Counselor

NOLA Public Schools • New Orleans, LA

5d • $47,000 - $82,390 • Onsite

About The Position

NOLA Public Schools Vision The vision of the NOLA Public Schools is that every student receives a high-quality education that fosters their individual capabilities, while ensuring that they thrive, achieve physical and mental wellness, and are prepared for civic, social, and economic success. Position Summary NOLA-PS is seeking a Counselor to l ead mental health, counseling, and family support services for adolescent immigrant students in the Newcomer program. This role provides direct counseling, crisis intervention, and coordinates wraparound services with external partners. The ideal candidate has experience in trauma-informed care, school-based mental health, and case management for immigrant and English Learner youth, with strong cultural competency and a commitment to supporting students’ academic success, language development, and post-secondary pathways.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or related field required
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or state certification required
• A minimum of 3 years experience providing counseling, social work, or mental health services in a school setting
• Experience working with immigrant youth, recently arrived families, and students with interrupted formal education
• Deep knowledge of stressors specific to adolescent immigrant experience, the barriers newcomers face in accessing essential services, and cultural competencies to engage families as equal partners
• Expertise in leveraging agency and community relationships, resource coordination, and vendor management to streamline systematic supports that define the Newcomer Program experience and mitigate student risk factors
• Ability to monitor, evaluate, and refine service provision and counseling practices with fidelity while using student performance to inform and constantly evaluate programming
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to develop creative solutions to address barriers to student success.
• Urgency for and commitment to affirmative practices that transform educational and post-secondary outcomes for immigrant and English Learner students.
• Oral and written Spanish proficiency required

Responsibilities

• Provide direct individual and group counseling to students, focusing on acculturation, separation, and reunification stress, acute, chronic, and complex trauma related to the immigrant experience, behaviors as a product of these stressors and trauma, and overall- mental well-being.
• Implement crisis intervention protocols and serve as the primary mental health responder for student-related crises, including safety concerns, self-harm, and trauma-related responses.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop safety plans for students experiencing significant emotional distress.
• Collaborate with the Intervention Specialist to administer universal screening protocols that inform student matriculation through Program-wide Tier 2 and Tier 3 behavior intervention
• Contribute expertise in School Building Level Committee (SBLC) meetings aligned to §303 specifications
• Maintain a referral and case management system to track student and family needs and ensure follow-through on support plans that mitigate risk factors preventing students from reaching Program goals
• Supports students’ acculturation from initial enrollment into the Newcomer Program through students’ transition back to home high school, ensuring secondary persistence through post-transition check-ins
• Serve as the primary liaison between vendors and services providers of supports tailored to the adolescent immigrant experience that include financial literacy, sex education, health services, and post-secondary planning
• Collaborate with community-based organizations, local agencies, and district departments to provide wraparound support to include assistance with immigration services and work authorization, employment preparedness, post-secondary education access, career counseling, public assistance, and community navigation
• Develop and maintain effective family engagement protocols and provide support for immigrant families navigating U.S. educational systems, including translation and interpretation services, material needs assistance, and school-to-home communication.
• Maintain a positive, urgent, and collaborative team culture, aligning efforts to foster a student-centered environment that drives toward the mission and goals of the Newcomer Program
• Support teachers and staff to integrate protective factors into classroom instruction and school culture.
• Work alongside other faculty and instructional staff to support school functions and initiatives
• Engage in team meetings to discuss student progress, co-create cohesive structures, maintain consistent routines, and contribute to the ongoing development of the Newcomer Program
• Participate in coaching model led by Program Director to receive and act upon frequent performance feedback on service delivery methods, community partner coordination, and job-specific competencies

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level