Purpose of Job: The Guidance Counselor is responsible for helping students overcome problems that impede learning and assisting them in making educational, occupational, and life plans.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are normal for this job. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Job Functions-Elementary and Middle School Counselor

• Organize and coordinate an effective school guidance and counseling program that is based upon the needs of students, staff, and parents.
• Provide individual, small group, and large group counseling to students.
• Prepare teaching outline for all groups to coincide with the guidance curriculum and work with parents, when necessary, to provide appropriate methods to meet the student's needs.
• Provide counseling to students in terms of increasing self-awareness and developing a positive self-concept.
• Provide consultation to students about decisions and goals.
• Provide career awareness opportunities for the students.
• Provide counseling and behavior alternatives to students who are referred as having problems with attendance, retention, discipline, and pre-delinquency.
• Act as student advocate in matters involving students.
• Serve as school 504 Compliance Coordinator.
• Attend M-Team and other student support meetings when requested by the Principal.
• Provide parents with information about school policies and procedures, school course offerings, educational and occupational opportunities and requirements, and resources that can contribute to the fullest development of their children.
• Interpret information about students to parents to give insight into the student as a person.
• Assist students and parents to be aware of and to accept referral to other specialists in student personnel services and community agencies.
• Assist teachers in identifying students with special needs and keeps teachers informed of developments concerning individual students who might have a bearing on the classroom situation.
• Confidentially share individual student data with appropriate staff members.
• Assist teacher in providing group guidance experience for students upon teacher request.
• Facilitates the development of communication between students and faculty.
• Provide counseling to increase career awareness.
• Conduct continuing student appraisals.
• Maintain continual awareness and understanding of the needs of students, teachers, and the community.
• Update individual competencies to keep up to date with current trends.
• Maintain student permanent records.
• Synergy administrator, maintain student/staff records, schedule, demographics, transportation, nutrition, parent portal, enrollment.
• Assist school administrators and instructional coach with administration of state and benchmark tests.

Marginal Job Functions

• Represents the school, the school system, and the community in a positive manner.
• Strives for self-improvement.
• Encourages students to reach out to accomplish their hopes and dreams.
• Adaptability to performing a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another.
• Adaptability to accepting responsibility for the direction, control, or planning of an activity.
• Adaptability to dealing with students.
• Ability to make generalizations, evaluations, or decisions based on sensory or judgmental criteria.
• Ability to perform arithmetic operations quickly and accurately.
• Possess strong writing, speaking, and human relations skills.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Director of Schools, Human Resources Director, Director of Instruction, Director of Special Education, Director of Whole Child, or Principal.
• Demonstrate personal characteristics expected of all Lake County Schools employees.
• Demonstrate English proficiency in oral and written English.
• Complete Intent to Return Form annually.
• Complete required annual and safety training via the designated Training Management System each school year by the established due date.
• Routinely review your Lake County Schools system email.
• Enter absence information timely via the designated Leave Management System.
• Meet the necessary health and physical qualifications.
• Complete satisfactory background checks as required by the Tennessee State Department of Education and state law.
  

Minimum Training and Experience Required to Perform Essential Job Functions

Current valid educator license preferred. Bachelor's degree required. Candidate must be willing to pursue licensure and endorsement in school counseling through Grow Your Own beginning Fall 2023.

KNOWLEDGE OF JOB

Has general knowledge of the policies, procedures, and activities of the School System as they pertain to the performance of duties relating to the job of the teacher. Has general knowledge of teaching and practices as necessary in the completion of daily responsibilities. Knows how to keep abreast of any changes in policy, methods, equipment needs, etc. as they pertain to classroom operations and activities. Can effectively communicate and interact with supervisors, members of the general public, and all other groups involved in the activities of the school. Can assemble information and make written reports and documents in a concise, clear, and effective manner. Have good organizational and technical skills. Can use independent judgment and work with little direct supervision when necessary. Has the ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply regulations, procedures, and related information. Has comprehensive knowledge of the terminology, principles, and methods utilized within the classroom and school. Has the mathematical ability to handle required calculations.

(ADA) MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be physically able to operate a variety of office machines. Must be able to use body members to work, move, or carry objects or materials. Must be able to exert up to twenty pounds of force occasionally, and/or up-to ten pounds of force frequently. Physical demand requirements are at levels of those for active work. Must be able to lift and/or carry the weight of twenty to forty pounds.

DATA CONCEPTION: Requires the ability to compare and or judge the readily observable functional, technical, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things.

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION: Requires the ability to speak and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. This includes giving assignments and/or directions to co-workers or assistants.

LANGUAGE ABILITY: Requires the ability to read a variety of informational documentation, directions, instructions and methods and procedures related to the job of the Federal Programs Coordinator. Requires the ability to write reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control, and confidence using correct English and a well-modulated voice.

INTELLIGENCE: Requires the ability to learn and understand complex principles and techniques; to make independent judgments in absence of supervision; to acquire knowledge of topics related to the job of teacher.

VERBAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to record and deliver information to supervisors and officials; to explain procedures and policies; and to follow verbal and written instructions, guidelines, and objectives.

NUMERICAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; add and subtract totals; multiply and divide; determine percentages; determine time and weight.

INTERPERSONAL TEMPERAMENT: Requires the ability to deal with people (i.e. staff, supervisors, the general public, and officials) beyond giving and receiving instructions such as in interpreting school policies and procedures. Must be adaptable to performing under considerable stress when confronted with an emergency.

PHYSICAL COMMUNICATION: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas using spoken words). (Hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear).

ATTENDANCE: A regular and dependable level of attendance is an essential function for this position.

The Lake County School System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the school system may provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.