Primary Function:

The Counselor shall be the liaison between the students, parents, program, staff and resources of the school. Students will be given timely information, advice and assesment to help them reach their highest potential in education and career goals.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Counsels with students, parents and teachers individually, or in groups, regarding academic assessment, personal and/or school-related problems:
• Communicates accurate information to students, staff, and parents regarding academic, college/career data;
• Responds to teacher/staff concerns about students' personal, academic, discipline, and/or attendance-related issues;
• Maintains appropriate student records;
• Maintains awareness of curriculum and instructional practices;
• Coordinates with internal and external agencies to provide additional support services to studendts in need which may include various groups and/or individual peer counseling;
• Provides crisis counseling as needed;
• Works collaboratively with school staff and leadership to understand reform issues and work toward closing the achievement gap;
• May oversee Student Study Team meetings, 504 Plans, Student Attendance Review Team meetings;
• Adheres to and enforces all policies and regulations of the NVUSD Board of Trustees and the State of California;
• Performs duties as assigned by principal normally related to counseling functions;
• Serves as a resource to the faculty regarding information about pre-adolescent behavior, attitudes, characteristics, etc., especially as these impact the campus and the classroom;
• Serves as the primary non-teaching contact for parents and other responsible adults. The counselor serves as a resource and referral for grade level Assistant Principals in dealing with habitually high risk students; and
• Serves as liaison in receiving high risk students from elementary schools, and in transition to the high schools.

Knowledge and Abilities 

• Knowledge of counseling objectives, principles and procedures;
• Knowledge of middle school curriculum
• Ability to identify and determine the nature of student problems and needs and to provide assistance;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with staff, students, parents, the public, and community agencies contacted in the performance of duties;
• Ability to manage time effectively to complete required tasks; and
• Ability to speak and write effectively.

Qualifications

The minimum requirements are a bachelor's degree and a valid Pupil Services California credential authorizing service in school counseling. Additional requisites are the ability to meet District standards of physical and mental health, professional attitude and leadership ability.

Physical Chararcteristics:

With or without the use of aids: sufficient vision to read printed materials; sufficient hearing to hear normal and telephone conversations; sufficient capability to speak in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in normal conversations; sufficient nanual dexterity to use telephone and operate office equipment and sufficient strength to perform lifting requirement of specific assignment.