School Counselor

Orange County Public Schools•Orlando, FL

16h

About The Position

The School Counselor provides students with educational, emotional, and social stability through a comprehensive school counseling program and helps students achieve their highest potential in a safe learning environment. The role provides counseling, crisis intervention, career and educational planning, and data-informed support for students. The counselor also works with parents, teachers, school staff, and specialists to address students’ academic, behavioral, personal, and social needs. The position reports to the School Principal.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from an accredited college or university.
Certification or eligibility for certification by the Florida State Department of Education to teach in Florida.
Valid Florida driver’s license.
Knowledge of counseling techniques, crisis prevention and arbitration, career counseling resources, and district policies and state and national legislation related to guidance and counseling.
Ability to communicate orally and in writing; analyze educational data, testing instruments, and measurement practices; operate software applications and perform routine typing and basic computer operations; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with parents, instructors, students, and the public.
Ability to perform the stated physical tasks, which may include stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling objects and materials weighing 12–20 pounds.

Responsibilities

Provide individual and group counseling to support academic success, self-understanding, communication, decision-making, relationship skills, conflict resolution, and goal setting.
Provide crisis intervention, including services related to suicide prevention, child abuse, health concerns, and substance abuse, and provide follow-up services as appropriate.
Conduct individual conferences and group meetings with parents to communicate about and support improved student performance; refer students and parents to appropriate specialists in accordance with district guidelines.
Maintain student guidance records and confidentiality.
Provide career counseling to students as assigned.
Recommend higher-education and college options, admissions, and scholarships to students.
Arrange alternative educational processes as needed.
Confer with teachers about possible classroom academic or behavioral interventions and modifications.
Identify and evaluate student data, including grades, test scores, attendance, promotion rates, graduation rates, and postsecondary enrollment rates.
Use data to develop strategies that positively affect students.
Guide students individually and in groups in developing educational plans and in career awareness and personal and social growth.
Assist the principal and staff in evaluating guidance services and provide data to support recommendations for changes to the school program.
Identify students at risk of leaving school and begin programs to improve their educational skills and interest in school.
Develop and provide materials on education, career awareness, and personal and social development for students, teachers, and parents.
Participate in multidisciplinary team staffing for students being considered for exceptional student education programs or Section 504 accommodations.
Keep current with job-appropriate technology used by OCPS and attend district-supported training to maintain the technology skills required for the position.
Maintain timely and accurate information as part of job responsibilities.
Perform other duties as assigned by the principal.