BES Guidance Counselor

Marshall KY • Benton, KY

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Elementary School Guidance Counselor plays a vital role in fostering a positive and supportive school environment. This position involves assisting students with academic, vocational, and personal challenges, conducting classroom guidance activities aligned with KERA learning goals, and collaborating with students, parents, teachers, and administrators. The counselor will also coordinate services with outside agencies, serve as a resource for the school community, and assist with various testing and special education processes.

Requirements

• Valid Kentucky Certification

Nice To Haves

• 42 hours of Leadership Training every two years for professional growth and development.
• Active membership in various professional organizations as they relate to counseling.

Responsibilities

• Keep the Principal fully informed of any activities and/or problems concerning the school counseling program.
• Promote a positive, non-threatening school environment which actively stimulates the involvement of students, parents, teachers, administrators, and the SBDM Council.
• Promote public relations.
• Serve as an advocate for all students.
• Assist students with academic, vocational, and personal problems.
• Serve as a teaching counselor by conducting classroom guidance activities which promote KERA units that emphasize the six learning goals.
• Assist the principal in informing students and parents of requirements, policies and procedures of the school.
• Disseminate educational and vocational information.
• Conduct individual counseling sessions and small group sessions as needed.
• Confer with teachers, parents, and students.
• Enhance the curriculum of the school through curriculum planning, student observation, team meeting participation, SBDM Council subcommittee participation, behavior management, conflict resolution, and conferencing with all people involved in the school community for each individual student’s success.
• Coordinate services for children with outside agencies (e.g., West Kentucky Diagnostic Center, social services, mental health services, doctors, etc.).
• Serve as a resource person for specific needs of the student, teacher, parent, and administrator as well as a resource for parent education.
• Make home visits if necessary.
• Help cultivate relationships with teachers to help one another with student problems.
• Serve as referral agent to other state and local agencies and aid in referrals to in-school programs.
• Coordinate activities for drug education (e.g., distribute and collect materials, arrange for speakers, etc.).
• Assist the school administration in preparing for the opening of school and completing the records for the closing of school.
• Ensure that records for students going to middle school are taken to the proper school for students to continue their education the next year.
• Provide documented follow-up after referral or assistance to ensure credibility and accountability.
• Administer and help coordinate various assessment tools and disseminate the results.
• Act as building coordinator for CTBS and CATS testing (Organize, count, keep track of materials, distribute, collect and package to take to central office).
• After test scores are returned to school, sort and share results with teachers and parents.
• Evaluate individual students for Special Education.
• Compile test results for special education students and complete written reports on individual evaluations.
• Analyze, collect, and interpret test results to provide information for needs assessment for students and their parents.
• Screen students for ADHD.
• Be a regular member of the ARC and attend ARCs in various capacities (evaluator, counselor, chairperson).
• Serve as ARC chairperson when designated by the Principal.
• Work cooperatively with classroom teachers in providing avenues and approaches to the solution of pupil problems.
• Provide general counseling for the purpose of building self-confidence, self-esteem, social skills, study skills and others.
• Disseminate educational testing results.
• Interpret test results.
• Compute test statistics.
• Maintain permanent records.
• Responsible for copying special education records to send to other schools when students transfer and for SSI claims.
• Assist in the development of I.E.P.’s.
• Assist with behavior management.
• Organize and update special education folders.
• Receive referrals from faculty.
• Assist in interpreting to teachers and parents psychological data concerning individual children.
• Evaluate children for Special Education.
• Complete a written report for individual evaluations.
• Attend professional meetings.
• Locate materials for teachers and parents concerning children (dealing with home and school problems).
• Complete 42 hours of Leadership Training every two years for professional growth and development.
• Maintain active membership in various professional organizations as they relate to counseling.
• Consult with teachers in the development of curriculum adaptations and classroom practices for pupils with special needs.
• Process transcripts and contact previous schools for special education records.
• Consult in the development and operation of the total school program for exceptional children.
• Screen students to identify those who should be referred for individual study.
• Conduct detailed individual analysis (counseling, testing, observation) of particular children in order to furnish deeper insights into their educational problems.
• Furnish clinical and diagnostic information concerning the particular emotional and psychological problems which interfere with a child’s effective learning or refer to a psychologist when deemed necessary.
• Inform parents of special needs of students when necessary.
• Perform related duties and assume other responsibilities as may be assigned by the Principal or the Superintendent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed