Middle School Guidance Counselor

Guidance Counselor

Shared Position

Joyce Middle School and Kennedy Middle School

School Year 2024-2025

The Middle School Guidance Counselor reports to the Head of Guidance and the Principal and is expected to work closely with all school personnel. S/he will provide a safe, equitable, culturally responsive environment with high expectations for all students. The Middle School Counselor (6th-8th grade) is an employee member of the school staff designated by the Superintendent of Schools to work in partnership with families, school personnel and state and local agencies to promote the ongoing development of each student's academic, personal/social, and career potential.

Goal:

The primary goal of the school counselor is to provide a comprehensive competency-based counseling program focused on the learning, personal/social and career/vocational needs of all students.

Role & Responsibilities:

• Assist all students, including students of diverse languages, backgrounds and cultures individually or in groups, with developing academic, career and personal/ social skills, goals and plans

• Accurately and appropriately interpret and utilize student data

• Collaborate with parents/ guardians, educators, and outside agencies to assist students with educational and career planning

• Monitor and track transcripts and maintain school records for all students, relative to graduation requirements and Massachusetts General Law

• Use available technological resources to enhance the school counseling program

• Be familiar with attendance monitoring, dropout prevention and student re-engagement.

• Perform in accordance with requirements as described in the Massachusetts Department of Education's Tiered Focused Monitoring (TFM)

• Facilitate all facets of the college application process from exploration to acceptance

• Assist and advise the course selection and course change processes at each grade level

• Conduct grade-specific academic, college and career-related presentations for students and families

• Provide teachers with information relevant to the learning needs of their students as such information becomes available

• Coordinate with state agencies as needed (DCF, DMH, DDS, MRC etc)

• Communicate with CBATS, partial programs, hospitals; coordinate tutoring for students out of school on caseload

• Attend and participate in IEP meetings

• Coordinate the 504 process for students on caseload; hold annual 504 meetings, write 504s, and monitor the implementation and compliance of the 504 plans

• Complete Educational Assessments for Special Education Initial and Re-evaluations as requested by team chairperson

• Assist with coordination of state testing

• Monitor students who are failing or in danger of failing and meet with students to address ways to improve classroom performance

• Support students with social emotional needs, short term counseling and refer for long term support when appropriate

• Attend IST meetings and be prepared to provide grades, MCAS results, and other social/familial and emotional background information

• Review MCAS data for proper placement in classes and creation of EPPs as needed

• Assist with registration of new students, create schedule and inform receiving teachers of students' academic background

• Work in conjunction with guidance administrative assistant to obtain past school records, grades, and other relevant student data for students new to Woburn Memorial High School

• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendents, Principal, Assistant Principals or Coordinator of Guidance and Counseling Services

Terms of Employment: As outlined in the Agreement Between The Woburn Teachers' Association and The Woburn School Committee

Qualifications & Skill Set:

• Minimum Requirement: A Master's degree in School Counseling, Social Work, or an equivalent from an accredited institution

• Minimum Requirement: Massachusetts Educator Licensure as School Counselor: Grades 6th-8th

• Preferred: Experience with the use of Naviance and Powerschool student data management programs

At the Woburn Public Schools, we are committed to cultivating an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are embraced, acknowledging that a team reflecting diversity of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and veteran status allows us to serve our communities better. To that end, Woburn Public Schools continues to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and a district member of Mass Partnership for Diversity in Education.