Guidance Counselor

Position Type:
Teaching - Middle School

Date Posted:
5/8/2024

Location:
Edith M. Smith Middle School

Closing Date:
until filled Who We Are:
Waukegan Community Unit School District No. 60 serves nearly 15,500 students in preschool through grade 12 and is located halfway between Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Michigan. The District has 1 early learning center, 15 elementary schools, five middle schools and a high school program divided between two 9th - 12 grade campuses. The District encompasses portions of Waukegan, Beach Park and Park City.

Why We Do This Work:
The Waukegan Community Unit School District No. 60 has set an ambitious agenda for change, guided by the belief that all children, regardless of circumstances, can achieve at high levels and academic gaps can and will be eliminated with the support of teachers who deliver engaging, relevant, and academically rigorous instruction that excites students and instills a love of learning in them.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The Classroom Teacher will be directly responsible to the building principal for all matters pertaining to the operation of the school plan, in-building administrative and personnel procedures, and general or district-wide policies. He/she will be indirectly responsible to the Director of Secondary Education for all matters pertaining to curriculum, instructional methods, assessment and materials.

Responsibilities:

1. Provide orientation to incoming students;
2. Assist the building administrator in organizing staffing and implementing August registration for students;
3. Review documents for registration and placement purposes;
4. Evaluate student transcripts in order to create schedules and individual learning plans;
5. Administer and score reading and writing assessments to determine student progress;
6. Record grades on student transcripts and maintain student cumulative files and other records;
7. Participate in student in-take process;
8. Assist the building administrator and other personnel in evaluating student placement for the next school year;
9. Establish a helping relationship with each counselee and provide individual counseling to students;
10. Work with parents/guardians of students individually or in a small groups to help them: (a) understand the school; (b) cooperate with efforts to help the student; (c) understand the students school program, behavior issues, abilities and goals; (d) provide information that may be of use to the school to help the student; (e) assist in the solution of problems that the student is experiencing;
11. Work with teachers and other school employees to help them understand and support students who are experiencing educational and emotional issues;
12. Work with special service personnel regarding referrals of students, participate in staffing regarding student needs and provide other general assistance to special service personnel as directed by the site supervisor;
13. Assist with contacts to agencies, organizations and others in the community to ensure that local resources are utilized;
14. Initiate student/parent/guardian referrals to community resources as needed;
15. Participate in formal and informal public relations activities in order to promote acceptance of guidance as a reliable and valuable student service;
16. Contribute to the solution of student issues such as truancy, failures, and disinterest in school, discipline issues, assorted conflicts and dropouts. The counselor is expected to seek out such students and provide appropriate guidance and counseling services;
17. Participate in various group/guidance programs in order to provide students with information and insight pertaining to testing programs, job opportunities, school policies, regulations, procedures, programs, etc.;
18. Assist in the organization and administration of state, district and school testing programs for students, but shall not serve as the building test coordinator;
19. Make every reasonable effort to become more knowledgeable and competent by participating in in-service programs, maintain membership in professional organizations, reading professional literature, taking additional graduate work and attending appropriate professional conferences;
20. Participate in the evaluation and revision of the school guidance program and plan the guidance program calendar;
21. Fulfill professional responsibilities; (a) maintain confidentiality; (b) maintain records consistent with ethical and legal guidelines; (c) participate on the school-based crisis team; (d) perform responsibilities in an organized, accurate, timely and dependable manner; (e) operate within the established district and school procedures and policies; (f) provide support for other school and district programs and personnel; (g) utilizes computers effectively in the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities;
22. Perform such other guidance-related duties as may be assigned by the Associate Superintendent of Teaching, Learning and Professional Practices and/or the Guidance Academic Chair.
23. Perform such other professional duties as may be assigned by the building principal.

Qualifications: Must have valid Illinois Professional Educators License. Teaching experience (including student teaching and internship) at identified grade level within the last five years preferred.

Endorsements: School Counselor, Grade K-8.

Safety: The employee is responsible for taking any and all steps necessary to protect yourself and others against occupational accidents, injuries, and illnesses.

Compensation: Per Teacher Contract.

Application Deadline: Candidates must submit an online application.

Only online applications will be considered.
Apply: www.wps60.org

Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 offers employment opportunities without regard to age, gender, race, color, gender identity, national origin, religion, marital or military/veteran status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, parental status, genetics, disability or other protected category.

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