Westborough Public Schools Westborough , MA 01581
Posted 1 week ago
Fales Elementary School, Westborough, MA, seeks a dynamic
Elementary School Counselor
to join our caring staff beginning in the 2024-2025 School Year
The Westborough Public Schools enthusiastically welcome professionals to our district who thrive in a diverse environment that focuses on the importance of relationships with our students, staff, families, and community.
We are an innovative, supportive, and high-performing district whose stellar staff provides high quality services for our diverse students and their families.
We educate approximately 4,000 students from Pre-K through age 22, from homes that speak almost 30 different languages.Our student population is approximately 49% Students of Color and 51% White students.
We support our vibrant, passionate, dedicated, skilled and professional staff through ongoing collaboration and feedback to ensure their safety, health, joyful practice, sense of belonging, and professional growth!
With a graduation rate of 97% and 90% of our students attending post-secondary schools, we are proud of our commitment to excellence in educating students to be informed and successful citizens of a global world.
Job Title: School Counselor
Reports to: Principal
Department: Counseling
School Year and days: 2024-2025 school year, 184 days
FSLA Status: Exempt, Unit A
Qualifications:
Education: Master's degree from an accredited college/university in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology or a related field
Professional Certification: MA DESE license as a School Counselor, SEI Endorsement preferred
Specialized Knowledge: child development, mental health, evidence-based practices/interventions, trauma-based care, wellness, inclusive practices, cultural proficiency, anti-racist instruction, social-emotional learning, CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning), growth mindset, universal screening assessment/mental health screening, progress monitoring
Bilingual skills, especially in Spanish and Portuguese, are highly desirable
Hiring Requirement: Successful completion and approval of DESE mandated CORI and SAFIS fingerprinting
Preferred Experience:
Working in a diverse public school setting with English Language Learners
Supporting students with mental health, wellness, special needs, including students with emotional, behavioral, and/or learning challenges
Delivering services consistent with MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support)
Highly desirable to have experience with some of the following:
Using EBI (Evidence-Based Intervention) with students
Experience with the following interventions preferred:
Second Step SEL program
PBS (Positive Behavioral Supports) using the FAIR system
Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in Schools
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) in Schools
Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)
Collaborative Problem Solving
Skills and Abilities:
Establish and maintain effective relationships with students, colleagues, families/caregivers, outside providers, and community resources
Create a welcoming, supportive, creative, flexible learning environment that ensures equitable access to information and supports for all students
Apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional/counseling design
Apply knowledge of child development and diverse counseling approaches that result in social-emotional growth for students
Plan and facilitate counseling services that are evidence-based: identification of students, goal-setting, progress-monitoring, and measured outcomes of progress.
Empower students to be critical thinkers
Collaborate with colleagues to implement supports that enhance the social-emotional growth of students
Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
Understand and conform to professional and ethical standards for school adjustment counselors/social workers
Create a welcoming and supportive environment that embraces the diversity among individuals and ensures equitable opportunities for student learning and community membership
Maintain a meeting space and resources that reflects the diversity of our community and affirms diverse identities
Welcome new students and their families, providing orientation and entry-support
Case Management and Counseling
Identifies and assists students at risk in their social, emotional, behavioral, and academic adjustment to school
Provides counseling experiences as guided by the Multi-Tiered System of Support, the Massachusetts Frameworks, and district standards
Delivers and reinforces direct 1:1 and group, strategy-based/goals-based counseling services to students
Monitors students' understanding and adjusts instruction, materials, supports, or assessments when appropriate
Evaluates, innovates, and refines practice to increase student learning, engagement, and confidence
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
Serves as the liaison and facilitates supports for students students returning to school from absences related to mental health or behavior, including but not limited to hospitalization or juvenile justice facilities
Serves as primary staff to administer and oversee student wellness screenings, risk assessments, and other individual student safety checks
Manages all aspects of cases for students on 504 and IEP plans
Consultation With Staff and Families/Caregivers
Consults and collaborates with administrators/principals, families/caregivers, general education and special education staff 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 achievement
Actively participates in Targeted Supported Teams 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 intervention
Leadership/Collaboration
Shares responsibility for accomplishing the goals and priorities of his/her/their department, school, and school district, and actively participates in all meetings and committees
Models instructional strategies and coaches colleagues and families/caregivers in the integration of social-emotional learning practices
Maintains close working relationships with specialists and staff in the Student Services department, as well as with community agencies and outside resources
Serve as primary contact to private therapists, mental health workers, and appropriate agencies, such as the Department of Child and Families (DCF)
Coordinates Systems
Provides support, if needed, with registration, enrollment, and placement of new students
Provides support for course selection and changes for new and existing students
Provides support/guidance with post-secondary schools, private schools, colleagues and universities, financial aid, and careers
In cooperation with middle school classroom teachers, implement whole class Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons based on the DESE competencies of self-management, self-awareness, responsible decision making, relationship skills, and social awareness
Any other relative duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities
The School Counselor does not have supervisory responsibilities, except to direct any paraeducators who may be working with a student and the Counselor, and to train and supervise interns as needed
Salary and Benefits
Salary and benefits for permanent staff are per the contract between the Westborough School Committee and the Westborough Education Association.
The Westborough 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.
Date Updated: 5/14/2024
Westborough Public Schools