Program Administrator for Counseling, Grades 6-12 Anticipated Job ID 905

Bedford Public Schools

Invites applications for the position of:

Program Administrator for Counseling

Grades 6-12
ANTICIPATED

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree required.
• Massachusetts Certification in School Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field.
• Massachusetts DESE licensure as a Supervisor/Director (non-core), Supervisor/Director (School Counseling), or Supervisor/Director (Pupil Services), AND licensure as a School Adjustment Counselor or School Counselor.
• Successful completion of a Criminal Offender Record Information (C.O.R.I.) check.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Three years of leadership experience (including staff evaluation experience) in a school or school district, especially as a counseling administrator.
• Previous experience working in an urban school district or a METCO school district.
• Sheltered English Immersion Administrator Endorsement.

Reports To:

Assistant Superintendent of Student Services. Collaborates closely with middle and high school building principals on site-based implementation of counseling services.

Supervises:

• School Counselors, Grades 6-12
• School Adjustment Counselors, Grades 6-12
• Counseling Administrative Assistants

Job Goal:

The Program Administrator for Counseling will provide leadership in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive school counseling program. This position will support and guide the district’s initiatives in college and career readiness, social-emotional learning, mental health, and intervention services while fostering a collaborative culture among counselors, students, families, and community stakeholders in close collaboration with school and district leadership.

Work Year:

Follows the Unit B Administrators Contract (10 months plus summer days) in accordance with the Bedford Education Association Contract.

Performance Responsibilities:

• Program Leadership & Supervision:
• Supervise, evaluate, and provide professional development for School Counselors, School Adjustment Counselors, and administrative assistants, ensuring high standards in counseling practices and adherence to district goals.
• Lead the middle and high school initiatives in school counseling under the supervision of the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services in close coordination with the building principals.
• Assist the Principals in the recruitment, interviewing, orientation, reappointment, and training of program personnel within the subject area, 6-12.
• Prepare departmental presentations for the school committee and provide special reports as requested by the principals.
• Coordinate college and other post-graduate counseling initiatives by high school School counselors.

• Policy Implementation, Program Refinement, & Administrative Duties:
• Create/compile and maintain, in accordance with district procedures, a comprehensive description of the 6-12 School Counseling Program, including policies, procedures, and other components
• Prepare and present reports at the request of administrators.
• Convene periodic meetings of counselors and attend department and general staff meetings.
• Plan and implement professional development and in-service training for school counseling staff.
• Analyze data trends in academic achievement, social-emotional development, and post-secondary outcomes to inform program improvements and resource allocation.

• School & District-Level Collaboration:
• Liaise with the K-5 Counseling Coordinator to support a smooth transition for students from elementary to secondary, in collaboration with the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services.
• Work collaboratively with district and building-based staff to develop an instructional vision for student success that integrates social-emotional learning and wellness with rigorous instructional opportunities.
• Convene periodic meetings of counselors; attend department and general staff meetings as required.
• Meets with other program administrators and directors to discuss common problems and implement school policy.

• Post-Secondary Advising:
• Serve as the district’s leader for the post-secondary advising process for students’ college and career plans; develop and implement clear systems for grades 6-12 to support post-secondary planning for each student and clear, consistent communication with students and families.
• Establish and maintain relationships with admissions departments at colleges, universities, and other post-secondary programs.
• Develop partnerships with local businesses, trade programs, and community colleges to provide career exploration opportunities for students with career exploration opportunities beyond traditional college pathways.
• Collaborate with School Counselors to ensure routine post-secondary advising tasks are distributed appropriately.
• Support counselors with advising all students on their post-secondary options with consistent systems and protocols, with additional supports for first-generation students, at-risk students, and those needing additional support.

• Academic Support & Scheduling:
• In coordination with the high school principal/administration and the technology department, facilitate the process of building and maintaining the high school master schedule, including supervising student placement procedures and ensuring proper course advising in collaboration with School Counselors and Program Administrators/Directors, and BHS administration. This includes providing leadership for the maintenance and revision of the Program of Studies for Grades 9-12.
• In coordination with the middle school principal./administration, support the middle school scheduling process.
• Develop and oversee systems and interventions for supporting students' path to graduation (including coordinating effective 4-year academic advising processes, coordinating support and processes for students in danger of not graduating, and monitoring the implementation of EPPs).
• Develop processes and expectations for counselors to have consistent two-way communication between counselors, students, teachers, and families.
• Oversight of scheduling newly enrolled students
• Oversee College Board AP auditing process

• Section 504 Accommodations Compliance Oversight:
• Coordinate and oversee the implementation of Section 504 procedures for middle and high school students, ensuring that the counseling team and administrators comply with federal and state regulations.
• Ensure administrator attendance when necessary at Section 504 initial and re-evaluation meetings to support counselors.
• Provide training and guidance to School Counselors on 504 plan development and documentation.
• Assist and collaborate with the Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, providing resources and School counseling on K-12 alignment of 504 procedures and implementation.
• Ensure appropriate accommodations are in place for standardized testing, including working with the Special Education and 504 teams to guarantee compliance with IEP and 504 requirements.

• Crisis Response & Mental Health Support:
• Collaborate with school administration, psychologists, school adjustment counselors, and other student support personnel to implement mental health and wellness initiatives in alignment with the district’s Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
• Collaborate with building-based administrators and the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services to oversee programming that supports students returning from long-term hospitalizations. Engage in ongoing program evaluation to assess the efficacy of the intervention related to student outcomes.
• Work within a rotating system for crisis response to balance workload with other counseling staff.

• Resource & Budget Management:
• Prepare and monitor the annual department budget and administer its implementation in collaboration with the Assistant Superintendent and Principals.
• Approve initial requests for professional meetings, conferences, and leaves of absence.
• Coordinate the work of interns within the assigned curricular area.

• Professional Development:
• Participate in various professional and community organizations.
• Participate in various professional and community organizations; attend various workshops, seminars, and conferences to update professional standing continuously and communicate this to subject area teachers and administrators.

• Other:
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned by the Principals or the Assistant Superintendent.

Essential Functions of the Job:

Must possess the ability to:

• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Lead in the planning, direction, and coordination of the delivery of the counseling program.
• Work cooperatively with the administration, teachers, counselors, and students.
• Analyze and solve complex problems concerning personnel matters and areas of organizational change.
• Provide effective leadership and subject-area expertise in the specific curriculum area.
• Play a key role in supporting the families of all students.
• Advocate for student equity and promote diversity and inclusivity.

Specialty Area:

Must be able to:

• Demonstrate clear and concise written and oral communication skills with administration, staff, and parents.
• Apply knowledge of counseling methodology to support the department in implementing program improvements.
• Apply knowledge of Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, MCAS, and alternative assessment practices.
• Promote inter- and intra-department collaboration.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

The physical and environmental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Normal office environment.
• Ability to freely move about the middle and high school buildings to meet, observe, and teach in a classroom setting.
• Extended time at computer, telephone, or office equipment.
• Must be able to travel between multiple school buildings to provide hands-on support for counseling staff, observe counseling programs, and meet with stakeholders.

Approved by the School Committee:

(Date to be updated upon approval)

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $62,773.00 - $67,966.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Physical Setting:

• Office
• Public school

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to Commute:

• Bedford, MA 01730 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Bedford, MA 01730: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $62,773 - $67,966