Professional School Counselor

Job Summary

The School Counselor design, implements, and manages a comprehensive school counseling program that promotes student success. Acting as an advocate, educator, and coordinator, the School Counselor works collaboratively with students, parents, teachers, and administrators to support students' academic achievement, career development, and social-emotional growth.

Core Responsibilities

• Academic Guidance: Assist students in academic planning, course selection, and graduation requirements. Monitor student progress and implement interventions for students facing academic difficulties.
• Social-Emotional Support: Provide short-term individual and group counseling to address personal, social, or emotional challenges (e.g., anxiety, peer relationships, grief, conflict resolution).
• Crisis Intervention: Respond to immediate student crises, conduct safety assessments, and coordinate with mental health professionals or external agencies when necessary.
• College & Career Readiness: Guide students through college exploration, career planning, the application process, and financial aid options (primarily for middle and high school levels).
• Consultation & Collaboration: Partner with teachers, parents, and administrators to address student needs. Serve on multidisciplinary teams like 504 planning committees and others.
• Program Development: Deliver classroom guidance lessons focused on character education, study skills, bullying prevention, and digital citizenship based on the ASCA (American School Counselor Association) National Model.

Required Qualifications & Education

• Education: Master's Degree in School Counseling, Counseling Psychology, or a closely related field from an accredited institution.
• Certification: Valid state certification or licensure as a School Counselor.
• Experience: Prior experience working in an educational setting or completion of a supervised school counseling internship.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Active Listening & Empathy: Ability to establish trust and connect authentically with students from diverse backgrounds.
• Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills for interacting with students, parents, staff, and external community resources.
• Ethical Judgment: Deep understanding of school counseling ethical standards (ASCA guidelines) and student privacy laws (FERPA).
• Data Literacy: Ability to use student data (attendance, grades, behavior metrics) to evaluate the effectiveness of counseling programs and close achievement gaps.

Other Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Education or related field
• Valid New Jersey teaching certification
• Strong classroom management skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
• Familiarity with state education standards and curriculum
• Ability to differentiate instruction to meet diverse learning needs