1.0FTE Long-Term Substitute High School Counselor need to cover a Parental Leave beginning January 22, 2025.

The primary role of a guidance counselor at Wellesley High School is to be educational advisor to students. The counselor's im­ mediate responsibility is to help students experience success in Wellesley High School. In a broader sense the counselor's func­ tion is to encourage and facilitate the development of a stu­ dent's talents, interests and abilities during the high school years and afterward. The counselor assists the student, given particular personal qualities, in formulating, moving toward and achieving realistic goals both short and long term.

NATURE AND SCOPE:

The guidance counselors report to the Senior High School Director of Guidance.

The guidance counselors help students develop and carry out their educational plans in high school and their educational and career plans for post-high school years.

The guidance counselors provide general support to students as needed to assist them in their efforts to be successful in Wellesley High School.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Counselors help students plan their academic programs.

Counselors working closely with the students, their teachers and parents, and with administrators, help students resolve problems in their courses. When the attempted resolution involves course changes, the counselor is actively involved in the mechanics of the process.

Counselors provide support to students and are available to assist them as they attempt to cope with developmental, academic and personal concerns.

Counselors provide parents with advice and information about personal student issues, crisis intervention, and available support services.

Counselors maintain  student records in accordance with state and federal    regulations.  They must be prepared  to interpret all available  information  about  students  to  them, their parents andtheir teachers.

Counselors provide students with information about colleges, universities,  specialized  schools and programs, and   post-graduate schools, and assist in the application process.Using materials provided   by teachers, counselors compose student description summaries for students and furnish these  summaries and high school transcripts to schools, colleges, universities, prospective employers, and others, as requested.

Counselors  greet  and  entertain  college  admissions  personnel.

Counselors assist students and  parents in seeking financial aid for further education.

Counselors assist local committees in making   scholarship  awards.

Counselors provide information to and advise students about educational,  vocational and career  testing.

Counselors, providinga wide variety  of materials  and  resources, assist  students  in  making  occupational and career decisions. 

Counselors   develop   educational  assessments for Core Evaluation Team Meetings and serve as Core Team members.

Counselors assist high school drop-outs  and graduates  in developing and  implementing educational,  occupational  and  personal plans. To  consult  with  Middle  School  staff    regarding Senior High School transition  and    to provide  an  orientation  program  for all  eighth graders and their  parents.

Counselors  register  new students and help them adjust to  their new school and community.

Counselors assist and  advise students who  transfer during    their high school years to another high school. Counselors produce for   the   students bulletins, directives and informative  folders  pertaining   to educational, college, career and other matters.

Counselors  work closely  with  the    High School administrators in curriculum  scheduling and  planning.

Counselors  refer,  when  appropriate,  students  and    parents to Spe­cial Services within the High School and  to   professional     indi­viduals and agencies outside the High School.

Each counselor assumes some individual responsibilities according to personal expertise and interests. Counselors make a continual effort to trengthen their guidance and counseling skills by taking courses, attending conferences, visiting colleges, schools and places of employment, and by other appropriate means.

Counselors serve as advocates for students.

Job Qualifications:

Must possess or be eligible for a MA DESE license in the appropriate subject area, at the appropriate grade level.

 Must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and possess a high level of capability with technology. 

• Diversity is a core value of WPS. We are committed to building and sustaining an inclusive school environment for all and seek to hire team members who will enrich our diversity.

 Must be able to assist in the protection of students and school property, assist the principal in fire and other emergency drills as required by law and School Committee policy.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands or arms.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

 Applicants for employment are considered without regard to age, physical, mental or psychiatric disability, genetics, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, or military status.