Counselor - 202 days

Madison City Schools•Madison, AL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

To help students achieve personal fulfillment by providing them with guidance and counseling services to make successful personal, educational and occupational life plans. This position will be subject to the Students First Act of 2011. Madison City Schools reserves the right to fill this position by transfer of a qualified applicant who is already employed by Madison City Schools. Under the Students First Act of 2011, no credit toward tenure or non-probationary status is earned in the initial school year of employment if the date of hire occurs after September 30.

Requirements

A Master's degree
Alabama State Department of Education Teaching Certificate
School Counselor Certification, required
At least three years successful teaching experience required
Skills in the use of oral and written language in order to present ideas simply and clearly to students, teachers, and parents.
Ability to speak in a well-modulated voice that can be heard by all students in a regular classroom environment.
Comprehensive knowledge of principles, concepts and skills in the guidance program.
Ability to create interest through the use of materials, techniques, and methods appropriate to the varying abilities and backgrounds of individual students.
Skills in the use of evaluation instruments consistent with the goals and objectives.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate and implement the school testing program.
Skills in individual and group counseling for the purpose of identifying and helping students with special needs.
Possesses the physical and emotional stability to fulfill the contract period.
Upon offer of employment, employees will be required to submit legible fingerprints for a background review by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Background checks must not be more than 10 years old.

Nice To Haves

Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable

Responsibilities

Implements the appropriate grade level comprehensive counseling and guidance program curriculum: Conducts guidance learning activities in the classroom for each grade level during the year in collaboration with the teaching staff; consults with and is a resource to teachers to facilitate the infusion of counseling content into the regular education curriculum.
Guides and counsels groups and individual students through the development of educational and career plans: Collaborates with appropriate school personnel to assist students in making a smooth transition from elementary school to middle school and middle school to high school; provides orientation activities for incoming students and their parents; informs students and parents of tests results and their implications for educational planning; provides resources and coordinates the implementation of personal, social, educational, and career learning activities; provides individual assistance to students regarding personal, social, educational, and career issues.
Counsels small groups and individual students: Conducts structured, goal-oriented counseling sessions to meet the identified needs of individuals and groups of students.
Consults and collaborates with administrators, teachers, staff, and parents in understanding and meeting the needs of students: Participates in staff and team meetings; plans and conducts staff development programs and activities; facilitates conferences with teachers and/or parents and or students; assists families with school-related problems and issues.
Refers students with problems and parents to appropriate specialists, special programs, or outside agencies: Consults and collaborates with school system specialists such as school psychologists, social workers, and nurses; consults with and refers to community-based resources, including psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, service agencies, and others.
Participates in activities that contribute to the effective operation of the school: Cooperates and collaborates with other professionals in enhancing the education of students; establishes and maintains effective relationships with grade levels or departments and administrators; cooperates with other school personnel in placing students with special needs in appropriate programs; interprets group test results to faculty and administration for use in enhancing instruction; communicates with administrators, teachers, staff, students, parents, and the community regarding the counseling and guidance program and its role in the educational program; participates in the implementation of the school system assessment program.
Plans, evaluates, and revises the counseling and guidance program: Reviews the counseling and guidance program annually with the counseling and guidance department staff and counseling and guidance program advisory committee; communicates regularly with other counseling and guidance staff to establish and maintain a sequential comprehensive counseling and guidance program; identifies student needs periodically and uses the results for program planning; establishes a planning calendar for counseling and guidance program activities; evaluates the counseling and guidance program.
Maintains professional competence and continuous improvement through in-service education and other professional growth activities as required or assigned.
Models appropriate personal characteristics and work habits that are consistent with personal development goals established for students.
Performs other duties within the scope of his/her employment and certification as may be assigned.