Throughout the 2015-2017 school years, I was involved in the process of reviewing and revising

both the Secondary School Counselor Job Description and the Catholic Counselors Rubric
Assessment. This process involved several meetings, research on job descriptions and
appropriate roles, and committees or groups. The research included reviewing the American
School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model and the Pennsylvania teacher rubrics.

Secondary School Counselor Job Description

Qualifications

Hold a masters degree in Counselor Education or related field

Meet the certification requirements for school counselor for the Pennsylvania Department
of Education

Primary Functions

1. Directs individual student academic program planning.

2. Advises students in post-secondary education and career planning.
3. Consults with school principal to identify and resolve student issues, needs and
problems.
4. Advocates for students at individual education plan meetings.
5. Provides teachers with suggestions for effective classroom management for individual
students with identified needs.
6. Provides small-group counseling services to students.
7. Assists in academic counseling when teacher interventions have failed.
8. Provides counseling to students who are consistently tardy or absent.
9. Provides counseling to students who have habitual disciplinary problems.
10. Provides referrals for students in need of on-going counseling.
11. Collaborates with teachers to present school counseling curriculum lessons.
12. Interprets cognitive, aptitude and achievement tests.
13. Analyzes disaggregated data.
14. Analyzes grade-point averages in relationship to achievement.
15. Interprets student records.
16. Ensures student records are maintained as per state and federal regulations
17. Follows ethical standards and legal mandates regarding confidentiality and the
appropriate rationale and procedures for disclosure of student data and information to
school staff.

Major Job Responsibilities

1. Counseling
a. Provide individual planning sessions for each student in the area of academic and
career planning.
b. Conduct small group counseling sessions in response to identified needs within
the school system. Topics may include academic skill building, social/emotional
 development, career awareness, conflict resolution, family concerns, healthy
decision making.
c. Assist in transition of ninth graders to high school.
d. Guides upper-level students in selection of post-secondary options.
e. Interpret tests, student data and other assessments and appropriately discuss
results with students and parents in the counseling environment.

2. Consulting
a. Provide information and skills to parents, school staff, administration, and the
school community to assist them in helping students in academic, career and
emotional/social development.
b. Take a leadership role in integrating counseling content into the curriculum.
c. Provide staff development and parent education programs.
d. Assist parents in addressing school related problems and refer parents to outside
agencies and specialists when necessary.
3. Coordinating
a. Plan and coordinate programs; such as, career and college fair and extensions of
the counseling curriculum.
b. Coordinate parent education programs to assist students in making smooth
transitions from middle school to high school and planning post-secondary
options.

Professionalism

Be a role model for Catholic values.

Perform all functions in conformity with the Teachings of the Church.
Adhere to the ethical standards of state and national school counselor associations as
appropriate.
Adhere to best practices prescribed by state and national school counselor associations
Demonstrate knowledge of local policies and state and federal laws pertaining to school
counseling
Demonstrate professional growth and professional development