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. JOB GOAL: 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. PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES: 1.Identify and assess academic and behavioral concerns through analysis of factors impinging on student adjustment including factors in the home, school, and community 2.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 3.Educate and encourage students and families regarding the importance of daily school attendance, high school graduation, and college and career planning at all levels. 4.Determine and implement appropriate therapeutic strategies to effect changes in behavioral and social interactions of students and their families. 5.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. 6.Provide individual and group therapeutic counseling (including anxiety support, social skills training, anger management, conflict resolution, etc.) to students and their families 7.Coordinate and participate in the school’s bullying prevention program (Olweus) 8.Develop and implement behavioral improvement plans as needed that meets the needs of the whole student (academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs). 9.Develop and implement school’s PBIS system; development, implementation, modeling, and tracking for a school-wide positive behavioral structure. 10.Conduct classroom meetings, psycho-educational/core value support groups, and classroom presentations on identified areas of concern for the students 11.Conduct lunch groups to foster and teach social skills. 12.Support students plan for, adjust to and develop skills for successful transitions in school, between grades/levels, and post-secondary. 13.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 14.Complete IEP goals, objectives and progress reports for students with counseling and transitional services in their IEP. 15.Assist in coordination of the 504 process and monitoring compliance of the 504 plans. 16.Provide family educational workshops on identified issues related to child development, stress reduction, discipline and safety, and teacher/family/student communication 17.Conduct Home Assessments/Visits as required and needed. 18.Demonstrate cultural competency, including awareness that variation in family forms exists 19.Collaborate with school staff and other school system personnel in implementing strategies to promote student learning 20.Participate as a member school based teams to develop interventions for promoting students’ academic success 21.Serve on both school-based and system wide committees to address educational issues, adjustment problems, safety issues, and program development for students 22.Provide de-escalation and crisis intervention services 23.Provide social work case management for students and families 24.Provide translations services as needed 25.Provide staff consultation to support and promote student participation in the learning process 26.Conduct staff development on issues related to social-emotional-behavioral-environmental factors that impact learning 27.Develop programs to address parent/guardian participation in the school and student engagement in the educational process 28.Maintain required clinical records and submit appropriate documents for statistical reports with adherence to program standards in school social work a.Complete risk assessments on referred students b.Support functional behavior assessments on identified students c.Complete student classroom observations to determine needs and support services d.Serve as liaison with community agencies to foster communication between schools, e.parents/guardians, and the community f.Locate and mobilize community resources to support the educational program g.Attend meetings and professional development activities as required 29.Other duties as assigned