NOTTOWAY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Excellence in Education

Position Title:                            Middle School Counselor

Terms of Employment:               11 Months/220 days

Supervisor:                               Principal

FSLA Status:                             Exempt

Minimum Annual Salary:            $41,721

General Description:

The school counselor supports the academic success of all students by the development and management of a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program that is preventative in design and developmental in nature, encompassing both the ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors and the VDOE School Counseling standards, and that is in alignment with national, state, local standards and individual school’s needs. 

This job description is intended to accurately reflect the position’s activities and requirements; however, the administration reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary. It is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position and does not imply an employment contract. 

Preferred Minimum Qualifications:

• Hold the Postgraduate Professional License with an endorsement in school counseling.
• Master’s Degree in School Counseling
• Have demonstrated the professional and personal characteristics necessary for working effectively with students, parents, school personnel and members of the community.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

Thorough knowledge of the curriculum, instruction, and counseling/guidance theory and practice. Knowledge of group dynamics and small group processes. Knowledge of K-12 child development. Knowledge of cultural awareness theories and culturally responsive practices. Knowledge of the ASCA Model. Working knowledge of K-12 instructional programs, promotion and retention requirements, Virginia Standards of Learning, Profile of a Virginia Graduate, standardized testing and procedures and interpretation of scores, gifted and special education programs. Thorough knowledge of local, state, and federal standards (including, but not limited to, FERPA, IDEA, McKinney-Vento Act, ESL, and other state and federal mandates concerning student rights and confidentiality). Skills to function as leaders, advocates, collaborators and agents of systemic change in support of all students’ needs. Skills to develop, review, and periodically update the Academic and Career Plan Portfolios (ACPP) in accordance with students’ post-graduation educational and occupational goals. Counseling skills must include problem identification/analysis skills and basic therapy resolution. Communication skills, both oral and written, must be highly developed to meet the diverse needs of the clientele, professional staff, and other community agencies. Ability to run individual and group counseling sessions and design core curriculum lessons based on assessed needs. Ability to organize, deliver, manage and evaluate services using the American School Counseling Association’s (ASCA) National Model as the guide. 

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide services to students in the areas of academics, attendance, personal/social/peer relationships, and career development.
• Conduct individual, small, and large group guidance sessions.
• Assist students in conflict resolution. 
• Conduct classroom guidance activities.
• Expose students to career exploration and interest inventories (e.g., Major Clarity, Workplace Readiness Skills, etc.). 
• Conduct individual student academic program planning. Assist with the academic program planning of students transitioning to the next school.
• Prepare reports, records, lists and all other required information and data.
• Enroll/withdraw students, communicating with other schools and maintaining appropriate documentation, as required
• Maintain and update student cumulative folders.
• Interpret student records.  
• Assist with student course selection and placement. Inform students of all options available to them (e.g., AP, DE, Virtual Virginia, etc.) for course selection.
• Maintain a variety of files/records as well as supplementary and reference materials. 
• Provide for the student’s orientation to the school and its offerings.
• Assist in the identification of students with special needs.  
• Participate in SST/RTI/VTSS, Child Study and 504 meetings.
• Refer students to intervention/remediation programs, as well as, academic and alternative programs to ensure academic success and personal well-being.
• Inform students of extracurricular activities and sports that are available.
• Participate in design and implementation of behavior modification programs for students (e.g., FBA, BIP)
• Promote effective public relations through outreach and participation in community activities.
• Initiate student programs.  
• Communicate with parents, individually or in group sessions, regularly regarding opportunities and/or information related to school activities/events
• Refer students to appropriate school personnel and community agencies.  
• Encourage teacher/parent communication and community involvement.
• Participate in parent/teacher conferences.  
• Explain and interpret division-wide policies/goals/objectives, test data, and/or student records that impact students’ academic achievement and the school counseling program to students, parents, teachers, and the community.
• Serve as a resource for school personnel and parents.  
• Serve as a member of the school’s crisis team. 
• Follow required procedures and practices.  
• Participate in professional development activities.  
• Participate in counselor related school and/or division activities.
• Create a school counseling calendar.
• Review school data frequently to ensure that the school counseling program is meeting the academic, career and personal/social development of all students.
• Perform related work and other duties as assigned by the Principal or designee.

Work Direction/Supervision:

Supervised by the Principal or Designee

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity to use a telephone to enter data into a computer terminal; to see and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids; to hear, understand speech, and speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly at normal levels indoors and on the telephone. Physical agility to drive, bend, stoop, sit on the floor, climb stairs, walk, and reach overhead.

Requirements

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal History Investigation
• State Police Criminal History Investigation
• Child Protective Services (CPS) Investigation
• Tuberculosis Screening/Test
• Possession of a valid driver’s license

Nottoway County Public Schools (NCPS) assures Equal Employment Opportunities for employees as required by Federal and State Orders and Laws. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks. NCPS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities; and provides equal access to designated youth groups. The Director of Human Resources has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies.