School Counselor

PHMC is proud to be a leader in public health. PHMC requires that all employees are fully vaccinated with the Covid-19 vaccine before the first day of employment. 

This position is responsible for the development of a comprehensive data-driven school counseling program aligned with Fairwold Academy’s mission of providing high quality comprehensive academics within a therapeutic framework. The certified School Counselor serves as a member of the school team to support a safe and positive school climate, and collaborates with other school personnel to meet student needs in academic, career planning, and personal-social development. The Certified School Counselor reports to the principal.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with school staff in the analysis of student performance data, rigorous goal-setting, and development of effective action plans for improving academic, social/emotional, and post-graduate outcomes for all students.
• Interprets cognitive, aptitude and achievement tests.
• Participates in and advocates for students at special education individualized education programs (IEP’s) meetings.
• Assists in the educational placement (transition) of departing students
• Works with career program planning, organization, implementation, administration, and evaluation
• Coordinates student work-release programs in which students meet specific academic and work experience requirements
• Provides individual and group counseling related to academic or personal social development including peer mediation and bullying
• Provides intervention and prevention related to personal and social development
• Provides direct services including, but not limited to, school counseling core curriculum, social skills, character education, and career education; individual counseling and student planning, classroom lessons, small group counseling, and preventative and responsive services.
• Develops school-wide, K-12 initiatives to promote academic development, career development, and personal/social development.
• Develops curriculum, units, and lessons devoted to developing student mindset, learning strategies, self-management skills, and social skills.
• Participate in school agency bullying prevention efforts, PBIS initiatives, and other program components that benefit the educational access of students.
• Provides indirect services on behalf of students including, but not limited to, referrals for additional assistance and consultation/collaboration with parents, teachers, administrators, and other stakeholders to create a learning environment promoting educational equity, access, and success for every student.

Skills

• Demonstrates ability to support student achievement, social/emotional development, and college/career readiness.
• Demonstrates knowledge of technology and software applications appropriate to job responsibilities.
• Demonstrates knowledge and ability to facilitate core school counseling curricula, including, but not limited to, social skills, character education, and career education
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to work effectively with professionals from a wide range of organizations and disciplines and to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with all members of the student’s team
• Communicates clearly, concisely, and effectively, both orally and in writing, with the education and  clinical staff, support staff, students, parents, and community
• Demonstrated ability to understand and adhere to policies and procedures
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills

Performance Requirements

• Uses school data to identify and assist individual students who do not perform at grade level and do not have opportunities and resources to be successful in school.
• Creates yearly, data-driven goals that advance student outcomes in areas of academic, social/emotional, and college/career development.
• Develops counseling curriculum utilizing evidence-based programs; designs measurements for student progress in social skills, career education, and self-management skills; plans and instructs lessons, units, and themes associated with each content area.
• Provides direct service and actively engages students in instructional lessons in social skills, character education, and career education; implements and interprets career interest inventories and career vocational planning.
• Plans and manages all school-wide events related to academic, career, and social/emotional activities, including, but not limited to, character education, bullying initiatives, career development, counseling plans, monthly themes, and PBIS.
• Analyzes and reports outcomes of the school counseling program and goals, including but not limited to, anti-bullying, PBIS, and career education initiatives which are presented in the context of the overall school and district performance.
• Provides preventative education and skill building along with counseling for students during times of transition, separation, heightened stress and critical change.
• Supports the continuum of mental health services, including prevention and tiered intervention strategies, and collaborates with both school-based and community mental health providers to enhance student success.
• Provides support to the school community at all times to maintain an orderly school environment and serves as an environmental manager; provides mobile support to students in crisis or those students demonstrating non-compliant behavior; reintegrates students back into program.
• Documents all behavioral incidents.

Physical demands/work environment: 

• Routine school environment. Employee may be involved in de-escalating student behaviors using mandatory approved techniques.
• Potential exposure to blood borne pathogens; may transport students in agency in accordance with PA Department of Education and Department of Transportation requirements and school and PHMC procedures.
• Ability to climb stairs and walk on uneven terrain, play yards and school grounds.
• Ability to move rapidly, forward, backward and laterally.
• Physical capacity to lift, move and position a student up to age 21 who may weigh 150 pounds or more with the assistance of other properly training personnel.
• Ability to independently utilize routine office equipment.
• Ability to independently travel outside of school hours as determined by administration.
• The physical demands and work environment described is representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Psychology, Education, or related field.  Must hold current Pennsylvania Department of Education Elementary and Secondary School Counselor K-12 certification qualified to counsel all children and youth in kindergarten through 12th grade as a Guidance Counselor, or Elementary School Counselor and Secondary School Counselor certification.
• Must accumulate professional education ACT 48 credits to maintain certification.
• All Instructional I certificate holders must convert to Instructional II within the policies and guidelines of the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Salary

• Commensurate with education and experience.