SCHOOL COUNSELOR DEFINITION As a member of the school system’s counseling and guidance staff, the school counselor provides a comprehensive counseling and guidance program for students; consults and collaborates with teachers, parents, and staff to enhance their effectiveness in helping students; and provides support to other school educational programs; initiates and implements student behavior contracts and progress reports; coordinates and maintains effective communication between the school, home, and the community; serves as a liaison agent between school and other community agencies concerned with the welfare of children and families – probation office, county welfare, children and family clinics, and law enforcement agencies; interprets policies, regulations, and educational philosophies to parents and professional agencies; keeps members of the school staff informed about community resources that may be of benefit to both pupil and teacher. EXAMPLES OF DUTIES Implements the school counseling and guidance program curriculum: conducts counseling and guidance learning activities in the classroom for each grade level during the year in collaboration with the teaching staff; guides and counsels students through the development of academic, career (life skills) and personal/social life plans: collaborates with school personnel to assist students in making a smooth transition from elementary school to middle school to high school; Counsels small groups and individual students: provides individual and group assistance to students regarding the academic, career (life plans) and personal/social issues; conducts structured, goal oriented counseling sessions to meet short term identified needs of individuals and groups of students; provides prevention and intervention services: contributes to the effective delivery and implementation of prevention and intervention services for students such as the conflict resolution, school attendance, crisis intervention, and Student Assistance Programs; consults and collaborates with teachers, staff, and parents in understanding and meeting the needs of students: consults and is a resource to teachers; takes a leadership role in seeing the infusion of counseling and guidance content into the curriculum, counselor related staff development, and parent education programs; assists families with school-related problems and issues; refers students and their parents to appropriate specialists, special programs, or outside agencies: consults and collaborates with school system specialists such as school psychologists, and nurses; consults with and refers to community-based resources including psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, service agencies, and others; participates in activities which contribute to the effective delivery of educational services: cooperates and collaborates with other professionals in enhancing the education of students; establishes and maintains effective relationships with staff and administrators; communicates with administrators, teachers and staff, students, parents, and the community regarding the counseling and guidance program and its role in the educational program; plans, evaluates, and revises the counseling and guidance program: reviews the counseling and guidance program annually with other District counselors and administrators; establishes a planning calendar for counseling and guidance program activities; evaluates the site counseling and guidance program; pursues professional growth. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE Education Valid California Pupil Personnel Services Credential authorizing school counseling Experience Previous counseling experience preferred Classroom teaching experience Bilingual/Spanish ability desirable JOB REQUIREMENTS Valid California Driver License Approved by the Governing Board of the Menifee Union School District: