Job Description

Title: SCHOOL COUNSELOR - MIDDLE SCHOOL

Primary Function:

Design and deliver a school counseling program that engages students and improves student outcomes. Includes leadership, advocacy and collaboration with school staff, administration and community/family members in the delivery of programs and activities to help students achieve success and promote equity and access for all students. Identify students’ academic and social/emotional needs, as well as providing necessary interventions. Assist in removing barriers to learning and helping students develop skills and behaviors critical for academic achievement.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s Degree from an approved school counselor education program or endorsement in school counseling with Virginia certification in school counseling.
Possess high moral standards and integrity.
Demonstrate a willingness to work with and treat all students with dignity and respect as unique individuals.
Ability to quickly learn procedures used to report information and maintain records.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of counseling theories and skills, small group dynamics and processes; knowledge of child development and culturally responsive practices; demonstrates working knowledge of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Model; demonstrates considerable knowledge of FERPA, IDEA, McKinney-Vento Act, ESL and laws concerning student rights and confidentiality, as well as, other state and federal mandates; working knowledge of the student information system; knowledge of standardized testing, procedures, and interpretation of scores; working knowledge of gifted and special education programs; knowledge of acceleration, promotion, and retention requirements and processes; excellent oral and written communication and human relation skills; ability to work with administrators, colleagues, school board office and school based staff, students, parents and community members.

Performance Responsibilities:

Develop and maintain an effective comprehensive school counseling program consistent with the school’s mission and goals.
Collect, analyze, and use data to develop, implement and evaluate the school counseling program to ensure it is meeting the academic, career, and personal/social development of all students.
Protect the confidentiality of students’ records and release of personal data in accordance with prescribed federal and state laws and school division policies.
Serve all students but is specifically responsible for students on assigned counselor caseload.
Keep school administration and Coordinator of School Counseling appraised of any problems encountered.
Provide at least 80% direct counseling services to students in the areas of academic, personal/social and career development.
Plan and implement developmentally appropriate school counseling classroom lessons in accordance with the American School Counselor Association Standards.
Facilitate short-term small groups to address students’ academic achievement, career exploration, and social/emotional well-being.
Plan, organize, and implement all school counseling activities.
Develop student Academic and Career Plans, and discuss graduation requirements, diploma plans, verified credits, and post-graduation opportunities.
Expose students to career exploration and interest inventories to help students acquire knowledge, skills, habits, and traits necessary for success in future educational experiences, the workforce, and life.
Inform students about the importance of grades, attendance, behavior, and participation in extracurricular activities.
Prepare and inform students for standardized testing (PSAT).
Provide student and parent/guardian workshops and/or presentations on a variety of academic, social-emotional, and career topics.
Inform parents/guardians and school administration when a student poses a serious and foreseeable risk of harm to self or others in accordance with the American School Counselor Association’s Ethical Standards for School Counselors.
Provide appropriate referrals to assist families and students to obtain school and/or community services.
Provide crisis counseling to support positive social-emotional development and overall mental health in students.
Collaborate with school personnel to foster culturally responsive and effective learning environments for all students.
Interpret educational information (ability and aptitude measures, standardized test scores, and other pertinent data) to students, parents, and other school division personnel.
Explain and interpret division-wide policies, goals and objectives to students, parents, and the community that impact students’ academic achievement and the school counseling program.
Demonstrate an understanding of educational systems, legal issues, policies, research and trends in education and the school counseling profession.
Provide consultation and professional development to teachers and administrators with culturally responsive strategies and approaches that promote academic, career, and social/emotional development.
Maintain professional competence by attending professional development activities.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements:

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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity to dial a telephone, to enter data into a computer; to read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids; hear and understand speech at normal classroom levels, outdoors and on the telephone; speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in normal classrooms, outdoors and on the telephone; physical agility to lift up to 25 pounds; and to bend, stoop, climb stairs, and reach overhead.

Position Type: Exempt

Reports to: School Principal and Coordinator of School Counseling

Terms of Employment: 200 days a year plus additional days as designated by the current York County School Division Pay Plan.

Evaluation: Performance on this job will be evaluated in accordance with School Board policy and administrative regulations on evaluation of licensed personnel.

Revised: 1/5/2026