Position Type:
Student Support Services/Guidance Counselor

Date Posted:
7/11/2022

Location:
Sebring Middle

Closing Date:
12/06/2022

THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HIGHLANDS COUNTY

POSITION TITLE: Guidance Counselor
ASSIGNMENT: Guidance Counselor


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Master's degree from an accredited educational institution as determined by the Florida Department of Education
2. Certified as a Guidance Counselor by the State of Florida
3. Physical Requirements: Light work, exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force as frequently as needed to move objects
4. Satisfactory clearance of a criminal history records check and drug screening

ADDITIONAL DESIRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

None exist at this time

PRIMARY PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Develops guidance programs based on developmental needs of students, needs assessments, and school and district priorities
2. Establishes long and short-range plans based on student needs, as well as school, district, and state priorities
3. Participates in Child Study/Collaborative Problem Solving, eligibility, and IEP committees, as assigned, to help meet the needs of identified students
4. Establishes priorities and an implementation schedule for counseling and student service programs
5. Communicate goals and services of the counseling programs to school administration, staff, students and parents.
6. Participates in multi disciplinary conferences concerning individual cases of special need, including academic, social, cultural, emotional, and economic
7. Reviews, evaluates, and selects a variety of materials to support a well-balanced counseling program
8. Implements, coordinates, and monitors school-wide counseling services and activities.
9. Establishes and follow procedures for appropriate intervention in accordance with school, district, and state laws, rules, and policies
10. Maintains student records according to established guidelines
11. Contributes to the effective operation of the school including participation in school-wide events, committees, and supervisory responsibilities to assure student safety
12. Establishes an environment for an effective counseling program
13. Utilizes technology resources effectively
14. Demonstrates knowledge of theories, techniques, and instruments used for assessment
15. Administers tests, interpret scores, and communicate results
16. Explains nature and purpose of assessment in an understandable manner, including its uses and limitations, and provide feedback to appropriate individuals
17. Exercises confidentiality in the sharing of test results
18. Utilizes relevant assessment data to make recommendations to students, parents, teachers, and other professionals
19. Evaluates counseling program objectives, including using feedback from students, parents, and staff
20. Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of guidance and counseling principles, programs, and services
21. Provides personal/social growth counseling including individual and group concerning academic success, understanding of self and others, communication skills, decision making, relationship skills, conflict resolution, goal setting, and effective coping skills necessary to refuse participation in substance abuse and physical violence
22. Recognizes, appreciates, and serves the cultural differences and special needs of individuals and families
23. Recognizes overt indicators of student distress or abuse and take appropriate intervention, referral, or reporting actions
24. Provides crisis intervention services, including follow-up services as appropriate
25. Develops transitional services by orienting new students and their parents and assisting students moving from grade to grade or school to school
26. Provides interventions for at-risk students and those with special learning and behavioral needs
27. Provides students with programs for career awareness and development of work/study skills
28. Develops with each student (at the secondary level) a comprehensive educational/career plan which targets high school completion, exploration and requirements of post-secondary opportunities, criteria for scholarships, and financial aid information
29. Consults with students, parents, teachers and other school staff to assist in meeting needs of students
30. Works effectively with parents
31. Serves as an advocate for students
32. Establishes an effective working relationship with outside services and make appropriate referrals for psychological, social work, health or community services
33. Provides information and/or inservices to teachers, administrators, and other school staff
34. Keeps abreast of current trends in counseling and guidance
35. Engages in continuing improvement of professional knowledge and skills
36. Maintains professional and ethical standards as outlined by the American School Counselor Association and the Code of Ethics and Principles of Conduct of the Education Profession in Florida
37. Keeps abreast of student/school legal issues and follow established procedures
38. Performs and fulfills professional responsibilities
39. Ensures that student growth/development is continuous and appropriate for age group and/or student program classification
40. Performs other incidental tasks consistent with the goals and objectives of this position

ADDITIONAL DUTIES:

Other duties as assigned by supervising administrator

TERM:

Length of contract and number of hours worked are determined by specific allocation as approved annually during planning-budgeting process

APPRAISAL:

Performance will be appraised annually by school administration in accordance with School Board policies and procedures

PAY GRADE:

According to the School Board of Highlands County Instructional Salary Schedule

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

Except as provided by law, The School Board of Highlands County shall not on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, political or religious beliefs, national or ethnic origin, or genetic information, exclude individuals from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity in any employment condition or practice, or be denied equal access to school facilities if the organization is The Boy Scouts of America or other patriotic youth groups.

Board approved October 1998
Reformatted 10/2015
Modified 08/19/2021

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR ALL PERSONNEL:

All applicants for positions offered by the School Board of Highlands County will be evaluated for possession of the following personal qualities:

1. Honesty, dependability, punctuality, accuracy, and diligence on the job
2. Ability to relate well to fellow workers, parents, students, and the general public
3. Habits of dress, grooming, and personal conduct suitable to the work site and school environment
4. Willingness to use professional practices appropriate to public service and school settings
5. Ability to communicate clearly and accurately, orally and in writing
6. Ability to understand and follow written and oral directions
7. Ability to access, organize, and maintain information needed in the performance of specific work tasks
8. Willingness to become totally familiar with and to comply with school district policies, procedures, rules, and functions
9. Demonstrate sensitivity to cultural diversity and to district expectations governing equity, non-discrimination, and equal opportunity
10. Willingness to complete in-service training needed to enhance and update job performance over a period of service

Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified applicants with disabilities during the application and interview process.

To request accommodations, please contact:
Carla Ball, Director of Human Resources
426 School Street
Sebring, FL 33870
863-471-5555
ballc@highlands.k12.fl.us