School Counselors

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, and participate in recruitment and enrollment activities.
• Supervise, train, and direct professional staff and interns.
• Provide information for teachers and staff members involved in helping students or graduates identify and pursue employment opportunities.
• Refer students to outside counseling services.
• Teach classes and present self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and career planning.
• Conduct follow-up interviews with counselees to determine if their needs have been met.
• Provide special services such as alcohol and drug prevention programs and classes that teach students to handle conflicts without resorting to violence.
• Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.
• Address community groups, faculty, and staff members to explain available counseling services.
• Counsel individuals or groups to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
• Refer qualified counselees to employers or employment services for job placement.
• Compile and study occupational, educational, and economic information to assist counselees in determining and carrying out vocational and educational objectives.
• Establish and supervise peer-counseling and peer-tutoring programs.
• Provide students with information on topics such as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs.
• Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.
• Plan and conduct orientation programs and group conferences to promote the adjustment of individuals to new life experiences, such as starting college.
• Provide students with disabilities with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
• Observe students during classroom and play activities to evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Collaborate with teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of school programs and in the preparation of master schedules for curriculum offerings.
• Attend meetings, educational conferences, and training workshops, and serve on committees.
• Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
• Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, administrators, and other professionals to discuss children's progress, resolve behavioral, academic, and other problems, and to determine priorities for students and their resource needs.
• Instruct individuals in career development techniques, such as job search and application strategies, resume writing, and interview skills.
• Evaluate students' or individuals' abilities, interests, and personality characteristics, using tests, records, interviews, or professional sources.
• Interview clients to obtain information about employment history, educational background, and career goals, and to identify barriers to employment.
• Establish and enforce administration policies and rules governing student behavior.
• Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.
• Establish contacts with employers to create internship and employment opportunities for students.
• Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements, and write letters of recommendation.
• Assess needs for assistance, such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer clients to the appropriate services.
• Refer students to degree programs based on interests, aptitudes, or educational assessments.
• Plan and promote career and employment-related programs and events, such as career planning presentations, work experience programs, job fairs, and career workshops.
• Prepare students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
• Identify cases of domestic abuse or other family problems and encourage students or parents to seek additional assistance from mental health professionals.
• Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.