School Adjustment Counselor

QUALIFICATIONS Education: Master’s degree from an accredited college/university in Counseling, Social Work, or a related field Professional Certification: MA DESE license as a School Adjustment Counselor or School Social Worker or School Psychologist Specialized Knowledge: child development, mental health, evidence-based practices/interventions, Multi-Tiered System of Supports,, social-emotional learning, universal screening assessment/mental health screening, progress monitoring PREFERRED EXPERIENCE - Experience supporting students with their mental health and wellness needs - Experience providing individual and small group counseling - Experience supporting students with special needs, including students with emotional, behavioral, and/or learning challenges SKILLS AND ABILITIES - Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with students, colleagues, families/caregivers, outside providers, and community resources - Ability to create a welcoming, supportive, creative, flexible learning environment that ensures equitable access to information and supports for all students - Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional/counseling design with a demonstrated commitment to remain current in content knowledge and instructional pedagogy - Ability to apply skills and knowledge of child development and diverse counseling approaches that results in social-emotional growth for students - Ability to plan and facilitate counseling services that are evidence-based: identification of students, goal-setting, progress-monitoring, and measured outcomes of progress. - Ability to empower students to be critical thinkers who can reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and implement learned strategies - Ability to effectively collaborate with colleagues to design and implement supports and instruction that enhance the social-emotional growth of students - Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, with children and adults - Demonstrated skills and knowledge of counseling and case management - Candidates should have a passion for working with students, families/caregivers, and colleagues - Candidates must be flexible and collaborative - Candidates must demonstrate a belief in a growth mindset for students as well as for self Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Principal may find appropriate and in conformity with state certification requirements. Successful completion of Criminal Records Check (C.O.R.I.), Sexual Offender Record Check (S.O.R.I.), and fingerprints The School Adjustment Counselor fosters the development of students’ self-awareness, self-regulation, and problem-solving skills in order to encourage and support students in their academic and social-emotional growth when he/she/they: - Identifies and assists students at risk in their social, emotional, behavioral, and academic adjustment to school - Provides counseling experiences as guided by the Massachusetts Frameworks, and district standards and requirements, while creating an environment that is conducive to student learning and engagement. - Delivers and reinforces direct 1:1 and group, strategy-based/goals-based counseling services to students through individualized plans (IEPs) or as determined by a student’s needs - Evaluates, innovates, and refines practice to increase student learning, engagement, and confidence in social-emotional learning and growth - Assists students in developing knowledge, skill and abilities to gain independence and fully utilize the targeted skills - Collaborates with students and staff to design, teach, facilitate, and evaluate how to use knowledge meaningfully for self-assessment, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making - Provides crisis intervention and conflict resolution when needed The School Adjustment Counselor provides leadership and fosters the development of others in their knowledge and use of best practices for students' social-emotional growth when he/she/they: - Consults With Staff and Families/Caregivers - Consults and collaborates with administrators/principals, families/caregivers, general education and special education staff, therapists, and paraeducators in gathering and giving information about students in the Counselor’s caseload - Communicates to school personnel an understanding of the physical, social, emotional and psychological factors that strengthen or detract from a student’s academic achievement and/or social-emotional well-being - Actively participates in Multi-Tiered System of Support at the school during which time teams of teachers, administrators, and service providers review strengths and challenges of struggling students and identify targeted interventions, with follow-up assessment on the success of the interventions - Assists staff in developing classroom and individual behavior plans, including observations, implementation, monitoring, and follow-up - Applies understanding of family dynamics, cultural proficiency, anti-racism, trauma history, and mental health challenges, in order to best support all of the diverse families/caregivers in our community - Performs casework services with families/caregivers to increase their understanding of the student’s needs, to facilitate their constructive participation in resolving their child’s challenges, and to broaden their knowledge and use of available resources ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB (not limited to) The essential functions or duties listed are intended only as illustration of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change. The Harvard Public Schools do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or any other class protected by law.