POSITION TITLE: School Counselor
REPORTS TO: Director of Student Services
STATUS: Full Time; Exempt
CONTACT: Submit cover letter, resume and Christian faith testimony to HR@swchs.org
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Southwest Christian High School’s (SWCHS) School Counselor is responsible to assist the Director of Student Services (DSS) in overseeing the academic programs of SWCHS students; conduct high school, college and career counseling for assigned SWCHS students; counsel assigned students regarding personal, emotional, social and academic concerns; and oversee standardized testing for SWCHS and interested homeschool students.
Primary Job Responsibilities:
Academic Program Support
Act as the primary Counselor for specific students as assigned by the DSS (hereafter referred to as his/her “caseload”).
Work with DSS and teachers to provide needed support for students on the Counselor’s caseload that are at risk of failing courses and to communicate the risk to DSS and parents in a timely fashion.
Work with students on counselor’s caseload that fail classes to ensure credit recovery by helping them to find adequate Distance Education (DE) courses whenever possible.
Promote Post Secondary On-site (PSOS) courses to the student body and inform them of Post-Secondary Education Options (PSEO).
Assist SWCHS students in finding alternative course options, such as DE and Independent Study (IS) courses, when current SWCHS, PSOS, and PSEO options do not meet their learning needs or future goals.
Assist DSS in completion of appropriate state, college, and SWCHS paperwork to enroll students in PSOS, PSEO, DE, and IS courses.
Complete audits for transfer students as requested by DSS.
Work with DSS to ensure that students on counselor’s caseload are making adequate progress towards graduation.
College and Career Planning
Help students to identify their strengths and match them to certain college majors and careers.
Inform caseload students of resources available to them on the Minnesota Career Information System (MCIS) and instruct them in how to utilize it effectively for college and career planning.
Present opportunities to SWCHS student body to complete Career Interest and/or Spiritual Gift inventories.
Promote, support, and lead various college related activities including local college fairs, on campus representatives, Career Day, etc.
Ensure that final transcripts for graduates and students transferring away from SWCHS are printed and mailed in a timely fashion.
Publicize scholarship opportunities and financial aid information to students and parents.
Special Education
Work with Learning Specialists to collaborate with parents of students in caseloads that have demonstrated need for support to determine the adaptations and/or modifications that are necessary to ensure success in the classroom.
Work with Learning Specialists to ensure that the needs of all students in case load requiring specialized administration for finals and standardized tests are met appropriately.
Additional Duties
Counsel with students on his/her case load on an individual and/or small group basis regarding personal, emotional, social and academic concerns.
Consult with parents regarding their student’s academic progress, school adjustment, and secondary and post-secondary plans.
May lead an assigned Discipleship Group.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
Required
School Counseling license or Master’s degree in Counseling and commitment to obtain School Counseling license.
2+ years of working with high school students as a counselor, teacher, or mentor.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to stay organized and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment.
Motivated, self-started who has the ability to manage changing priorities.
Ability to appropriately handle confidential, sensitive information.
Proficient in required technology including but not limited to Google Suite, Microsoft Office, and a willingness to become proficient in the use of various web-based School Information Systems and other academic/counseling databases.
Ability to develop effective and positive working relationships with students, staff, administrators, parents, and the community.
Maintain professional composure while dealing with a variety of personalities and situations.
Effectively communicate and have interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.
Preferred
Previous work experience in an academic setting.
Previous experience using academic and/or counseling databases.
Spiritual Qualities
Christian faith; demonstrated character of integrity; solid knowledge of God’s Word; vibrant and growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Actively participate in a local Bible-believing church.
Acknowledge Christ as Savior and seek to live his/her life as His disciple; evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in dealing with people.
Believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative, inerrant Word of God, our standard for faith and practice; actively support the school’s Statement of Faith.
Demonstrate a desire for spiritual growth as evidenced by his/her prayer life, Bible study, and spiritual outreach.
Be a Christian role model in attitude, speech, and actions toward others. This includes being committed to God’s biblical standards for sexual conduct (Luke 6:40).
Check us out at: swchs.org