About The School City of Hammond
The School City of Hammond embraces its diversity and communicates consistently high expectations. SCH provides a rich and challenging learning environment that encourages academic excellence and the development of talents that prepares students to make positive contributions to our world. District leadership provides continuous system-wide professional growth opportunities enhanced by technology and guided by data-driven research-based strategies, assessments, and timely interventions. Highly effective teachers and support staff collaboratively utilize best practices to maximize student growth and achievement. Supported by the pillars of sound fiscal management, accountability, and community partnerships, SCH maintains a focus on transparency and good stewardship.
The School City of Hammond values
A highly qualified, highly effective, and culturally diverse staff. The cultivation of internal leaders. Facilities that are clean, safe, and orderly, that facilitate optimal learning and promote the emotional and physical wellness of students and staff. A technologically integrated curriculum.
Purpose of Position
Provide the leadership for the implementation of a comprehensive school-based counseling program designed to support instruction and student achievement. Responsible for the coordination and management of the school counseling program as well as the school guidance counselor responsibilities.
Basic Functions
The Lead School Counselor is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing a comprehensive school counseling program to serve the academic, social-emotional, along with college and career readiness developmental needs of students enrolled in the School City of Hammond. To ensure success, School Counselors should be accessible and authentic with excellent communication skills and a profound interest in helping students to attain their academic and career goals. Candidates will display natural leadership qualities with problem-solving and conflict resolution skills. We are looking to hire a School Counselor with outstanding assessment and listening skills.
The Lead School Counselor will provide counseling and college and career readiness services to facilitate self-understanding, responsibility, social and emotional awareness, decision-making, development of values and attainment of attitudes and skills necessary for the success of each student.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
• Develop an effective school counseling program that supports the schools mission and instructional program as mandated by school board policy. • Coordinate the implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program that promotes the academic, career, and personal-social development of all students. • Keep the administration appraised of the progress of the department and any problems encountered. • Establish and maintain an effective work climate within the school counseling department and school community. • Promote innovative counseling practices by encouraging implementation of new procedures and demonstrating those that are found to be effective. • Prepare or oversee the preparation of reports, records, lists, and all other required information and data at the building level. • Oversee guidance staff and delegate assignments. • Orient new counselors. • Review school data frequently to ensure that the school counseling program is meeting the academic, career, and personal-social development of all students. • Coordinate course and summer registration period. • Explain and interpret district-wide policies, goals, and objectives to students, parents, and the community that impact students academic achievement and the school counseling program. • Plan, organize, and direct implementation of all school counseling activities. • Review all outgoing correspondence from the school counseling department, such as flyers for Freshmen Orientation and SAT testing dates and locations. • Work closely with school administration and the master scheduler as it relates to student scheduling. • Work collaboratively with other department chairs. • Serve with parents, faculty, and other student groups as requested in advancing educational and related activities and objectives. • Assist in the selection of school counselors for the department. • Disseminate information to school counselors in the department. • Share information with other school personnel as appropriate. • Facilitate department meetings. • Provide in-services for instructional staff. • Ensure that the building has a Guidance Advisory Committee. • Maintain confidentiality in personnel matters. • Encourage teacher-parent communication and community involvement. • Meet and confer with students, parents, faculty, and staff. • Provides services to students in the area of academic, personal-social, and career development. • Ensures that counseling students is one of the priorities and are done individually or in small groups. • Conducts classroom guidance activities. • Adhere to deadlines. • Attend district-wide lead counselor meetings. • Submit monthly time and task reports to supervisor. • Maintain a variety of files and departmental library of supplementary and reference materials. • Serve as the official representative for the department. • Perform related work as required by supervisor.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Thorough knowledge of current trends and best practices for providing a comprehensive school counseling program at the secondary level, knowledge of counseling theories and skills, group dynamics, and small group processes, as well as the ASCA Model. The ability to provide leadership in the administration and supervision of a school counseling department. Ability to motivate others to reach their fullest potential. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with school officials, parents, students, teachers, support staff, and associates. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Expertise with internet and computer programs.
Requirements
Masters Degree from an approved school counselor education program or endorsement in school counseling with Indiana certification in school counseling. 2 or more years of experience as a high school counselor or one or more years as a high school counselor and one or more years experience as a middle or elementary school counselor. A comparable amount of training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications.
Physical Requirements
Candidate should be physically capable of successfully performing the essential functions of the position.