Middle School Counselor at Bellefonte Area School District in Bellefonte, PA

Job description

The Bellefonte Area School District is accepting applications for the Anticipated Middle School Counselor position Location: Bellefonte Area Middle School Type: Full-time Work Day : School Day Work Year : School Year, 9 month position. Department : Guidance Reports to : Building Principal Pay & Benefits Pay & Benefits information is available upon request. The pay scale is in accordance with our Collective Bargaining Agreement. Position Overview The Bellefonte Area School District is seeking a Middle School Counselor t o: Help students understand themselves, recognize their intrinsic worth as individuals, and their relationship to their environment. Help students understand and accept their aptitudes, interests, attitudes, values, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. Aid students in self-evaluation, self-understanding, and self-direction enabling each to make decisions consistent with short and long range goals. Demonstrate respect for the worth, dignity, and quality of students' human rights. Show concern for and assist in the planning of the students' educational, career, personal, and social development. Assist students in the development of an awareness of the world of work and in the use of school and community resources. Help students to acquire a better understanding of the world of work through the acquisition of skills and attitudes and/or participation in work. Key Responsibilities The Middle School Counselor will: Assist students through crisis intervention. Identify students and develop support programs for students at risk. Conduct academic counseling with students who appear not to be working up to their academic potential. Conduct placement counseling with individual students. Conduct personal counseling with students who may appear to be having social, emotional, or personal problems through family changes such as death, divorce, or separation. Conduct conflict resolution with students. Perform intake assessment to identify student needs. Conduct group counseling in a small group setting with students with similar concerns. Counsel students referred by staff or administration. Provide individual and/or group instruction on various topics (e.g., life skills, study skills, building self-esteem, stress management, coping strategies, conflict resolution, communication skills.) Serve as a liaison between parents, teachers, administration, and non-school agencies. Provide feedback and advice to instructional staff relative to student needs, performance, or interpersonal conflicts. Perform related duties as assigned. Evaluation: Performance of this job will be evaluated annually by the Building Principal in accordance with the provisions of the Board's policy and PDE regulations governing evaluation of professional personnel. Education Requirements Minimum: Master's degree in Elementary or Secondary Guidance Counseling and appropriate Pennsylvania teaching certification and program specialist certificate endorsed for Secondary Guidance Counseling. Experience Requirements Minimum: Background in working with both elementary and secondary children. Preferred: Experience as a classroom teacher. Certifications & Licenses Required: Pennsylvania teaching certification Program specialist certificate endorsed for Secondary Guidance Counseling LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze and interpret general periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, state and government regulations. Ability to effectively present information using a variety of media and respond to questions from students, administrators, staff, and general public. Possesses a thorough and current knowledge of curriculum and effective teaching practices MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to calculate various statistical procedures and interpret same. REASONING ABILITY: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and to develop and implement action plans. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of curriculum docum