DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR

POSITION DESCRIPTION

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Consistent with the Douglas County School District Mission Statement and Statement of Beliefs, the counselor facilitates and coordinates the Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Plan, maximizing the child's potential in the three content areas of academic, career, and personal/social development.   This is achieved through:

GUIDANCE CURRICULUM - The professional school counselor implements the Guidance Curriculum Component through the use of effective instructional skills and the careful planning of structured group sessions for all students.

1.      The professional school counselor teaches guidance units effectively.

2.      The professional school counselor encourages staff involvement to ensure the effective implementation of the guidance curriculum.

INDIVIDUAL PLANNING - The professional school counselor implements the Individual Planning Component by guiding individuals and groups of students and their parents through the development of educational and career plans.

3.      The professional school counselor, in collaboration with parents, helps students establish goals and develop and use planning skills.

4.      The professional school counselor demonstrates accurate and appropriate interpretation of assessment data and the presentation of relevant, unbiased information.

5.      The professional school counselor implements and provides academic and career counseling.

RESPONSIVE SERVICES - The professional school counselor implements the Responsive Services Component through the effective use of individual and small group counseling, consultation, and referral skills.

6.      The professional school counselor counsels individual students and small groups of students with identified needs/concerns.

7.      The professional school counselor consults effectively with parents, teachers, administrators, and other relevant individuals.

8.      The professional school counselor implements an effective referral process in collaboration with parents, administrators, teachers, and other school personnel.

SYSTEM SUPPORT - The professional school counselor implements the System Support Component through effective guidance program management and support for other educational programs.

9.      The professional school counselor provides a comprehensive and balanced guidance program in collaboration with school staff.

10.   The professional school counselor provides support for other school programs.

11.   The professional school counselor demonstrates positive interpersonal relations with students.

12.   The professional school counselor demonstrates positive interpersonal relations with educational staff.

13.   The professional school counselor demonstrates positive interpersonal relations with parents/patrons.

14.   The professional school counselor demonstrates a commitment to ongoing professional growth.

15.   The professional school counselor possesses professional and responsible work habits.

16.   The professional school counselor follows the profession's ethical and legal standards and guidelines, as well as promotes cultural diversity and inclusivity in school policy and interpersonal relationships.

While the professional school counselor may perform other counseling duties as assigned by the principal, the priority is implementing and coordinating the program in the above listed areas.   At times, the responsibility for implementing guidance and counseling activities will be shared among the school counselor, teachers, administrators, and classified personnel at each site.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Perform related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Work is performed under the general direction of the School Principal who will annually evaluate the performance of the professional school counselor.   The employee is expected to exercise initiative and judgment in planning and organizing work, completing assignments and handling routine and unusual problems.  Work is reviewed through conferences and reports for results achieved and shall be evaluated at least annually.

WORK CONTACTS

Frequent contact with teachers, students, parents, district staff, and other school personnel is required.

CONDITIONS OF WORK

Light physical activity in a normal office environment.

DESIRABLE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

The ability to perform the following work activities with or without reasonable accommodation:

®   Establish and maintain effective working relationships.

®   Supervise education students.

®   Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

®   Work independently and meet deadlines.

®   Maintain regular attendance and punctuality.

Knowledge of counseling concepts and programs; applicable laws, regulations, and codes is desirable.

Successful experience in counseling students (preferably at the middle or high school level) who have had difficulty succeeding in school is desirable.

Demonstrated ability to work effectively with others is desirable.

ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

Responsible counseling experience in education programs is required.

A Master's Degree from an accredited college or university is required, with major course work in academic education and/or counseling or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the work.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Nevada driver's license is required.   Possession of or ability to obtain a Counseling Endorsement issued by the State of Nevada is required.

*Additional days may be requested by the Douglas County School District, paid at 1/186 of base work year.  Additional days are limited to eight days for the professional school counselor who works in 7-9 grade schools and ten days for the professional school counselor who works in 10-12 grade schools.