Guidance Counselor, Duties

Counseling duties, as those of the administrative personnel, vary in the nature of the position. The primary respon- sibility of the counselor is to provide educational opportunities to all students and beneficial services to the school district. Some of these duties include:

1. Counseling with students to assist them to:
   1. Understand the school and its environment;
   2. Understand themselves in relation to others;
   3. Understand their progress in relation to their strengths and weaknesses;
   4. Understand themselves in relation to educational and vocational opportunities and requirements (includes the counselor serving as an advisor in the enrollment procedure);
   5. Seek the type of curriculum that promises to be best suited for the student and the student's abilities and goals.
2. Assembling and interpreting information about students; cooperating in maintaining an individual student record folder containing personal, home, interest, achievement, health, attendance, and other data; encouraging and helping teachers to use record information.
3. Participating in and assisting with case conferences.
4. Conducting conferences with parents to help them better understand and assist with the educational, vocational, and social adjustment plans of their sons and daughters; making home visits when necessary.
5. Participating in the school testing program and assisting in interpreting test results to parents, students, and teachers.
6. Assisting the teaching staff in the organization and conducting of guidance units in the classrooms; assisting in orientation, educational planning, occupational information, and other guidance activities.
7. Organizing and disseminating materials of an occupational and educational nature for student, parent, and staff use; providing college planning materials such as catalogues and directories; furnishing information and assisting students in making application for and obtaining scholarships; preparing informational releases for the benefit of students and staff.
8. Helping with placement activities for graduates; cooperating with state and private employment agencies; supervising the processing of college and scholarship applications; writing letters of recommendation for college, scholarship, and job applicants.
9. Participating in research studies, follow-up, community surveys, and other research projects.
10. Compiling and making available to the administration data concerning student achievement, comparative data with national averages, areas of strengths and weaknesses in student achievement, etc.
11. Maintaining a follow-up record of all graduates from the high school, especially with respect to the progress of those students attending an institution of higher learning; making a compiled list ofthis progress available to the administration at the close of each semester.
12. Assisting the principals with the placement of all students and the development of class schedules that best meet the needs of the students and the district.
13. Serving on placement committees for the special education programs or other programs requiring specific placement of students.
14. Assisting the principals with student/parent conferences and attendance.
15. Performing other duties as directed by the administration.
16. The middle and high school counselors will conduct at least one group session with the eighth grade students prior to the pre-enrollment for the purpose of discussing enrollment, courses of study, availability of assistance by the guidance office, etc. Individual student problems will be scheduled for additional conferences.
17. The high school counselor shall schedule at least one individual counseling session with each senior for the purpose of reviewing student records, ascertaining future plans, assisting with college or job applications, assisting with scholarship applications, etc.
18. The high school counselor will inform all incoming freshmen students of the requirements for a high school diploma. This should be done during the eighth grade orientation session and again prior to the end of the first semester.
19. Prior to the end of the first semester of each year, the high school counselor shall provide each junior student with a list ofthe courses completed and those necessary to be completed for graduation. Copies of these lists will be sent home to the parents.
20. At the close of each grade period, the high school counselor will schedule counseling sessions with all students who are failing.
21. The high school counselor will continuously work to assist all students in their academic pursuits and future planning.