HS/MS School Counselor - Vacancy ID: 212649

The Pecatonica Area School District is a rural school district located in Southwest Wisconsin and serves the towns of Blanchardville and Hollandale. Pecatonica High School is located 40 miles southwest of Madison and 20 miles east of Mineral Point and Dodgeville.

Pecatonica High School is a building that serves over 100 scholars which allows for an individualized approach while still providing access to both career and college ready courses.

The Pecatonica Area School District is seeking a highly motivated full-time high school and middle school School Counselor for the 2024/2025 School Year. The ideal candidate is a Master’s level trained and licensed school counselor equipped with the skills, knowledge, and expertise to support and develop students’ academic, career, and social/emotional development. We are seeking someone to work collaboratively with all stakeholders involved in education and students’ development, providing a comprehensive school counseling program that meets the needs of all learners and ensures equitable access, support, programming, and services to foster educational success. Prevention and intervention are integral to a school counselor’s role as they define, manage, deliver, and assess a comprehensive program that incorporates leadership, advocacy, collaboration, and systemic change. School counselors maximize student achievement and effectively prepare students to be college, career, and community ready.

Wisconsin School Counselor License:  #7054

Required qualifications include:

• Master’s Degree in Guidance & Counseling

• Wisconsin State Certification in Guidance

Preferred qualifications include:

• Five year experience in the field of education

Description and Responsibilities:

While providing a comprehensive guidance and counseling program designed to address the social, emotional, educational and occupational needs of all students, the School Counselor will provide instruction consistent with the requirements of state laws governing delivery of counseling services based on the Wisconsin Developmental Guidance Model. The licensed school counselor will assist students in learning the skills and attitudes necessary to be successful in their academic, career and personal/social lives.

Expectations Included (but not limited to):

• Being one of the team leads with the developing, implementing, and maintaining school-wide Student Learning Plans.

• Planning and/or promoting programs which enhance the academic, social or emotional growth of students, e.g., Curriculum Fair, Career Fair, National Honors Society, High School and Middle School Awards Ceremonies, Scholarship Awards, Graduation, etc. opportunities for student enrichment and/or remediation, scholarship opportunities and parent informational programs

• Meeting with seniors once each semester and communicating updates on their graduation status to their parents

• Collaboration with students and principal with discipline, attendance and academic problems that are referred by teachers, parents or administrators

• Ensuring that students are aware of requirements for graduation and college admission, as well as any NCAA requirements that may be necessary for athletic participation

• Guiding each student to choose courses consistent with his/her interests, abilities and career plans

• Helping students develop post-secondary educational plans in accordance with their interests, abilities and career plans

• Assisting students with the completion of college admissions applications

• Organizing and promoting standardized assessment opportunities and interpreting test results to students and/or parents on request

• Collaborate with master schedule creation, placement and adjustments throughout the school year as needed

• Assisting the principal in the preparation of diploma lists and identification of honor graduates in preparation for the Senior Honors Program and Graduation

• Assuring that appropriate, accurate information is maintained in each student’s permanent, cumulative record

• Making necessary schedule changes for individual students that are both appropriate for their abilities and aligned with their educational and career plans. 

• Consulting with and serving as a resource for students, staff and parents regarding developmental needs of students

• Managing the Pecatonica High School Youth Apprenticeship Program

• Referring students and parents/guardians to appropriate school and community resources

• Managing the Federal Perkins Grant process for the high school

• Participating in, coordinating, conducting activities which contribute to the effective implementation of the high school component of the K-12 guidance curriculum

• Evaluating and revising the building guidance and counseling program

• Managing the district’s AP (Advanced Placement) Program 

• Assisting in the development of a District Assessment Program and the interpretation of testing and assessment results related to career guidance

• Collaboratively leading and maintaining the middle school and high school ACP (Academic and Career Planning)

Qualifications:

• Proven experience as a School Counselor or Teacher

• Integrity and professionalism

• Ability to operate within a wide range of student personalities and backgrounds

• Education in various models of teaching, best counseling practices and regulations

• Excellent communication skills and high emotional intelligence abilities

• Basic knowledge of computers

• MA degree in school or guidance counseling; guidance counseling credentials

Terms of Employment:

• The School Counselor is a member of the faculty (certified staff) and thus is subject to all employment conditions as outlined in the Pecatonica Faculty Handbook. Annual salary increases are subject to collective bargaining agreements. 

The Pecatonica Area School District Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected under State or Federal law including, but not limited to, race, color, age, sex, creed or religion, handicap or disability, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, membership in the national guard, State defense or reserves, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, arrest record, conviction record, use or non-use of lawful products off the District’s premises during non-working hours, or any other characteristic protected by law in its employment practices. This policy prohibits any form of discrimination as defined by State or Federal law including, not limited to, Title II, Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1965, Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Act.