In fulfilling the mission of  Lexington High School’s comprehensive school counseling program, high school school counselors function as leaders, advocates, collaborators, presenters and agents of systemic change. High school counselors provide direct service through individual and small group seminars as well as indirect support through collaboration and consultation with colleagues across disciplines – including Deans, teachers, and student support service providers. School counselors support students on their caseload in meeting their social/emotional and academic goals, as well as assisting students and families with postsecondary planning. School counselors play an integral role with student support colleagues to connect students and families to a variety of support structures in and out of school, including, but not limited to referrals to therapists, psychiatrists, and other critical services. High school counselors play a key role in the transition process from both 8th grade to high school and from high school to post- graduate opportunities. Specific responsibilities are assigned at the discretion of the Director of Counseling and LHS/K-12 Asst Director of Counseling

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide individual and group counseling.
• Assess student needs and monitor progress through observations and information gathering.
• Mediate conflicts between students, and between students and staff.
• Collaborate with families to exchange information and develop plans for student support.
• Confer with parents, teachers social workers and administrators whenever necessary to address concerns or issues, and also engages with them to build collaborative, respectful relationships in service of student learning.
• Provide parent education through consultation, workshops and parent communications.
• Participate in variety of teams and programs to identify student need and develop appropriate intervention plans, such as Student Support Teams, Child Protection Teams, Section 504, Special Education, etc.
• Develop and implement school-wide initiatives to build school culture and support social-emotional well-being.
• Adhere to all ethical and professional standards, including those of a mandated reporter
• Implement Developmental Counseling Seminars for each grade level including social emotional curriculum learning
• Assist students in technical program and academic course selection, ensuring that they are meeting graduation requirements and making selections that best match their post-secondary plans.
• Use technology and computer-based student information systems to create and manage student records, schedules, attendance, applications, etc.
• Oversee the preparation and processing of  post secondary planning inclusive of college, scholarship and gap year opportunities.
• Write counselor recommendations
• Manage Section 504 for students on counselor caseload.
• Work regularly with various tools including Google Docs, Navaiance, and APEN
• Work collaboratively with Counseling staff to develop, revise and execute a full-range of counseling tasks and programming throughout each school year.
• Support the overall district’s educational program through general consultation activities and committee work.

Professional Responsibilities:

• Maintain confidentiality
• Maintain records consistent with ethical and legal guidelines
• Perform responsibilities in an organized, accurate, timely, and dependable manner
• Facilitate and maintain open and responsive relationships with families
• Operate within the federal and state laws and the established district and school procedures and policies
• Keep informed of current professional trends
• Pursue professional growth

Required Qualifications:

• Masters Degree in School Counseling or Social Work
  
• DESE Certification School Guidance Grades 5-12

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience in a high school setting working with diverse student population including students with disabilities and English Language Learners
• Special Education experience preferred
• Clinical experience preferred
• Demonstrated success in mediation and relationship building
• Candidate must have strong interpersonal skills and be organized, possess strong communication and writing skills, and be able to multitask in a fast paced environment.
• Understanding and respect for diversity

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands or arms.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Applicants for employment are considered without regard to age, physical, mental or psychiatric disability, genetics, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, or military status.