School Counselor 211 Days

Overview

Job Description

Hamilton County Schools, located in Chattanooga, TN, is working to ensure that all students thrive and experience a future without limits. We are committed to excellence for every student and are seeking outstanding leaders, teachers, support staff, and district employees who desire to make a difference in the lives of students. With nearly 75 schools, we are confident that you can find your place in Hamilton County.

Learn more about working for Hamilton County Schools at careers.hcde.org and get to know us and our strategic plan, Opportunity 2030\.

Hixson High School has served the greater Chattanooga area since 1908\. Grounded in the core values of Community, Opportunity, and Excellence, we are dedicated to fostering all students to learn, lead, and serve. At the heart of our recorded success is our faculty, which includes many alumni who have come home to serve their school community. Twenty percent of our teaching staff attended Hixson High School themselves.

Hixson High offers diverse opportunities: athletics, fine arts, Future Ready pathways, Air Force JROTC, and Special Olympics programs ensure students are active contributors to our school community. With access to Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment classes, our students can connect with early post-secondary opportunities. Through our groundbreaking Ignite program, our regular education and exceptional education students connect with each other.

Our school community reflects the diversity of Chattanooga. Of our 890 students, 52\.7% are white and 42\.3% are Black, Hispanic, or Native American. Over half are economically disadvantaged; 15\.3% have identified disabilities; and 8% are English Language Learners. This diversity makes strong student-to-student and teacher-student connections more essential than ever.

Supported by dedicated families, community partners, and a strong alumni network, Hixson High School is a 2025 Tennessee Reward School and has achieved Level 5 academic growth each year since 2022–2023\.

The purpose of this job is to support student achievement and to assist them in making social, educational and occupational decisions that will assist in students’ lifelong development as mature and responsible citizens.

Responsibilities

• Maintains appropriate licensure and acknowledges that continued employment with the Hamilton County Department of Education is contingent upon providing required documentation to validate licensure in a timely manner.
• Reviews a variety of student assessment data to ensure continuous improvement in measurable student performance and achievement.
• Coordinates and administers standardized testing as appropriate in accordance with district policies and state law.
• Implements district, state, and federal policies, regulations, and laws, where appropriate.
• Works to discover and develop special abilities of students, with a long-term goal of high school graduation.
• Registers students new to the school and orients them to school procedures and the school’s varied opportunities for learning.
• Counsels students on an individual or small-group basis to develop resolution and/or coping skills when dealing with personal problems related to school, home, health, and emotional issues that may impact educational achievement and /or school attendance.
• Plans student field trips as appropriate to schools, colleges, and industry.
• Confidentially initiates, assembles, maintains, interprets, and appropriately transfers accurate health, attendance, cumulative progress, activity, and uniform transcript records for assigned students.
• Makes recommendations to colleges for admissions and scholarships; assists students in the preparation and processing of college, scholarship, and employment applications.
• Confers with parents on a regular basis as appropriate.
• Communicates the role of the school counselor and available services to students, parents, and community.
• Assists students in evaluating their aptitudes and abilities through the interpretation of individual standardized test scores and other pertinent data, and works with students in evolving educational and occupational plans in terms of such evaluation.
• Advises and assists students in course and subject selection.
• Follows established procedures to ensure assigned areas are safe.
• Works collaboratively with all stakeholders.
• Attends work and arrives to work on time.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Adheres to the Teacher Code of Ethics as defined by Tennessee Law.
• Performs related duties, such as sponsoring a student organization or activity. Attends and/or supervises school sponsored events as required.
• Complies with accounting and financial policies and procedures involving the handling of money and property, as well as other Board policies.
• Use computers and other technology to enter and access information related to essential job functions.
• Performs general/clerical tasks, which may include answering telephone calls, typing documents, making copies, sending/receiving faxes, filing documentation, or processing incoming/outgoing mail.
• May operate a motor vehicle to conduct various work activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge/Education/Experience:

• Master’s degree and a valid Tennessee School Service Personnel License for School Counseling pre-K-12 are required.

Skills/Qualifications

• Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills to deal effectively with students, educators, parents, and community members.
• Demonstrates excellent planning, organizational, problem-solving, decision-making, and time management skills.

Compensation

Salary is based on a combination of relevant education and experience.

Salary Scale

This position may be eligible for an increase in total compensation. The Differentiated Compensation Plan applies to designated schools and hard-to-staff positions. Please see https://www.hcde.org/staff/human_resources/differentiated_compensation for more details.