Guidance Counselor

HIGH SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR JOB DESCRIPTION

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or equivalent, Master’s preferred.

Possession of valid South Carolina certification for Guidance Counselor.

Minimum three (3) years experience of successful teaching or counseling services including

secondary level advising and counseling and college level advising and counseling.

Looks for ways to improve and promote quality and demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.

Strives to research, evaluate and implement best practices.

Effective communication skills.

Proficient experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Student Information

System (SIS), including individual graduation plan modules.

Commitment to school’s values.

Such alternatives to the above requirements as OCA may find appropriate and acceptable.

Job Purpose:

To help students achieve personal fulfillment by providing them with guidance and counseling services to

make successful personal, educational and occupational life plans.

Individual Student Counseling:

Assists students in evaluating their aptitudes and abilities through the use of teacher comments,

interpretation of individual standardized test scores and other pertinent data. Works with students

in evolving educational and career plans in terms of such evaluation

Provides individual counseling sessions for assigned students in dealing with their personal

needs as they affect school performance, as well as their educational and career plans

Provides small and large group counseling sessions, as needed, to address students’ personal

educational and career plans

Assists students in course selections and the scheduling process. Works to prevent students from

dropping out of school, and assists those that do in finding alternative educational programs.

Assists in making arrangements for enrollment in summer school programs to make up noted

deficiencies

Participates in follow-up studies of former students for the purpose of improving services and

evaluating the effectiveness of the educational program being offered by the school

Provides emergency support to students as needed during crises

Provides students leadership and guidance to access the Dual Enrollment program with

advisement and counseling on appropriate placement in college courses

Provides students with college financial aid/scholarship resources and assists with college

selection

Staff consultation

Serves as a consultant to the faculty concerning matters related to guidance services

Confers with staff regarding students with problems and/or special needs

Serves as a resource person for administration in matters relating to students and guidance

services; provides thorough and timely reports, data, etc. as requested by administration

Student and Parent Orientation

Provides students new to the school orientation and information relative to school procedures,

curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities

Participates in planning and implementing programs which contribute to smooth transition

between grade levels and/or to post-secondary education, which may include orientation

programs for students and parents

Serves as a resource for information regarding the educational program, activities and services of

the school

Record Keeping:

Supervises the maintenance of cumulative records for assigned students in accordance with state

and federal laws and regulations as well as OCA policy

Provides information and prepares recommendations to colleges for admissions and scholarships

as well as to potential employers and other agencies for assigned students.

Maintains counseling record (i.e., summary, log) regarding conferences or other sessions with

assigned students

Assessment:

Assists in the administration of state-mandated and OCA assessment programs

Reviews and interprets results of assessment programs for assigned students and utilizes results

for counseling purposes

Contributes to the evaluation of current curriculum offerings

Assists in developing and implementing an evaluation plan for the guidance program and

utilizing results to determine strengths and areas in need of improvement

School and Community Relations:

Strives to establish cooperative relations and makes a reasonable effort to communicate with

parents when necessary and appropriate

Utilizes the resources of the community in developing and enhancing guidance services and

activities

Cooperates and shares professionally with members of the staff

Assists in interpreting the Guidance Services Program within the school and community

Assists community agencies and resource people who deal with wrap around services to students

in need

Skills and Knowledge:

Ability to work and interact with individual at all level of the organization

Ability to organize, prioritize and manage multiple priorities

Ability to prepare comprehensive business reports, including writing report sections, integrating

content, and formatting business documents

Ability to establish a set of operating principles and routines; driving projects to completion,

while insisting on highest level of quality

Ability to consistently be at work, be on time, follow instructions, respond to management

direction and solicit feedback to improve performance

Establish excellent interpersonal skills between all constituents: being courteous, professional,

and helpful; Oral (including presentations), Written, Interpersonal (active listening),

Negotiating and Influencing

Good knowledge of organization’s policies and procedures and secondary and post-secondary

advisement and counseling

RESPONSIBLE TO: PINNACLE/PRINCIPAL