School Adjustment Counselor

We are deeply committed to an inclusive curriculum and school community that reflects the diversity of our student population. We strive to have the highest quality educators and encourage applications from candidates representing a broad range of skills and diverse backgrounds. We seek candidates who are dedicated to inclusion and have a clear interest in being part of the richness of diversity that the New Bedford Public Schools community has to offer. Position:

• School Adjustment Counselor

Objective:

• The School Adjustment Counselor will assist students with academic learning and academic achievement by providing strategic services that identify and address the social-emotional and behavioral concerns as well as environmental issues that interfere with the educational process. Working with parents/guardians, teachers, school principal/principal's designee and community based resources; the school adjustment counselor will implement strategies that promote students' positive school adjustment and overall well-being.

Responsibilities:

• Identify and assess academic and behavioral concerns through analysis of factors impinging on student adjustment including factors in the home, school, and community
• Serve as a liaison between families and the school to positively promote collaborative processes in educational planning for students by encouraging family participation in the school setting
• Educate and encourage students and families regarding the importance of daily school attendance, high school graduation, and college and career planning at all levels (pk-12).
• Determine and implement appropriate therapeutic strategies to effect changes in behavioral and social interactions of students and their families.
• Assist in the development of a Response to Intervention (RTI) model for the school to include both in-school and community supports and interventions, to address academic, social, emotional, and behavioral learning. Counselors serve as members on building student assistance/support teams, which meet to share information and develop strategies to meet the specific needs of individual students.
• Provide individual and group therapeutic counseling (including anxiety support, social skills training, anger management, conflict resolution, etc.) to students and their families
• Coordinate and participate in the school's bullying prevention program (Olweus)
• Develop and implement behavioral improvement plans as needed that meets the needs of the whole student (academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs).
• Develop and implement school's PBIS system; development, implementation, modeling, and tracking for a school-wide positive behavioral structure.
• Conduct classroom meetings, psycho-educational/core value support groups, and classroom presentations on identified areas of concern for the students
• Conduct lunch groups to foster and teach social skills.
• Support students plan for, adjust to and develop skills for successful transitions in school, between grades/levels, and post-secondary.
• Support Special Education Facilitator with IEP monitoring and compliance as needed. Responsibilities may at times include chairing or coordinating IEP meetings and completing required paperwork
• Complete IEP goals, objectives and progress reports for students with counseling and transitional services in their IEP.
• Assist in coordination of the 504 process and monitoring compliance of the 504 plans.
• Provide family educational workshops on identified issues related to child development, stress reduction, discipline and safety, and teacher/family/student communication
• Conduct Home Assessments/Visits as required and needed.
• Demonstrate cultural competency, including awareness that variation in family forms exists
• Collaborate with school staff and other school system personnel in implementing strategies to promote student learning
• Participate as a member school based teams to develop interventions for promoting students' academic success
• Serve on both school-based and system wide committees to address educational issues, adjustment problems, safety issues, and program development for students
• Provide de-escalation and crisis intervention services
• Provide social work case management for students and families
• Provide translations services as needed
• Provide staff consultation to support and promote student participation in the learning process
• Conduct staff development on issues related to social-emotional-behavioral-environmental factors that impact learning
• Develop programs to address parent/guardian participation in the school and student engagement in the educational process
• Maintain required clinical records and submit appropriate documents for statistical reports with adherence to program standards in school social work
• Complete risk assessments on referred students
• Support functional behavior assessments on identified students
• Complete student classroom observations to determine needs and support services
• Serve as liaison with community agencies to foster communication between schools, parents/guardians, and the community
• Locate and mobilize community resources to support the educational program
• Attend meetings and professional development activities as required
• Other duties as assigned by the Supervisor of Clinical/Behavioral Services or the Assistant Superintendent of Special Education & Student Services.

Qualifications:

• Master's Degree from an accredited college or university, preferred. Evidence of specific professional study in the field of special education, psychology, social work, including educational administration and supervision.
• Certification in proper area and level by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Elementary (School Adjustment Counselor).
• Licensed or eligible for licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW).
• Preferred fluency in Spanish and/or Portuguese.
• Three years' experience in the area of Special Education/ Student Services.
• Three to Five years' experience in the area of mental health/clinical social work practice.
• Knowledge/experience using the new educator evaluation system.
• Experience designing and implementing positive behavioral intervention supports and strategies, social/emotional curriculum, behavior improvement programs and clinical support to students and families.
• Experience working collaboratively with community based mental health agencies, Department of Child & Family Services, Department of Youth Services, Department of Mental Health, and other community programs to integrate services for students in the New Bedford Public Schools.
• Experience with facilitating Families and Community Together with Schools (FACTS) Teams in the schools; and develop plans for expansion to all schools.
• CPI trained.
• Excellent communication skills- written, verbal and non-verbal.
• Experience in crisis intervention and SOS (Signs of Suicide) - and participate on the district's Crisis Response Team.
• Excellent interpersonal and social skills with colleagues, district staff, families and community.
• Excellent Work Attendance.

Terms of Employment:

• Reports to: School Principal
• Rate: In accordance with the Unit A contract found here

The New Bedford Public Schools do not discriminate on account of age, race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, genetics, or disability that does not prohibit performance of essential job functions in employment for potential employees. New Bedford Public Schools encourages people with multilingual skills, particularly in Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese and/or Spanish, to apply. Every available opportunity will be taken in order to ensure that each applicant is selected on the basis of qualifications, merit and ability.