COUNSELOR (K-5)

BASIC FUNCTION:

Under the direction of a site administrator, provide behavioral and educational counseling to individuals and small groups of students; assists students in understanding and seeking solutions to social, emotional, or academic problems and issues; serve as a resource pertaining to student behavior management strategies, and welfare and attendance problems and concerns; and other related functions as required.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

1. Perform individual and group counseling and guidance functions and activities, including career and vocational, and social and emotional adjustment counseling.

2. Collect, organize, and analyze student information through the use of educational data, test results, and interview techniques.

3. Appraise student interests, aptitudes, and attitudes utilizing a variety of assessment strategies and techniques.

4. Serve as a resource to site and District personnel, and members of the school community.

5. Meet, confer, and counsel with parents, school personnel, and members of various youth serving agencies in developing alternative solutions to student educational, social, and emotional problems and concerns.

6. Assist in the development and monitoring of individual education plans for students with exceptional needs.

7. Maintain a liaison with social and youth service agencies in pursuing referral follow up activities.

8. Pursue evaluation and research activities to determine counseling and guidance effectiveness.

9. Assist in identifying school program needs, and participate in developing school instructional programs geared to meet individual pupil needs.

10. Establish, maintain, and monitor the maintenance of a variety of files and records pertaining to student counseling, guidance, and related matters.

11. Assist in dealing with student behavior management programs, and in resolving welfare and attendance problems and concerns.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge Of: 

1.Principles, methods, techniques, strategies, and trends in educational adjustment  counseling; applicable and appropriate aptitude, interest, and achievement appraisal instruments, techniques, and procedures; social and youth service agencies in the local area; social, emotional, and behavioral characteristics of adolescent students; program evaluation and research techniques, strategies, and procedures; appropriate curriculum and instructional programs pertaining to students with a variety of aptitudes and varying interests; and Section 504 Plan and individual education plans

Ability To:

1. Assist students in effectively analyzing and developing alternative solutions to behavioral, educational, social, and emotional problems and concerns; conduct, analyze, and effectively utilize a variety of individual and group testing procedures and instruments applicable to student clients; effectively deal with site and District personnel, parents, social and youth service agencies in resolving student problems and concerns; effectively participate in the planning and implementation of school guidance and curricular programs; communicate effectively in oral and written form; understand and carry out oral and written directions with minimal accountability controls; establish and maintain effective organizational, public and community relationships comply with the District’s customer service standards, as outlined in Board Policy.

 Experience:

One year of successful public school counseling experience or two years successful classroom teaching.

 Education:

Equivalent to the completion of an earned Master of Arts or higher degree in psychology, or counseling, and guidance.

Certificate Requirement:

Possess a valid California Public Personnel Services Credential authorizing service as a counselor.

COUNSELOR – Middle School/Community Day School

BASIC FUNCTION:

Under the direction of a site administrator, provide behavioral and educational counseling to individuals and small groups of students; assists students in understanding and seeking solutions to social, emotional, or academic problems and issues; assist with meeting district goals pertaining to student behavior management strategies, and welfare and attendance problems and concerns; and other related functions as required.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

1. Perform individual and group counseling and guidance functions and activities, including career and vocational, and social and emotional adjustment counseling.
2. Collect, organize, and analyze student information through the use of educational data, test results, and interview techniques; facilitate Intervention Progress Team meetings, IEPs, 504 Plan meetings, etc.
3. Appraise student interests, aptitudes, and attitudes utilizing a variety of assessment strategies and techniques.
4. Serve as a resource to site and District personnel, and members of the school community, provide outreach as necessary.
5. Meet, Confer, and counsel with parents, school personnel, and members of various youth serving agencies in developing alternative solutions to student educational, social, and emotional problems and concerns.
6. Assist in the development and monitoring of individual educat5ion and attendance plans for students in district programs.
7. Maintain a liaison with social and youth services agencies in pursuing referral follow up activities.
8. Pursue evaluation and research activities to determine counseling and guidance effectiveness.
9. Assist in identifying school/site program needs, and participate in developing programs geared to meet individual pupil/family needs; work as a team with other Rio staff to develop, promote and implement appropriate support plans and/or events for participations in our community.
10. Establish, maintain, and monitor the maintenance of a variety of files and records   pertaining to student counseling, guidance, attendance, and related matters.
11. Assist in dealing with positive behavior management programs, and in resolving     welfare and attendance problems and concerns.
12. Monitor and follow up with documentation of attendance, behavior and grades of   at-risk students; assist with documentation needed by authorized third parties      (i.e. probation, physician etc.)
13. May translate written material from English to a designated second language and   from that language into English; may translate conversations or provide                 interpretive services for non-English speaking individuals and others.
14. Other duties as assign.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge Of:

1. Principles, methods, techniques, strategies, and trends in educational adjustment counseling; applicable and appropriate aptitude, interest, and achievement appraisal instruments, techniques, and procedures; social and youth services agencies in the local area; social, emotional, and behavioral characteristics of adolescent students; program evaluation and research techniques, strategies, and procedures; appropriate curriculum and instructional programs pertaining to students with a variety of aptitudes and varying interests; and Section 504 plan and individual education plans.

Experience:

One year of successful public school counseling experience or two years successful classroom teaching.

Education:

Equivalent to the completion of an earned Master of Arts or higher degree in psychology, or counseling, and guidance.

Certificate Requirement:

Possess a valid California Public Personnel Services Credential authorizing service as a counselor.