Counseling Service Lead

Position Title:
Counseling Services Lead

Department:
School Location

Reports To:
Principal

FLSA Status:
Exempt

In order to provide the comprehensive guidance and counseling model to all high school students, the high school guidance department (depending on size of school and enrollment) may be staffed by a Registrar of Student Services, Guidance Counselors(s), Career Counselor, and Career Specialist(s). All will work as members of the guidance and counseling department staff to provide a comprehensive developmental guidance and counseling program for students in high school and specifically provide services to meet the needs of their students;

consult with teachers, staff, and parents to enhance their effectiveness in helping students; and to provide support to other high school educational programs.

• Supports and upholds the mission, vision and strategic goals of Aiken County Public School District.
• Organizes, manages and evaluates effective and clear programmatic procedures for the operation and functioning of counseling services in high schools consistent with the philosophy, mission and vision of the Aiken County Public School District.
• Provides counseling services for educational, college and career planning, and social and emotional development. Ensures compliance with all laws, administrative codes, Board policies and regulations.
• Provides leadership within the school in ensuring an understanding of the educational philosophy and objectives of the district school counseling program.
• Develops and implements yearly departmental goals that lead to programs and services to improve and increase student success and achievement.
• Provides leadership in the process of hiring qualified, diverse professional school counselors.
• Creates/Maintains the yearly Counseling and Advisement Calendar.
• Supervises, manages and evaluates activities of guidance counselors, career development facilitators, registrars, and clerical staff.
• Leads and coordinates meetings for the proper functioning of the Counseling Program, developing a specific agenda and distribute minutes of each meeting to the district Coordinator of Counseling and Career Services.
• Advocates for programs and services that lead to student success and achievement with school staff members, parents and district.
• Provides and encourages opportunities for effective staff development that addresses the needs for counseling, guidance, college and career education programs including workshops, conferences, visitations, demonstration lessons and sessions in which the staff learns of research based successful practices and strategies.
• Supervise procedures for the secure and confidential storage of student records. Protects confidentiality of information gained as part of exercising professional duties and use discretion in sharing such information within legal confines.
• Maintains data pertinent to withdrawals and ensures withdrawing students meet with a school counselor. Tracks student withdrawals and ensures compliant graduation rate documentation is received on each withdrawal.
• Assists other school personnel in preventing students from dropping out of school; and assists in securing alternative programs when warranted.
• Maintains a reduced caseload of which should not exceed 50% of the average counselor caseload.
• Establishes effective liaison with the community agencies and post-secondary institutions
• Requires and maintains records of all student postsecondary outcomes. Analyze and share the data with the appropriate professional staff.
• Assumes responsibility for compiling, maintaining, and filing reports, records, and other documents legally required or administratively needed in designated school.
• Coordinates and ensures special programs such as financial aid nights, parent informational meetings, dual enrollment and virtual school opportunities, etc.
• Maintains responsibility for the counseling department budget by overseeing and maintaining accurate records of all incoming and outgoing expenses.
• Coordinates and participates in grade level IGP conferences.
• Provides supervision for counselors, career specialists, and assigned support staff.
• Coordinates the virtual and dual enrollment programming.
• Assists with the development of the master schedule.
• Serves as a liaison between school counseling staff and school administration, district administration and feeder schools.
• Performs other duties as may be assigned.

Master’s Degree in Counseling, or School Administration, and school experience.

Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

Valid South Carolina Teaching License in the area of Guidance Counselor

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.

Ability to read, analyze and interpret professional journals,…