What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mental Health Professional position at New Story School?
Mental Health Professional
State College, PA
Join New Story Schools, a leading special education provider dedicated to making a lasting impact on students’ lives. We serve children and young adults ages 5-22 in grades K-12 across multiple locations in Pennsylvania, partnering with families and school districts to create a safe and empowering space for growth and development. Our schools offer small class sizes, individualized education plans, and a supportive environment where students are empowered to succeed academically and socially.
What we offer
- Relocation Assistance: Up to $10,000 to support your move to the area.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy health, dental, and vision coverage, plus employer-paid short-term disability and flexible spending options.
- Financial Wellness: Benefit from a 401k with up to 4% company match, company HSA contributions, and employer-paid short-term disability, AD&D, and life insurance.
- Paid Time Off: Enjoy paid school breaks, paid holidays, 4 personal days, 8 sick days, and 3 days of bereavement leave.
- Career Growth: Access tuition reimbursement, assistance programs, and advancement opportunities.
- Well-Being Support: Get confidential counseling, life coaching, and mindfulness resources through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Recognition & Perks: Celebrate your impact with employee rewards, peer nominations, and exclusive discounts.
Role Requirements
- Master’s degree in School Counseling, Psychology, Social Services or mental health related field.
- PA professional license in the field of counseling, social work, or another related discipline, or a PA certification as school counselor.
- Must have a minimum of two years’ experience providing individual/group counseling services to children or working with students with disabilities, including those with emotional, behavioral, or learning challenges.
- Strong background in mental health counseling, SEL, and trauma-informed practices.
- Knowledge of IEP processes, behavioral interventions, and school counseling best practices.
Primary Job Responsibilities
- Conduct individual and group counseling sessions focusing on social, emotional, and behavioral needs.
- Conduct needs assessments on an ongoing basis to determine student counseling needs.
- Collaborate with special education teams to develop and implement Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) with specific focus on students' socio-emotional goals.
- Assess students' academic, social, and emotional development and create tailored intervention plans.
- Assist in the development and monitoring of behavior intervention plans (BIPs) for students with emotional and behavioral challenges.
- Oversee therapeutic relationship between staff and students and makes recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the relationship.
- Participate in multidisciplinary teams, including IEP meetings, to offer counseling-related insights and support.
- Conduct classroom-based lessons on topics such as emotional regulation, self-advocacy, and coping strategies.
- Provide crisis intervention and support to students experiencing acute emotional distress.
- Engage with families to promote home-school collaboration and to provide resources for supporting students' needs outside of school.
- Collaborate with outside therapists and service providers when necessary to ensure continuity of care for students.
Interview Process
- Resume Review
- Phone Interview
- Leadership Interview
- Classroom Observation
- Reference Checks
- Offer Extension
New Story and its affiliated schools are proud to be equal opportunity employers, celebrating diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are committed to creating a safe, supportive, and drug-free environment for both our employees and the students we serve. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
