High School Counselor for the 2024-2025 school year

Aspen High School seeks a school counselor to begin duties in the fall of 2024. 

Reports To: High School Principal

Position Summary: To assist all high school students in the developmental processes in intellectual, social, and personal growth as well as making informed and individually appropriate social, educational, and vocational choices.     

Terms of employment: Licensed, exempt employee; 185-day contract with possibility of 15 additional days distributed at the beginning and end of the academic year paid at per diem rate

Compensation: Certified salary schedule (based on 185-day schedule)

ASD offers district-funded employee and dependent health benefits including medical, vision, dental, and life insurance to benefit-eligible employees. Other benefits include (as eligible): paid leave, CO PERA (pension plan) enrollment with district contribution, TSA options, free transportation for employees from Carbondale to Aspen, employee assistance program, wellness program, supplemental insurance (ie cancer, disability, etc).

Qualifications:

•  Master's Degree or higher in counseling 
•  Counseling field experience in schools or related agencies with appropriate age groups.

Requirements: Candidates will possess a current Colorado Special Services Authorization with an endorsement in school counseling or be eligible to obtain this authorization within the first 3 months of hire.   

Principal Responsibilities: 

Meet with students prior to and during the registration process, inform the students of classes relative to course selection, and assist the administration with the registration and scheduling process.

Conduct follow-up meetings with students after the master schedule is developed to make any necessary changes in students' schedules.

 
Conduct orientation meetings with all eighth-grade district, private, and charter school students to provide information regarding class offerings and registration procedures.
 
Upon request of the student or his/her parent/guardian, provide individual counseling for the student regarding scheduling.
 
Make recommendations to students regarding class selection that take into consideration the student's abilities, background, and interests.  The recommendations may be made by means of small group and/or individual meetings or other methods recommended by teachers.
 
Advise students regarding the accuracy and completeness of records and credits and perform periodic credit checks from grades nine through twelve with an emphasis on the senior year. Provide written contact and telephone calls to parents/guardians of students who are deficient in their credit status and information to any students needing to attend summer programs to make up credit deficiencies.
 
Coordinate homebound instruction for students who qualify.
 
Assist new, transfer, and foreign exchange students in enrollment, registration, class selection, grades in progress, and transfer of credits.  Conduct screening of cumulative records and parent/guardian/student interviews with all students new to the school.
 
Coordinate the testing program at the high school and compile and disseminate test results to appropriate personnel, students, and parents/guardians.
 
Provide individual and/or group counseling in areas dealing with alcohol, tobacco, or drug addiction issues, family relationships, financial problems, school attendance, and peer relationships.
 
Participate in multidisciplinary activities for selected students by contacting and meeting with special education staff members. Contribute information in the areas of academic achievement in regular education classes, professional impressions of the student based on observations and interviews, and make available information about the student provided to the district by outside agencies. 
 
Assist special education staff members, including the school psychologist, in screening special education referrals by providing background information.
 
Act as a referral agent in the regular education staffing by receiving referrals from staff, making contact with the student and possibly the student's parent(s)/guardian(s), and conducting conferences to determine potential outcomes.
 
Provide a link between students and appropriate community resources and outside agencies.
 
Help resolve student/teacher conflicts by meeting with the student(s) and teacher individually or in groups to determine the nature and extent of the problem and to outline possible remedial strategies.
 
Adhere to District Administrative Policies and  Colorado State Law.
 
Perform such other tasks and assume such other responsibilities as my be assigned by the high school principal.

Expectations:

• Manage oneself (is organized, prepared, and punctual; manages resources; meets deadlines; follows through on commitments; demonstrate appropriate physical appearance (relative to job and environmental expectations) in a manner that enhances the image of public education
• Consistently act in ways that directly support missions (school, District, CDE)
• Display willingness to learn new information
• Use strong verbal communication and listening skills
• When appropriate, seeks first to understand
• Develop and maintain rapport and effective relationships with students and adults contacted in the course of work by using courtesy, diplomacy, collaboration, cooperation, support, and professional conduct
• Formulate goals that reflect the organization's priorities and include specific, measurable outcomes instead of just completing activities
• Actively contribute to the goals and success of all teams and team members through collaboration, cooperation, and flexibility (give and take) in team discussions, activities, and decision making
• Participate in experiential education at the high school
• Serve as a liaison between the Aspen School District and human service agencies, sharing appropriate information when needed, once parental consent is obtained
• Maintain ethics, legal responsibility, and confidentiality

Working Environment:

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some stooping, kneeling, sitting, standing, walking, and repetitive motion with computer use.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. The Aspen High School Counselor will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other related