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Approved:
10-68
Revised: 03-15-73
Revised: 06-28-82
DEFINITION
Under direction, to counsel students individually and in groups for the
purpose of helping them in achieving self-understanding and self-respect,
in meeting the demands of interpersonal relations and school expectations,
and in setting goals and meeting achievement levels appropriate to those
goals; to serve in a liaison capacity between teacher, parents and
students; to assist in the establishment and maintenance of good
community-school public relations; and to perform other counselor-related
activities as required.
QUALIFICATIONS
Credential: Possession of a valid teaching credential and a services
credential with a specialization in pupil personnel services issued by the
California Commission for Teacher Preparation and Licensing.
and
Education: A master's degree is required from an approved
institution, preferably with a major in counseling, social work,
psychology, or related field, or a commitment to obtain such master's
degree within a maximum of three years after appointment.
and
Experience: Preference given to those with certificated teaching
experience in public or private schools.
DISTINGUISHING
CHARACTERISTICS
The class of counselor is used at all segment levels of the district.
At the junior high, senior high and adult school levels, the counselor is
typically assigned to a specific school. However, at the elementary
level, a counselor may be required to divide his/her time between several
schools.
The counselor's role at the elementary school differs from that at the
secondary level in that he/she tends more to bring his/her service to the
child; puts greater emphasis on prevention and early detection of learning
problems; tends to work more with the significant adults in a child's life
(his/her teacher and parents) and relatively less with the individual
child; focuses more on present problems than plans for the future; and
stresses aiding the child to learn rapidly and to develop his/her ability
to learn to live and work harmoniously with others.
The counselor's role at the adult level is also somewhat unique in that
he/she often serves as the only liaison between the school and such
agencies as federal (Veteran's Administration, Social Security, federal
penal institutions, Selective Service, FBI), state (Department of Human
Resources Development, Bureau of Readjustment Education, California Youth
Authority, Mental Hygiene, Vocational Rehabilitation, etc.), and local
(Urban League, Concilio, county welfare, Legal Aid, Public Defender,
etc.). The involvement in these areas is extensive: reports,
conferences, court appearances, phone calls and responses, maintenance of
exacting records, for example, by the Veteran's Administration or the
General Educational Development Testing Services, and numerous other
agencies.
TYPICAL
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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Counsels
with students to help them better understand themselves and others and
to effect changes in behavior, attitudes, motivations, self-concepts,
and other important areas of human behavior.
-
Assists
students to plan realistic goals; helps them discover their aptitudes
and abilities; administers, evaluates, and interprets results of
tests, such as achievement, maturity, perception and intelligence
screening tests; discusses goals and interests; gives information
regarding entrance in junior or senior high school, and on graduation
and college entrance requirements in keeping with the segment level of
the counselor's assignment; and helps students develop their program
of courses.
-
Counsels
with students on both an individual and group basis regarding problems
of social adjustment, vocational and educational goals, and personal
problems; observes behavior in classroom and on playground to gain
further insight into interpersonal problems and developmental needs of
pupils.
-
Assists
in identifying special needs of students and initiates referrals to
other special services personnel as necessary.
-
Gives
information on requirements for various occupations and helps students
select and plan programs leading to achievement of occupational goals.
-
Counsels
with parents regarding educational, social and vocational problems of
their children; interprets the school program to parents and helps
them better understand their child's abilities, needs and
opportunities; attempts to effect change in parental attitudes toward
their children and the school when needed.
-
Confers
with teachers and principals, giving them information and advice on
interpretation of test scores and on backgrounds, aptitudes and
problems of the students, and on ways to handle student behavior
problems in the classroom.
-
Cooperates
with representatives of public and private agencies such as police
departments, sheriff's offices, probation and welfare departments,
courts, and youth opportunities centers in providing information on
students; and does prescreening of pupils for possible referral to
other supportive services or agencies.
-
Makes
home phone calls and visits homes regarding students.
-
Reviews
school records; interviews students and uses various assessment
techniques to determine placement in appropriate instructional levels.
-
Attends
meetings, prepares correspondence and reports and maintains and
reviews cumulative student records.
WORK
SCHEDULE AND SALARY
A
Counselor is assigned to the teacher's salary schedule and works 10 extra
days during the summer vacation, for which extra per diem pay is granted
at the employee's regular daily rate.
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