Lincoln Middle School - School Counselor

JOB DESCRIPTION

School counselors are professional educators with a mental health perspective who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today’s diverse student population.  School counselors do not work in isolation; rather they are integral to the total educational program.  They provide proactive leadership that engages all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help students achieve success in school.  School counselors align with the school’s mission to support the academic achievement of all students as they prepare for the ever-changing world of the 21st century.  This mission is accomplished through the design, development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive, developmental and systematic school counseling program.  The ASCA National Standards in the academic, career, and personal/social domains are the foundation of their work.

REPORTS TO:  School Principal and Supervisor of Guidance and Counseling     

PURPOSE: To help all students develop skills in the areas of personal/social growth, educational planning, and college and career opportunities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The School Counselor will be expected to fulfill the following responsibilities:

WHO WE WANT:

Successful SCSD educators are passionately committed to urban education and all in for Syracuse students. They:

• Believe strongly that all students can learn at high levels;
• Demonstrate commitment to serving urban students, schools or communities, and to closing the achievement gap;
• Demonstrate willingness to put the interests of students above all others;
• Actively contribute to a culture of high expectations in their school and district;
• Adapt seamlessly to the complexities of the urban school environment; and
• Follow current trends in education policy and research, including Common Core standards, comprehensive assessment systems and data-driven instruction.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

Counselors at Lincoln Middle School

Unit 1 staff at Lincoln Middle School will be a part of an exciting transformation. This will include the implementation of an Expeditionary Learning framework and specialized programs for students including Building Men and Building Women. As partners in this process, teachers at Lincoln Middle School will agree to the following:

1. Engagement in meaningful professional development to implement best practices and an Expeditionary Learning Model. 
2. Leading daily “Crew” sessions as a part of character development. 
3. Participation in collaborative team planning at least three times per week. *This will not take away from individual planning time. 
4. Ensuing Expeditionary Learning best instructional practices are evident each day including, but not limited to:
   1. Learning Targets (academic and character) (all 3 dimensions of students’ achievement, MKS).
   2. Processing checks for understanding.
   3. Activating engagement protocols.
   4. Applying strategic questioning.
5. Implementation of Data Driven Instruction Cycles that include:
   1. Quarterly data conferences.
   2. Analysis of summative (benchmark/interim) data and formative data (DINs, exit tickets, projects, quizzes).
   3. Summative and formative data analysis evident in lesson and unit plans.
6. Engagement in up to five, six-hour days of professional development during the summer.
7. Attendance at two hours of professional learning after school each week.

Informational Flyer

Partnership Agreement

All Counselors in the SCSD

School/District Guidance Curriculum

• The school counselor establishes the school counseling program and develops activities and resources to implement and evaluate the program.
• Academic skills support
• Organizational, study and test-taking skills
• Education in understanding self and others
• Coping strategies
• Peer relationships and effective social skills
• Communication, problem-solving, decision-making and conflict resolution
• Career awareness, exploration and planning
• Substance abuse education
• Multicultural/diversity awareness