POSITION SUMMARY 

The Maritime Academy Charter School Guidance Counselor will provide guidance and counseling services to all elementary and middle school students; helping students to overcome any issues that impede learning and social growth, and personally and directly assisting them with preparing to make life decisions.  Support services will include referrals, assessments, counseling and report writing.    

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES 

The duties of a Guidance Counselor include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Provides direct support services to individual students, small groups and classrooms 

• Completes needs assessments , referrals and counseling with students and families 

• Develops and maintains family outreach programs and community partnerships 

• Assists students, staff, and parents in understanding student aptitudes and abilities through discussions focused on individual standardized test scores, student work samples and other pertinent data, and collaborate in developing the student’ educational plans 

• Conduct interviews with new families to establish rapport and gain insights about parent concerns and students interests. 

• Work with students on an individual or small group basis in the solution of personal problems as related to peers, home and family, health and emotional adjustment 

• Be available to students so as to provide counseling that will lead to increased personal growth, self-understanding and maturity 

• Implement, direct and coordinate the in-class guidance program for students 

• Maintain communications with administration, faculty and parents so as to better meet the needs of each student 

• Chair the Child Find process (Comprehensive Student Review) including the culling of referrals, convening the team, developing CSR calendar, monitor response to the interventions, summarize final outcome in writing and follow up with appropriate staff and parent(s) 

• Complete quarterly progress monitoring of special education students with mandated counseling in their IEP  

• Provide direct counseling to special education students enrolled in an Extended School Year program at MACS as indicated in their IEP 

• Communicate with MACS Families via the counseling web page found at the Maritime Academy School Charter School Website, on topics dealing with the social and emotional development of children 

• Recruit students for summer camp at the Philadelphia Seaport Museum 

• Develop professional growth goal(s) on an annual basis and demonstrate growth toward the attainment of those goal(s) 

• Develop annual calendar of counseling services being provided to students and parents 

• Participate in the development of the School Schedule and Student Rostering 

POSITION REQUIREMENTS 

Demonstrated knowledge of: 

• The principles, practices and theories of individual and group counseling 

• The current techniques and trends in counseling and guidance at the elementary level 

• Communication skills and techniques 

• Theories and principles of adolescent development, individual/group behavior, and group dynamics. 

Demonstrated ability to: 

• Provide counseling and guidance on an individual and group basis 

• Provide ethical and sound judgment in dealing with sensitive or personal problems 

• Carry out all laws related to Student Confidentially and Student Rights 

• Work effectively with students and their families 

• Participate in crisis intervention 

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships 

• Navigate the PowerSchool system used at MACS for student information access 

• Practice de-escalation techniques as appropriate with students and families 

Education and Certification: 

• Possess and maintain a valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania School Counselor Certificate for grades K-12 

WORKING CONDITIONS 

The working conditions of a Guidance Counselor include: 

• Very high levels of social interaction, with daily and consistent work with children, parents, and other teachers. 

• Communicating with people face-to-face on a daily basis, as well as communication through phone, e-mail, letters, and memos. 

• Responsibility for the health and safety of the children in their school. 

• Working as part of a team of educators.