BENTON HARBOR AREA SCHOOLS

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Guidance Counselor: Middle School

SUPERVISOR: Building Principal

LOCATION: Fair Plain Middle School

JOB SUMMARY: Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Assisting students in social, physiological, and educational development; counseling groups of students with a focus on understanding and accepting self; assisting in developing more positive ways of dealing with students; informing parents of counseling and guidance services; researching test results for assistance in class placement. Developing the master schedule and course catalog, and ensuring all students have appropriate schedules and transcripts.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Valid Michigan teaching certificate, with appropriate counseling endorsement.
Master's Degree in guidance and counseling.
Minimum of five (5) years of successful teaching experience preferred.
Above average past performance evaluations.
Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with staff and community.
Strong academic preparation and leadership ability.
Strong communication skills.
Proven ability to meet the challenges of an urban, multi-racial, multi-ethnic school district.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Current and valid Michigan Administrative Credential or eligible for

JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assist in planning/developing of the guidance program and the curriculum concerning students' needs.
Assist administrators and teachers in developing more positive ways of dealing with students as individuals and groups using the Michigan Comprehensive Guidance Curriculum.
Assist the Building Principal with the career counseling component of the K-12 Pathway System by sequencing appropriate career counseling experiences at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Make presentations to staff and students regarding career activities and opportunities.
Work closely with other counselors and teachers to direct services to all students.
Assist staff and parents with students' academic/career planning (EDP).
Assist the Building Principal in developing articulation agreements with local post-secondary institutions.
Assist students in identifying, planning, and attaining those goals that are consistent with their aptitudes, needs, abilities, and interests.
Promote the mental, physical, social, and emotional well-being of students.
Interpret student assessments.
Recommend special services and/or referral to external agencies.
Coordinate services for special population students with service providers within and external to the educational setting.
Coordinate special services with other service providers in the local district.
Develop a system for record-keeping of required student services.
Participate in the development of an educational environment that promotes the acquisition of career and technical skills for special population students.
Perform other duties assigned by the Superintendent or designee.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Commitment to Equity: Passionate about closing the achievement gap and ensuring that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, receives an excellent education
Leadership: Coaches, mentors, and challenges others to excel despite obstacles and challenging situations.
Focus on Data-Driven Results: Relentlessly pursues the improvement of central office performance and school leadership, instruction, and operations, and is driven by a desire to produce quantifiable student achievement gains.
Innovative Problem-Solving: Approaches work with a sense of possibility and sees challenges as opportunities for creative problem solving; takes initiative to explore issues and find potential innovative solutions.
Adaptability: Excels in constantly changing environments and adapts flexibly in shifting projects or priorities to meet the needs of a dynamic transformation effort; comfortable with ambiguity and non-routine situations.
Teamwork: Increases the effectiveness of surrounding teams through collaboration, constant learning, and supporting others; sensitive to diversity in all its forms; respects and is committed to learning from others.
Communication and Customer Service Skills: Communicates clearly and compellingly with diverse stakeholders in both oral and written forms; anticipates and responds to customer needs in a high-quality and courteous manner.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Salary based on education and experience pursuant to the Benton Harbor Area School Board policies and collective bargaining agreement for any position that falls under collective bargaining.

EVALUATION: The performance of this job will be evaluated by the Building Principal

FUNDING SOURCE:

If this position is funded using Title dollars, federal regulations do not allow a promise of employment beyond the current year of allocated funds. If this position is funded using state program dollars, the district is not obligated to fund the position beyond the current year's allocation. This position, at any time, may be dissolved based on funding availability and data collected from a comprehensive needs assessment.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individual currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned. Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts

Benton Harbor Area Schools provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER