Job Description: Guidance Counselor

Part-time position

Supervisor: Head of School

Summary

The counselor supports the social and emotional health of the community through ongoing commitment to relationships. Duties include but are not limited to:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Counseling and Consultation

• Provides time in the daily schedule for individual counseling for students.
• Plans and implements group guidance activities, especially in times of crisis or after critical events.
• Consults with families, teachers, administrators, and other appropriate individuals regarding services and programs available to students.

• Meets with parents as needed for support and parenting education
• Prepares a list of contact personnel in agencies, programs, and services external to the school setting for collaboration and referral.

Students

• Provides classroom guidance on targeted topics
• Counsels individuals and small groups of children toward social and emotional growth within the context of educating the whole child.
• Corresponds with outside specialists and agencies.
• Aids in the understanding of the consequences of actions for self and others.
• Assist students in dealing with a family crisis (e.g., separation, divorce, death, neglect and abuse, unemployment and alcoholism).
• Assists with the development of students’ self-esteem.
• Consults with teachers about useful classroom interventions for struggling students.

Parents

• Assists parents/guardians in helping students set and achieve goals.
• Refers children and their parents to special programs, specialists and outside agencies when needed.
• Provides individual parent conferences for students when necessary.
• Conducts parent workshops when necessary or requested.
• Serves as consultant to parents/guardians, staff and administration.

Faculty

• Collaborates closely with teachers and administrators to provide support around appropriate interventions to promote social and emotional development in the classroom. 
• Participates in parent-teacher conferences as needed.
• Attends grade level meetings.
• Assists in appropriate student referrals.
• Collaborates with Lower and Upper School Division Heads as well as the Rabbi in Residence

Administration

• Informs administration of various students” needs or issues.
• Participates in, coordinates and conduct activities that contribute to the effective operation of the counseling program and school.
• Keeps accurate records of all counseling and guidance activities.
• Protects the confidentiality of student records and releases personal data in accordance with state laws and Board policies.
• Participates in and facilitates the child study team, assisting in social/emotional needs.
• Establishes and maintains a cooperative relationship with faculty, staff and administration to facilitate the provision of optimal guidance and counseling services.
• Plans and evaluates the counseling program.
• Pursues continuous professional growth.
• Engages in other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience 

• Master’s degree related to Counseling
• Current North Carolina Certification
• Three years’ minimum of successful relevant experience
• Understanding of learning styles and differentiated instruction
• Ability to relate well to all constituencies in a school setting
• Highly effective crisis management skills
• Solution-focused, problem-solving counseling techniques
• Thoughtful judgment and effective interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills