School Counselor

Bethalto Community Unit School District 8•Bethalto, IL

About The Position

The School Counselor’s primary role is working with students. The counselor also serves as a consultant, resource person, guidance specialist, researcher, and educator to students individually and in small groups, supporting student counseling and advocacy. The role provides developmental guidance, helps students address life situations using coping and problem-solving skills, and supports academic, career, and graduation planning. The counselor works with students, families, school staff, administration, and community agencies, and helps coordinate student schedules, records, assessments, and educational planning. The district’s mission is “Whatever It Takes” to ensure every student succeeds.

Requirements

Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with School Counselor Endorsement.
Strong counseling and interpersonal skills.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to collaborate effectively with students, staff, families, and the community.
Ability to enforce school policies fairly and professionally.

Responsibilities

Provides developmental guidance directly and indirectly to all students on a regular basis.
Assists in identifying, diagnosing, and addressing the needs of individual students with specialized needs; attends related conferences or meetings when properly notified and necessary.
Assists with maintaining accurate, complete, and correct cumulative records as required by law, district policy, and administrative regulation.
Assists administration in implementing policies and rules governing student life and conduct, and maintains order in supervised areas fairly and justly.
Provides teachers with relevant student personnel information, including interpretation of standardized test scores when needed to support students with unique backgrounds or problems.
Creates and manages annual master student scheduling, including new student schedules, schedule changes, and preparation of schedules for the new school year.
Helps students develop coping and problem-solving skills for approaching life situations.
Assists with organizing, administering, and interpreting district evaluation and screening programs and individual results.
Consults with parents, staff, administration, and community agencies about student development and district programs and procedures.
Monitors and assists in delivering a comprehensive educational and career-planning program tailored to student needs.
Promotes the counseling department and District through public contact and use of the media.
Plans and organizes the execution of job functions effectively.
Keeps current with changes in counseling strategies and seeks to incorporate positive changes into counseling services.
Advises students and families on academics, career planning, and graduation.
For high school counselors, stays current on graduation requirements, including special requirements such as community service, and communicates relevant information to the principal.
Assists students and parents with course selection based on state credit and graduation requirements, student needs, and interests.
Organizes and helps administer practice and required standardized assessment testing.