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High School Administration - Counselor

A high school counselor or guidance counselor provides social, educational, career and personal assistance to high school students. They frequently offer advice and career counseling to students about technical or trade schools, colleges and universities, giving them information on such things as applications, admissions, college entrance exams and financial aid along with teaching job-finding skills. They are often involved in peer mediation and dropout prevention programs in the high school. If a student or students have adjustment issues, the counselor works with school administrators, teachers, social workers, parents and their students to solve the problems.

High school counselors respond quickly to emergencies and school crises, getting the proper authorities involved when necessary, to resolve the problems. They plan and lead workshops and group discussions on topics such as anger management, alcohol and drug prevention, peer-pressure and study skills. Counselors administer and then interpret vocational, aptitude and achievement testing, discussing the results with the student and their parents. Counselors work with computer and computer programs, books, videos and power point for presentations. They are often required to do personal counseling along with college and career counseling.

They expect the job growth rate for high school counselors to grow quickly due to increasing high school enrollments, using counselors more in crises and emergencies and greater emphasis on providing career information to high school students. They work closely with other persons such as mental health workers, school psychologists and social workers, when necessary. A high school counselor needs patience, tolerance, fairness and the ability to deal with situations quickly and accurately.

Common work activities include:

• Meeting with students to explain and introduce the services that the school counselor can provide.
• Scheduling appointments with students to discuss career choices, challenges the student may be facing, or to assist a student with a problem in the school or in other aspects of his or her life.
• Organizing and supervising various programs within the school to help with conflict resolution, decreasing student failure, student drop out or other issues within the student body such as racism or discrimination.
• Teaching classes on social development, communication skills, conflict resolution, character development, career choices or other relevant topics.
• Meeting with parents and other professionals in the student's life to coordinate services and make referrals to outside professionals and agencies.
• Responding to crisis or emergency situations involving students or staff.
• Maintaining accurate records as per school and education department policies.

Check out all of the online K-12 education programs offered by a variety of schools offering programs online in K-12 education.

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