Description

School counselors make a significant contribution toward the academic, career and personal/social success of all students. School counselors work in a leadership role with other student service professionals including social workers, psychologists, nurses, and in liaison with staff and parents, to provide comprehensive school counseling programs that focus on prevention and intervention of behaviors that place students at risk. School counselors perform a variety of duties including personal counseling, career counseling, academic advisement, and consultation with teachers and parents. The school counselor uses training, experience, and skills in delivering comprehensive school counseling programs in the classroom, with groups of students, and individually.

School counselors are effective change agents for individuals, families, communities and institutions. School counselors work with youth of varied abilities, cultural backgrounds, economic levels and value orientations found in contemporary California. The school counselor is committed to making a constructive contribution to the improvement of communities and schools, as well assisting individual students. The school counselor works with students to understand the consequences of their behavior and helps students learn and use more appropriate ways to act or control behavior.

The school counselor may:

• Provide classroom guidance lessons to increase student knowledge and awareness of the dangers of at-risk behaviors and available resources to address student needs.

• Provide individual student planning sessions to address academic, personal/social and career development needs.

• Provide responsive services, including short-term individual, and group counseling.

• Collaborate with school staff to identify students in crisis.

• Provide referral services to appropriate support services and community agencies.

• Provide staff development to school and district staff.

• Provide consultation and support to parents/guardians of students demonstrating at-risk behaviors.

Education and Training

1. A Master’s Degree with emphasis in school counseling or closely related field, from a regionally accredited university.

2. A Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling, or similar credential (e.g. School Psychology).

3. Any combination of one year of teaching and School Counseling Internship experience.

4. Satisfactory recommendations from training supervisors or other professionals who have observed the candidate’s personal characteristics, scholastic achievement and job-related performance.

Other Requirements

Possesses the following personal qualities:

1. Ability to meet district standards for physical and mental health.

2. Evidence of good moral character.

3. Ability to communicate orally and in writing.

4. Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the district may find appropriate and acceptable.