Classroom Counselor

Overview

Seneca's school partnerships program is hiring a Classroom Counselor to guide students to success at Ochoa Middle and Longwood Elementary School in Hayward, CA. As a Classroom Counselor, you'll support students' mental health needs, provide therapeutic interventions, and foster curiosity in an innovative classroom setting. Our Classroom Counselors also collaborate with a creative team of special education teachers, school therapists, and education leaders to foster classrooms that celebrate diversity and weave the community's cultures into a curriculum that addresses each student's individual needs. You'll also have the opportunity to enroll in an embedded MSW, MFT, or Special Education credential program under a substantial Seneca scholarship!

Seneca's Unconditional Education HEART Program partners with Hayward Unified School District to implement services that identify and intervene on behalf of the community's most vulnerable children. You can learn more about Seneca's School Partnership Programs and Unconditional Education model here.

Seneca Family of Agencies has been nominated among the Bay Area's Top Workplaces for nearly a decade. We're committed to providing traditionally marginalized communities with a network of outstanding mental health, community-based, and educational services. We are committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourage people of color to apply. Our programs are deeply engaged in conversations and training on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to bring equity and justice to the youth and families we serve.

Responsibilities

• Work as an effective member of a multidisciplinary team with teachers, therapists, and other specialists/educational staff

• Foster strong therapeutic relationships with students that support engagement at school and in progress towards individualized goals

• Assist with academic instruction, providing individual and group instruction, as directed

• Aid in the implementation of classroom modifications and accommodations as identified by students' individualized education plans (IEP) or other plans

• Provide direct behavioral intervention that decreases engagement in behaviors that have impeded school success and increases engagement in replacement behaviors that support academic learning, positive relationship building, and effective community participation

• Provide effective supervision of students at all times to maintain safety

• Utilize crisis communication and de-escalation techniques as per Seneca's Equilibrium model training. This may include intervening with the clients' behavioral program through physical management of the clients, if applicable. Training in additional crisis intervention modalities such as CPI may be required

• Contribute to a strong school culture by participating in or leading activities that celebrate success and promote joy. This may include small group activities, classroom activities, and school-wide activities

• Communicate effectively with families and all others involved in the daily life of the student, including other Seneca programs or outside agencies

• Complete required data collection and service documentation to measure the effectiveness of services, inform team decision making, and/or engage in service billing

• Demonstrate professional behavior at all times in accordance with Seneca's mission and philosophy

• All other duties as assigned by program, region, and agency leadership

Qualifications

• Education/Experience requirements:

• Bachelor's degree OR

• Associate degree and one year of relevant experience OR

• High school diploma and two years of relevant experience

• Experience working with youth in a mental health or classroom-facing setting

• Must be at least 21 years of age

• Valid California Driver's License

• Clearance of TB test, fingerprints, and any other mandatory State/Federal licensing or certification requirements

• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination

Schedule

• School based schedule:

• Monday to Friday: 8 AM- 4:30 PM

• 5 weeks of paid time off, 11 paid holidays, and 14 paid school break days

Benefits

• Starting at $24.72- $27.22 per hour, with actual salary dependent on creditable experience above the minimum qualifications for the role

• Additional compensation provided upon passing a bilingual language proficiency exam

• Salary increases each year

• Comprehensive employee benefits package:

• Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic, acupuncture, and fertility coverage

• 50% paid premiums for dependants

• Family leave, life insurance, and long-term disability

• 403b retirement plan

• Employer-paid Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

• 5 weeks of paid time off, 11 paid holidays, and additional paid school break days

• Abundant scholarship and promotional opportunities