School Counselor

Anne Arundel County Public Schools•Annapolis, MD

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The School Counselor manages, implements, coordinates, and evaluates a comprehensive school counseling program that is data-driven, preventive, and developmental, based on the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model. The counselor helps students develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to make educational, career, and personal decisions, and promotes educational equity, access, and academic success. At least 80% of work time is devoted to direct services for students, staff, and parents. Work schedule and salary vary depending on the school assignment. The counselor delivers services in academic, social/emotional, and career domains through individual advising, large-group guidance, and small-group counseling. The role includes student and family support, academic and career planning, crisis response, parent education, community collaboration, program assessment, and participation in school and system-wide activities. For assignments to the Virtual Academy, one year of experience with virtual learning technology, remote instruction platforms, learning management systems, and video conferencing tools is required. Bilingual and biliterate proficiency in the targeted language is required if assigned to a bilingual program. The position requires a master's degree in a related education field, three semester hours of State-approved continuing professional development credits in special education coursework, and an active or eligible Maryland State Department of Education School Counselor certificate or license. The employee must also hold or be eligible for a Class C non-commercial driver's license and have daily access to reliable transportation. The position is based in an office, school, or similar indoor environment. It is a 12-month position with 260 days worked and 7.5 hours worked, with schedule and salary dependent on assignment.

Requirements

Master's degree in a related field of education from a regionally accredited college or university.
Three semester hours of State-approved continuing professional development credits in special education coursework.
Hold or be eligible for a School Counselor certificate or license issued by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
Hold or be eligible for a Class C non-commercial driver's license issued by Maryland or the employee’s state of legal residence.
Daily access to reliable transportation.
Adhere to ASCA and American Counseling Association (ACA) ethical standards and applicable federal, state, and local statutes.
Use technology effectively to deliver relevant and efficient services.
Demonstrate awareness, sensitivity, and knowledge in facilitating the personal and educational goals of a multicultural student population.
Demonstrate effectiveness in counseling people from varied racial and ethnic groups and diverse populations.
Know the growth and developmental stages of children and adolescents.
Work effectively as part of a team or independently with staff, students, and parents.
Have excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to speak effectively to large and small groups.
Demonstrate proficiency with business technology applications and other relevant technology tools used in school counseling.
If assigned to the Virtual Academy, have one year of experience with virtual learning technology, remote instruction platforms, learning management systems, and video conferencing tools.
If assigned to a bilingual program, be bilingual and biliterate in the targeted language.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and/or PowerPoint, is preferred.

Responsibilities

Implement a planned, sequential, developmental, data-driven school counseling program and connect program outcomes to AACPS and School Improvement Plans.
Provide direct services to students and families for at least 80% of work time.
Differentiate instructional, prevention, and intervention strategies to address students’ needs.
Deliver academic, social/emotional, and career services through individual advising, large-group guidance, and small-group counseling.
Plan activities collaboratively with administrators, teachers, parents, students, and student support services teams.
Participate in student articulation and orientation.
Help students and families address adjustment problems, including making referrals to other student services staff and local agencies as needed.
Support development of students’ social/emotional skills to reduce negative behaviors and encourage positive, productive behavior.
Provide solution-based responsive individual counseling for students’ life issues.
Participate in crisis prevention and crisis management as a member of the school-based crisis team.
Report and refer critical incidents as required by law, administrative regulations, and ethical standards.
Provide educational and career planning, including structured academic and career plans for senior high school students, as required by MSDE and AACPS.
Help parents understand expectations, roles, and procedures for monitoring students’ academic and career planning during transition periods.
Collaborate with school administrators and staff on college- and career-readiness and graduation requirements, including transcript interpretation, academic advising, senior contracts, support for at-risk students, academic monitoring tools, stakeholder communication, and timely response to potential graduation issues.
Communicate financial aid and scholarship information and resources to students and parents in multiple formats, including county-provided technology tools.
Promote parent involvement and education through varied approaches.
Identify and access school and community resources for students and families.
Collaborate with community, agency, and business partners to expand educational and career options for students.
Collect and use accurate, meaningful data to plan and evaluate program effectiveness.
Represent the school counseling department on school and system-wide committees and activities as requested by the principal or school counseling coordinator.
Provide leadership through advocacy, program management, and school counseling service delivery.
Participate in designing, coordinating, and presenting professional development for teachers and school staff.
Participate in mandatory professional development identified by the Office of School Counseling.
Perform other related duties as assigned within the same classification or lower.