What are the responsibilities and job description for the SY24-25 SEZP Counselor (Clinician) position at Springfield Public Schools MA?
SEZP Clinician (Counselor)
Grades: 6-12
Full Time Start Date: Immediate
Base Salary: Up to $90,424 and commensurate with experience
Clinical Responsibilities:
- Implement the middle and high school SEL curriculums
- Understand continuum of mental health services, referring students and family to an appropriate level of care in coordination with their supervisor
- Counsel individuals and small groups of students toward academic, social, and emotional growth
- Consult with and train teachers, parents and staff regarding student’s needs
- Work with other Counselors and staff to refer students who have barriers to learning and their parents to special programs, specialists and outside agencies
- Provide consultation and facilitate referrals to appropriate levels of care and specialized services based on the student's needs.
- Optimize the collaboration and coordination of the interdisciplinary team to enhance the environment of student care
- Participate in and facilitate the problem solving process (STAT)
- Participate in the planning and evaluation of the counseling program
- Maintain current professional license and adhere to ethical standards in accordance with SEZP
- Consistently attend work on scheduled day and time, in professional attire and with a professional demeanor
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Maintain confidentiality
- Maintain records consistent with ethical and legal guidelines
- Perform responsibilities in an organized, accurate, timely and dependable manner
- Operate within the federal and state laws and the established SEZP, district, and school procedures and policies
- Provide support for other school and district programs and personnel
- Attend SEZP professional development and meetings
- Keep informed of current professional trends
- Utilize computers effectively in the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities
- Pursue professional growth
- Complete other duties as assigned by the supervisor
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Cold certification as a School Social Worker/Adjustment Counselor or Guidance Counselor by the Massachusetts Department of Education at the appropriate grade level required (Counselors without DESE license may be eligible for a licensure waiver)
- Master’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling or related field preferred; bachelor's degree required
- Effective problem solving and communication skills
- Experience working with students and families, plus community health and social service agencies
- Must be able to complete thorough clinical documentation
- Strong Interpersonal and communication skills
- Knowledge of theoretical frameworks of intellectual, social, and emotional development
- Familiarity with philosophy, principles, and practices in social work or counseling
- Familiarity with mental health and emotional impairments including learning disorders affecting student achievement
- Familiarity with prevention and treatment of substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse, and violence in students
- Experience with crisis management and intervention
- Knowledge of medical conditions and medication related to physical disabilities and learning disorders
If you meet some of the qualifications above, we encourage you to apply or reach out for more information. We know that historically marginalized groups – including people of color, women, people from working class backgrounds, and people who identify as LGBTQ – are less likely to apply unless and until they meet every requirement for a job. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from educators with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.
We encourage you to reach out to Kelley Gangi at kgangi@springfieldempowerment.org if you have questions about the role or your qualifications. We are happy to help you feel ready to apply!
BENEFITS
SEZP offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience; salaries for new educators start at $55,467. Educators in SEZP qualify for benefits (sick days, retirement, health insurance, etc.) offered to other educators in the Springfield Public Schools.
Selection as an educator in SEZP recognizes an individual for their outstanding vision, capacity, and commitment to anti-racist school communities. Positions will be filled on a rolling basis; applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. Please contact info@sezp.org with any questions.
About the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership:
While Massachusetts is consistently ranked as one of the top states for education results in the country, we have one of the highest and most persistent opportunity gaps. The Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP) - established in 2015 as a collaboration between Springfield Public Schools (SPS), the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and the Springfield Education Association (SEA) – seeks to improve the longitudinal life outcomes of the more than 5,000 students in our 16 middle and high schools.
As a “zone” of schools within the city of Springfield, including Legacy, SEZP’s approach draws on a deep and embedded partnership with the school district and local teachers’ union, while harnessing the flexibility and innovation found in autonomous school models. As a result, each school within SEZP is accorded significant school-based autonomies - in curriculum, talent, calendar, schedule, and budget – while being held accountable for realizing achievement gains for historically marginalized students. In all of our work, SEZP is in pursuit of equity and anti-racism acknowledging the systemic oppression our students and families encounter daily and working to disrupt these provision gaps urgently and courageously.
NONDISCRIMINATION EMPLOYMENT STATEMENT
The Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, sex characteristics, sex stereotypes and other sex-based conduct, genetic information, ancestry, age, disability or military service or marital status. The Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate in admission to, access or treatment in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, sex characteristics, sex stereotypes and other sex-based conduct, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation, disability or homelessness.
NOTICE OF SEX NONDISCRIMINATION
Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination, including sex-based harassment, in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and its regulations, including in admission and employment.
Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to the Springfield Public Schools’ Title IX Coordinator, titleix@springfieldpublicschools.com, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights at https://ocrcas.ed.gov/contact-ocr, or both.
The Springfield Public Schools Title IX Coordinator is Katie O’Sullivan, Senior Administrator of Human Resources, 1550 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103, 413-787-7100 ext. 55428, titleix@springfieldpublicschools.com.
Springfield Public School’s sex nondiscrimination policy and grievance procedures can be located on the Springfield Public Schools website, www.springfieldpublicschools.com/non-discrimination
To report information about conduct that may constitute sex discrimination or make a complaint of sex discrimination under Title IX, please refer to titleix@springfieldpublicschools.com
Salary : $90,424
