Director for School Counseling and College and Career Readiness

This position is responsible for providing effective leadership by coordinating school counseling activities designed to assist students in their personal, social and intellectual development as well as developing, administering, and supporting the division’s Career and Technical Education program.  This position will also be responsible for supporting career and college readiness while leading initiatives to support the work outlined in the Virginia Profile of a Graduate through the Virginia Department of Education.  As part of this position the director will work with K-12 counselors and supervise the Division Career Coach to set annual goals and objectives that are aligned with Williamsburg-James City County’s Strategic Plan.

School Counseling

• Collaborate in the design and coordinate the delivery of a planned and sequential comprehensive school counseling program for grades K-12.
• Collaborate with division leadership and principals to ensure counselors are effectively utilizing time and their daily schedule to focus on direct service for students.
• Monitor the implementation of activities provided by school counseling departments for students in academic, career and personal/social issues.
• Coordinate the systematic delivery of individual career planning for all students appropriate to their age and grade level.
• Compile, regularly update and disseminate in accordance with division procedures a comprehensive description of the K-12 counseling program including policies, procedures and other components.
• Compile and revise the WJCC Program of Studies for secondary school course offerings.
• Plan and coordinate the scheduling process for students entering sixth through twelfth grade and work closely with high school and middle school principals in the design and implementation of schedules.
• Adhere to the ethical standards of state and national school counselor associations.
• Stay current with division policies and state and federal laws pertaining to school counseling and research on best practices in school counseling.
• Represent the division at relevant local, county and state guidance meetings.
• Promote family involvement in individual planning sessions, conduct informational and skill-building sessions for families and coordinate planned events for families that promote school counseling services.
• Coordinate scholarship programs for the division and serve as division contact for scholarship information.
• Ensure that appropriate records are maintained by counselors to track student progress and record provided counseling services.
• Generate necessary state and division reports.
• Serve as the Division connection to the College Board and oversee all initiatives and expectations outlined through this organization. Oversee the administration of standardized tests such as AP exams, PSATs, SATs, etc.
• Support and implement the strategies and initiatives (where applicable) outlined in our Division Strategic Plan, Elevate Beyond Excellence.
• Model the Strategic Plan Values: Individualism, Integrity, Innovation, Accountability and Collaboration.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Career and College Readiness

• Facilitate the development of and the update of online access to career and college Readiness opportunities for all students in our district. This includes, but is not limited to, internships, job shadowing opportunities, summer work opportunities, scholarships, workshops, and more.
• Oversee the coordination, enhancement, and development of partnerships that will support job shadowing opportunities and internships to support transitions to career pathways for students. This includes collaboration with local businesses, community groups, and local government entities to explore apprenticeships and career pathways to increase students’ readiness for employment and post-secondary pathways.
• Set goals and objectives and identify strategies appropriate for meeting the needs of 21^st Century learners, making curriculum revisions as needed.
• Develop and nurture partnerships with community resources to promote an understanding of academic content by weaving 21^st Century interdisciplinary themes into core subjects: global awareness; financial, economic, business and entrepreneurial literacy; civic literacy; health literacy; and environmental literacy.
• Work closely with principals and program staff to ensure all aspects of the CTE program are operational. Conduct program evaluations.  Recommend and facilitate division-wide staff development opportunities, addressing identified programmatic and human capital needs.  Prepare, collect, and analyze needs assessment surveys.
• Develop a budget to support division goals related to CTE programs and assist building-level staff with the submission of budget requests. Write, monitor, and amend the federal Perkins Grant.
• Collaborates with the Career Coach in representing WJCC to the Peninsula’s Workforce Development program for CTE and the New Horizons Regional Education Center. Assume the leadership role in all CTE mandated and/or optional testing at the school and division levels. Oversees the Career Coach duties as liaison with institutions offering dual enrollment for high school-level CTE classes.
• Work through the Career Coach to enhance partnerships with community colleges, colleges and universities, to include the expansion of dual enrollment opportunities and the Early College Program in partnership with Thomas Nelson Community College.

• Counselor certification. Successful school counseling experience in a public-school setting, 5 years preferred.
• A Master's degree from an accredited college or university with emphasis in school counseling, human growth and development, and/or educational program and policy development. Admin endorsement preferred.
• Considerable knowledge of CTE programs, state and federal guidelines and reports; practices and services, as well as Virginia Profile of a Graduate.
• Demonstrated ability to make independent decisions in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated leadership ability in organizing and working with other individuals or groups.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with counselors, teachers, administrators, families and other community representatives.
• Knowledgeable concerning counseling state and national reports, practices and services.
• Strong interpersonal skills required in working with diverse groups.
• Must have initiative and assume responsibility for working productively with a minimum of supervision.

This position will supervise the Division Career Coach.

Performs duties under the supervision of the Assistant Superintendent, School Leadership (Secondary).

Highly diverse and complex duties.  Must have high tolerance for change and ability to work on several projects and assignments concurrently.  Strong interpersonal skills required in working with diverse groups.  Must have initiative and assume responsibility for working productively with a minimum of supervision.  Demanding schedule includes morning, evening and weekend meetings.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee.  The incumbent will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other related duties as assigned by the principal or appropriate administrator.  WJCC Public Schools reserves the right to update, revise or change this job description and related duties at any time.