Background on Southbridge Public Schools:

Southbridge Public Schools serve approximately 2,200 students in six schools. The district is presently undergoing extensive turnaround at all levels, with the assistance of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This creates unique opportunities for teachers and students. One example is a recently announced, long-term partnership with the University of Connecticut to develop Southbridge Schools to be a national demonstration site for successful implementation of PBIS strategies. Additionally, our district is the recipient of a number of significant grants that are allowing us to creatively redesign Secondary School, curriculum enhancements, improved culture and climate and afterschool opportunities for students. If you feel strongly about improving the educational experience for students and have a commitment to social justice, Southbridge Public Schools welcomes you.

More information about the district’s turnaround efforts can be found here.

POSITION: Social Emotional Learning Counselor

REPORTS TO: High School Principal

ACCOUNTABILITY OBJECTIVE:

The Social Emotional Learning Counselor (SELC) provides instruction, therapy, and counseling services to students to promote positive social skills, mental health, and personal growth.  The SELC will be responsible for supporting social-emotional learning practices and facilitating group counseling. This role will also assist students/families with community support. The SELC will work directly with educators, students, and families of Southbridge Academy.  The SELC will report directly to the Clinical Coordinator and/or School Principal.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• facilitate groups to support student identified needs (i.e. grief, anger, social skills)
• Support restorative interventions such as Mediation and Conflict Resolution
• Provide professional development around SEL and support staff with SEL in classrooms
• Coordinate and support student re-entry plans after a hospitalization/long-term event in collaboration with staff, family and community patterns
• Works closely with each student’s teacher(s), using consultative and coaching approaches as needed, to support integration of strategies successful for that student into their regular classroom setting.
• May organize and facilitate meetings with staff of collateral support organizations prior to and during student’s re-entry to school.
• Participate on relevant teams and committees including Attendance and PBIS Tier II.
• Participate in IEP meetings and support in establishing and implementing relevant student goals as needed.
• Home visits as needed
• Support families in acquiring community services
• May carry a small caseload
•  Responsible for attending monthly department and staff meetings.
• Responsible for compiling, summarizing, maintaining, and submitting data or other records of pupils referred for appraisal to appropriate school personnel.
• Responsible for safeguarding the student’s right to privacy against disclosure of information in the student’s case history, or if disclosures of confidences during counseling within the framework of applicable laws and system-wide policies.
• Responsible for being knowledgeable and conforming to state and system-wide regulations and guidelines on student records.
• Responsible for assuming equal educational opportunity to all individuals regardless of race, color, gender, age, marital status, religion, national origin, homelessness, sexual orientation or disability.
• Performance of other job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Massachusetts LICSW licensure or LMHC. Will consider LCSW if eligible for LICSW.
• Hold a valid Massachusetts Teaching License as a School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor All Levels.
• Experience (minimum 2  years) working with children (grades 6-12) and families struggling with complex challenges, including acute trauma responses and mental health challenges, causing significant dysregulation that regularly interferes with school functioning
• Evidence of mastery of clinical competency and social case work techniques.
• Ability to understand the dynamics of families from various cultural backgrounds.
• Two years’ experience working with school-age children and their families.
• Familiarity in working with consultants, resource personnel, community groups, etc.
• Ability to produce concise reports concerning relevant developmental, social, and medical information.
• Group work experience.
• Demonstrated experience supporting students with special needs.
• Ability to deal with common issues, such as eating disorders, pregnancy, alcohol and other drug abuse, sexual identity, family conflict, and physical, sexual and psychological abuse.
• Hold a valid Massachusetts SEI Endorsement OR Grade-level appropriate ESL License;

  Desired Qualifications:

• Ability to speak Spanish is preferred.
• Minimum of 3 year’s experience. 
• Experience providing cognitive behavioral therapy and/or Dialectical behavioral therapy.
• Training and experience in conflict resolution techniques.
• Experience working in schools and/or social service agencies with clients from culturally and socio-economically diverse backgrounds.
• Experience in providing consultation services, including workshops to professionals relative to child development, behavior modification, mental health disorders, trauma, adolescent issues, etc.
• Demonstrated experience with second language acquisition.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Southbridge Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, gender identity, disability, religion, age, or sexual orientation.