26-27SY Teacher, Full-time-School Counselor K-6 Steel

School District of Philadelphia•Philadelphia, PA

About The Position

The School Counselor provides counseling and guidance services to students, supporting their academic, personal, social, and career development. The role includes individual and group counseling, classroom guidance, and broad-based programs addressing decision-making, conflict resolution, self-esteem, coping strategies, and related issues. The counselor serves as a key resource for students at risk of not reaching their academic potential and for issues including dropout prevention, substance abuse, pregnancy, homelessness, and crisis prevention and intervention. The position also involves collaboration with families, school staff, and community or governmental agencies, along with referrals and follow-up services. Specialty-specific duties may include providing counseling in a specified world language or in American Sign Language and Signed English; coordinating college-related services for Middle College students; or delivering academic, college, and career counseling and program activities for GEAR UP 3 students. The posting identifies the position as K-6 in its heading, while the job summary and duties describe secondary and/or middle school counseling. The regular and Sign Language, Bilingual, and GEAR UP 3 specialties require a master’s degree in school counseling from an accredited college or university. Certificate requirements vary by specialty: Regular, Sign Language, and GEAR UP 3 require an applicable Pennsylvania school counselor certificate; the Bilingual Specialty requires a signed verification letter showing current enrollment in an approved School Counselor certification program.

Requirements

For Regular, Sign Language, Bilingual, and GEAR UP 3 specialties: master’s degree in school counseling from an accredited college or university.
Regular, Sign Language, and GEAR UP 3 specialties: valid Pennsylvania instructional specialist certificate endorsed for Secondary Counselor, or a Guidance Counselor Certificate issued before July 1, 1969; alternatively, a valid Pennsylvania Elementary and Secondary School Counselor (PreK–12) certificate.
Bilingual Specialty: signed letter from the Certification Officer of an accredited college or university verifying current enrollment in an approved School Counselor certification program.
Knowledge of individual and group counseling principles, practices, and theories; developmental and educational guidance; and current secondary or middle school counseling techniques and trends.
Knowledge of adolescent development, individual and group behavior, group dynamics, interpersonal interactions, and communication techniques.
Knowledge of health, economic, and social issues experienced by urban families and of community and governmental support agencies.
Ability to provide individual and group counseling and conduct group support or guidance sessions.
Ability to use tact, diplomacy, and sound judgment when handling sensitive or personal problems and hostile attitudes.
Ability to work effectively with students and families and help them use their capacities to address specific problems.
Ability to identify signs of substance abuse and students at risk for suicide and to participate in crisis intervention.
Ability to interpret standardized test scores, marking guidelines, and promotional policies.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and to maintain counseling records, reports, correspondence, and statistical summaries.
Bilingual Specialty: knowledge of English and the specified world language, including its history and culture, and fluency speaking, reading, and writing both languages.
Sign Language Specialty: knowledge of social and emotional issues related to deafness or hearing impairment, relevant diagnostic and assessment instruments, and the history and culture of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community; proficiency in Signed English and American Sign Language.

Responsibilities

Provide general school counseling and guidance, including individual and group services.
Implement programs addressing decision-making, conflict resolution, self-esteem, coping strategies, and related issues.
Plan and provide classroom guidance on post-high-school planning, career exploration, relationships, and decision-making.
Counsel students and parents about issues affecting or potentially affecting academic achievement and social, emotional, or personal development.
Address issues affecting students at risk of failing to attain their academic potential.
Serve as a school-based resource for dropout prevention, substance abuse, pregnancy, homelessness, and crisis prevention and intervention.
Participate in team interventions with other staff to support students.
Collaborate with parents, teachers, and other staff in planning and implementing students’ educational programs.
Refer students and families to outside agencies as needed and provide ongoing follow-up services.
Gather and disseminate information on issues including substance abuse, suicide prevention, teen pregnancy, and homelessness.
Keep current with school counseling and guidance techniques and trends relevant to the specialty.
Prepare and maintain student counseling records and prepare reports, correspondence, and statistical summaries.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
For the Bilingual Specialty, provide school and guidance services in English and a specified world language and ensure access to appropriate bilingual counseling materials.
For the Middle College Specialty, liaise with the college, plan college visits, monitor students’ college readiness, and coordinate academic interventions and supports.
For the Sign Language Specialty, provide school and guidance services in American Sign Language and Signed English and ensure access to specialized materials for deaf or hard-of-hearing students.
For GEAR UP 3, provide academic, college, and career counseling; college and career information; financial aid and FAFSA support; and assistance with college visits, events, mentoring, job shadowing, internships, and college entrance exams.
For GEAR UP 3, develop and publicize career events and resources, participate in action planning and professional development, maintain records and weekly student/program data, submit matching-fund documents, and provide updates to the program manager.
For GEAR UP 3, participate in on-site visits, regional and district meetings, and GEAR UP conferences.