Director of School Counseling (District-Wide) (SY25-26)

Title: Director of School Counseling (District-Wide) (SY25-26)

About Chelsea Public Schools:

The Chelsea Public Schools (CPS) is a gateway school system that welcomes and educates all students and families. In CPS, we believe all children are capable of achieving their personal best by ensuring a safe and supportive environment for school and classroom environments. The school system educates over 6,300 students in 10 schools, including a pre-K-1st grade school, 4 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools. CPS is a culturally responsive school district. We believe that students learn best when they are engaged in meaningful relationships that fosters and promotes high expectations and risk taking. We are a district of multilingual students where languages are an asset to student development and growth. More information about CPS can be found on our website at www.chelseaschools.com/cps.

Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership, advocacy and collaboration at the school and district levels to ensure the development, implementation and assessment of school counseling programs that benefit all students.
• Supervise and support the development, integration and implementation of school counseling programs based upon the identified needs of the students at the individual school buildings and at the district level. Programs will focus on education, prevention, and intervention.
• Build vertical alignment and integration of knowledge, attitudes and skills that are needed for students to acquire at all levels - kindergarten, elementary, middle school and high school levels (PreK - 12) - in the academic, career and social/emotional domains.
• Advocate for student needs by creating and implementing data-informed school counseling programs that positively impact student outcomes, serve as the foundation for systemic change, promote educational equity and access, and lead to student post-secondary success.
• Eliminate barriers to access and equity to a rigorous education for all students.
• Ensure equity in policies and procedures that have an impact on students and support the implementation of school counseling programs for all students at all levels.
• Ensure that school counselor professional and ethical guidelines are followed by maintaining the highest standard of professionalism and legal obligation, use of consultation and ongoing critical reflection.
• Assess the professional development needs of school counselors at the school and district levels by providing regularly scheduled professional development, consultation and supervision for the continuous improvement of the school counseling program.
• Provide supervision and evaluation of all school counselors in the district.
• Support school-based administration in the recruitment and hiring process of school counselors.
• Collaboration with other administrators around district decisions that would affect the school counseling department.
• Collaborate with stakeholders such as families, teachers, support personnel, administrators, and community partners to create learning environments that promote educational equity, and support success and well-being for every student.
• Establish programs and services leading to student post-secondary planning, success and achievement with school staff members, parents, district level staff, school board members and the community.
• Research, apply for, implement, and monitor grant opportunities.

Additional Responsibilities:

• District Social-Emotional Support
• • Collaborate with the Director of School Social Work to continue planning and alignment of the student social-emotional planning and development at all grade levels
  • Plan District Meetings and Early Release Day PDs as a Student Support Department
• Dual Enrollment & Early College enrollment support and oversight for all 3 High Schools:
• • Collaborate with the Coordinator of the Early College & Career Pathways Coordinator on the successful implementation of the DE/EC Program
  • Provide supervision and support to School Counseling Department members for the successful implementation of the Dual Enrollment/Early College Program e.g. enrollment, student advising, orientation, protocols and deadlines
  • Collaborate with College and Career Coordinator for the creation, planning and execution of college and career related events
• PSAT/NMSQT Exam administration
• • Get tentative student list based on grade level and ELL status in June and finalize in October, for all 3 High Schools
  • Exam ordering, billing, collection, and send-off
  • Submit for College Board approved exam accommodations for students with disabilities
• AP Exams administration
• • AP exam ordering for all 3 High Schools
  • Collaboration with school leaders and teachers to be place an order an order
  • Submit for College Board approved exam accommodations for students with disabilities
  • Ensure students with approved accommodations take the AP exams with their individual accommodations
  • Exam collection, send-off, and billing coordination.
  • Include fee waiver information for each student
• CHS Master Schedule support:
• • Collaborate with the CHS Principal, Registrar and School Counseling Department members to support master scheduling related matters
• MCAS
• • Oversee and audit requests confirming whether students have met the MCAS CD with the new MA MCAS CD guidance
• Overage Appointments
• • Phone appointments with students that are 17 yo and over to determine best placement per district policy
  • Communicate placement decisions to Parent Information Center and High School administration
• Oversight of 504 Plans
• • Collaborate with the Special Education Assistant Director to streamline the 504 process and implementation with the District School Counseling Team
• Graduation:
• • Collaborate with the High School Counseling Department to review/audit all graduating students’ status in collaboration with High School administration
  • Support the Scholarship application process
• Compile and provide graduation data from all 3 High Schools
• Support the Graduation Day process in collaboration with High School administration

• Collaborate and participate in District initiatives including and not limited to:
• • Children’s Cabinet
  • District Student Support Initiatives and Processes
  • Collaborate at a district level on Family Engagement initiatives
  • Collaborate and participate in the coordination of Youth MH Day
  • Facilitate PD as needed
• Performance of other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• MA DESE Guidance or School Counselor Director/Supervisor Licensure;
• Hold a master’s degree or higher in school counseling or the substantial equivalent
• Experience working in an urban educational setting
• Has working knowledge of ASCA and MASCA frameworks and standards
• Experience in a collaborative educational environment and shared decision-making modeled on Professional Learning Communities is highly desirable.

Reports to: Central Office - Chief of Staff & Equity

Terms: In accordance with the contract with the Chelsea Administrators’ Association (CAA). The work year for this position is 215 days.

Salary: Compensation is commensurate with background and experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Chelsea Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.