High School Guidance Counselor presso Columbia School District 400

Columbia High School - Guidance Counselor:

***Temporary Position for the 2025/26 school year

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The primary function of Columbia High School’s guidance counselor is to provide a comprehensive counseling program focused on students’ needs in the areas of: high school and beyond planning, master and individual scheduling, career/vocational needs, personal/social needs and extended opportunities. 

JOB GOAL:

To assist all high school students in the developmental processes in intellectual, social and personal growth and to assist all high school students in making informed and individually appropriate social, education and vocational choices.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Possess a current license for School Counseling as required by the Office of Superintendent for Public Instruction, or an administrative certificate in a similar area, and a minimum of five years of teaching, counseling, or other experience working with children similar in age to the position hired.

Education and Experience: 

* Master's degree and valid ESA certificate with an endorsement in school counseling.

* Valid counseling certification.

* Experience as a counselor or teacher is desirable. No allowable substitutions.

 Licenses/Special Requirements - As specified above.

REPORTS TO:

Columbia High School Principal

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES: 

A. Professionalism

1. Adhere to and support board policy, school guidelines, administrative rules and directives. 
2. Advocate on behalf of the student and/or his/her family. Take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students.

 B. Academic Development

1. Facilitate outreach efforts to provide services to students, parents/guardians and staff.
2. Understand, evaluate, and interpret academic performance data. Interpret information about students to the student, their parents/guardians, and staff.
3. Meet with students prior to and during the registration process, communicate with students/families on course descriptions, needs and fit with HS & Beyond plans, make recommendations to students regarding class selections taking into consideration the student’s aptitudes and interest.
4. Build master schedule of course offerings, schedule students in appropriate courses.
5. Conduct educational planning activities, meet with students regarding credits, courses and entrance requirements set by HEC board and/or higher education institutions. 
6. Submit required reports promptly and accurately; attendance, FTE, etc.
7. Schedule and coordinate State Assessment Tests as well as other tests as deemed appropriate or necessary for student advancement, compile and disseminate testing information to student/parent and other required agencies.
8. Be responsible for assisting in the compilation of student handbook and course descriptions and the distribution of such to all students. 

 C. Personal/Social Development

1. Coordinate and lead parent/teacher/student conferences.
2. Make him/herself available to all students seeking guidance and counseling services.
3. Connect students, parents/guardians and staff with specialized referral agencies.
4. Review individual student documents and make recommendations to the appropriate staff on potential interventions or modifications
5. Provide counseling in areas dealing with alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, family relationships, school attendance, peer relationships, etc. and potentially make referrals to additional personnel or agencies for further needs.
6. Provide a link between students and appropriate community resources and outside agencies.
7. Help resolve student/teacher conflicts, outline possible remedial strategies
8. Facilitate attendance program and “Becca Bill” requirements

 D. Career Development

1. Conduct career planning activities, meet with students regarding HS and beyond plans, fit with post high school goals.
2. Interface with WOIS and/or other aptitude and interest opportunities
3. Maintain library of catalogs and directories from colleges, technical schools, military or other institutions of higher learning.
4. Organize, interpret and administer interest and achievement testing for students.
5. Update Scholarship information; assist students with scholarship, college entrance, and financial aid applications.
6. Maintain information on scholarship opportunities, promote student applications of scholarships.
7. Assist and recruit outside agencies in visiting the school; military, college, technical school representatives, etc.
8. Process post-secondary and scholarship applications.
9. Facilitate the FAFSA grant application and other financial aid processes with students and/or parents.

 E. Other

The High School Guidance Counselor shall perform such other tasks and assume such other responsibilities as may be assigned by the high school principal.

The responsibilities of the position are to provide counsel, guidance and intervention strategies to students at assigned school in a wide range of issues ranging from personal/social/emotional adjustment, proper behavior, academic and physical welfare and, career/college planning.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Mobility: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk for prolonged periods of time, push or pull 18-26 lbs., sit, kneel and crouch, twist and bend, use hands to type, finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arm.

Sense: The employee is required to talk/hear conversations and other sounds. The employee must be able to communicate effectively in person and over the telephone. The employee is required to taste and smell. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, far vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Lifting: The employee must be able to lift or move up to 10 lbs. regularly and occasionally up to 26 lbs; must also be able to lift overhead. The employee may be required to physically move quickly in an emergency or while performing student supervision duties.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Hazards: While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to work outdoors in a wide variety of temperatures; from -10 degrees F to 100 degrees F +. The employee may be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. The noise level in this work environment is moderate.

CONDITIONS: The preceding list of essential functions is not exhaustive and maybe supplemented as necessary.

Special Attributes

The candidate must maintain these attributes:

• Work collaboratively within the schools and the district;
• Maintain composure, professionalism and tact in dealing with students/staff/parents;
• Dress and demonstrate appearance appropriate to a professional educational setting;
• Comply with counseling standards, FERPA, and all federal and state confidentiality laws;
• Remain supportive and active in implementing building and Columbia School District Vision, Mission and Goals as shown within the Unified Instructional Core.

Contract Details: This posting is for one (1), daily 1.0 FTE, continuing, counseling assignment at Columbia high school. Benefits and retirement eligibility will be determined upon hire.
Work Location: Columbia High School
Work Schedule: Monday through Friday
Work Hours: 7:30 am 3:00 pm, 7.5 HOURS DAILY
Wage/Step Range based on annual 1.0 FTE:
School Employee Benefits Board (SEBB): https://www.hca.wa.gov/employee-retiree-benefits/school-employees
Department of Retirement (DRS): https://www.drs.wa.gov/ TRS plans 2 or 3 for Certificated Staff.
Salary Schedules and Collective Bargaining Agreement: 

Columbia School District #400 does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, creed, religion, color, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, disability, neurodivergence, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Title IX Officer, Tavis Crittenden, 787Maple Street, Burbank, WA  99323, 509-545-8573, [email protected] , ADA/Section 504 Coordinator, Mike Taylor, 835 Maple Street, Burbank, WA  99323, 509-545-8571, [email protected] and Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator, Jillian Robillard, 977 Maple Street, Burbank, WA  99323, 509-547-9393, [email protected].