedures;
  • Knowledge of educational, career and personal development and community resources.
  • Knowledge of career inventories and college requirements.
  • Operation and use of office productivity software and applications utilized by the district in the maintenance of student records, files, and communications.

Essential skills required to perform the work:

  • Skilled in delivering and performing individual and group interventions and counseling services in addressing various, social, academic or career development issues and concerns.
  • Skilled in implementing and facilitating various building activities and functions such as groups, registration, student scheduling and new student orientations, or other assigned programs.
  • Assisting and guiding student in crisis, problem solving and conflict resolution.
  • Skilled in providing outreach services, community resources, and referral services to students and families in various personal, academic or career development areas.
  • Ability to deal effectively and appropriately with parents, students, staff and other educational professionals over instructional needs, concerns or problems of the student and district.
  • Skilled in the use and application of statistical, diagnostic, interventions, and standardized evaluation tools and methodologies used in personal and guidance counseling;
  • Skilled in communicating effectively on interpersonal and group levels;
  • Skilled in analyzing and assessing students needs, problems and issues;
  • Maintaining required student records, files and documentation required.
  • Communication skills in dealing with children, staff, parents, administrators and other educational professionals over parent and student issues and concerns.  Interactions require persuasion, instruction and working with others to gain cooperation and understanding of educational needs, student problems, issues or needs.

Education:

Master’s Degree in School Counseling

License/Certificaiton:

Licensed by State of MN in School Counseling

Compensation and Benefits:  In accordance with the Ed MN Hastings – Teachers Master Agreement