Postsecondary Success: Counselor on Special Assignment

Springfield Public Schools • Springfield, MA

2d

About The Position

Under the direction of the Chief of Student Services, the Counselor on Special Assignment (COSA) will be a full-time release position responsible for supporting PK-12 Counselors. School Counselors and Adjustment Counselors, including evaluating current counseling programs and focusing efforts on student outcomes, closing student achievement gaps and the needs of all students and families through a Multi-tiered System of Support. The COSA will evaluate student data in support of effective school instructional planning, identify barriers and contribute to the ongoing development, implementation, and curricular enhancements for academic achievement, family engagement, college and career-planning, expansion of school intervention programs, and increasing integrated support for culturally relevant sustaining practices, and trauma informed practices. The COSA will promote inclusion, belonging, and access for all students, encourage systemic change and assist in building district-wide systems and processes that cultivate a college and career going culture to increase postsecondary success.

Requirements

• Must possess a valid Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education School Adjustment or School Counseling License.
• Minimum of five (5) years counseling experience in elementary and/or secondary setting.
• Possession of a valid driver's license.
• Knowledge of: ASCA National Model of School PK-12 counselors
• National School Social Work Practice Model
• School counseling principles and techniques to improve student learning.
• Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
• PBIS and tiered systems of interventions.
• Collaborative Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) Framework.
• Principles, methods, techniques, strategies, and trends in educational, vocational, career, social and emotional counseling.
• Techniques and practices that will facilitate collaboration with site counselors and tiered systems of interventions and student wellness practices.
• Evidence-based practice in school counseling and school social work.
• Data analysis and implications for program development.
• Resources that provide analysis of current workforce data.
• MassCore, private and out of state university admission requirements.
• SPS Pupil Progression Plan, graduation requirements, and options for college and career readiness.
• Ability to: Conduct professional development for district staff and facilitate organizational development.
• Communicate effectively in oral and written form.
• Establish and maintain productive collaborative relationships with others.
• Evaluate programs and report on effectiveness data.
• Work productively with outside experts to establish a single, unified direction.
• Analyze and interpret assessment results for the purpose of designing and modifying instructions.
• Perform a wide variety of specialized tasks; interprets and applies rules and regulations as appropriate.
• Uses and shares a variety of instructional strategies; applies knowledge of methods of supporting and extending instruction.
• Demonstrate knowledge of correct English grammar and usage.
• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Maintain confidentiality of information and use proper discretion concerning confidential matters.
• Maintain a safe and orderly working environment.
• Strong knowledge of technology, especially using multiple databases to compile reports.
• Meet schedules and deadlines.
• Plan and organize work.
• Operate office equipment including a computer with a variety of software related to job requirements.

Responsibilities

• Refines, strengthens, and monitors effective on-site counseling programs aligned with best practices and the American School Counseling Association National (ASCA) model.
• Initiate systems for the district to become a Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) district.
• Assist in the development of systematic district-wide counseling processes, procedures, and documents.
• Refine, strengthen, and monitor effective use of curriculum aligned with culturally relevant sustaining practices, and trauma informed practices and the ASCA model.
• Establish and maintain the district counseling communication procedures.
• Assist with supporting and mentoring new PK-12 counselors.
• Assist with recruiting, placing, and training school counselor interns.
• Assist with facilitating school counseling advisory, grade level, and district-wide counselor’s meetings.
• Assist with conducting school counselor site visits to support school counselors.
• Assist with collecting and analyzing data for decision making and progress monitoring of the counseling program and other student support services activities.
• Collaborate with counselors in the selection and ordering of counseling resources, materials, and equipment.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of a district-wide counseling handbook.
• Regularly update and maintain the district school counseling website, newsletter, and social media account.
• Assist crisis teams during and following a crisis.
• Work as part of a team to assist in coordinating the professional development activities and programs for district PK-12 counselors.
• Participate in professional development activities and train the school counseling staff.
• Provide technical support and training on counseling-related programs to PK-12 counselors, teachers, and district staff.
• Plan, organize and conduct ongoing staff development for PK-12 counselors, teachers, support staff, and administrators in areas of academic development, social emotional development, and college and career readiness.
• Team with other departments to improve student academic development, social emotional development, and college and career readiness.
• Increase, improve, and assist at the school site in the coordination of outreach to students and families through targeted training and workshops in areas of academic development, social emotional development, and college and career readiness.
• Identify opportunities to enhance college and career readiness, including coordinating and executing the district college/career fair and College Month launch as well as other PK-12 experiences for students and parents.
• Plan, organize, develop and implement career events and publications; prepare letters, flyers, mailers, emails and other materials to publicize CTE pathways, resources and programs.
• Create/Maintain college and career partnerships with local organizations, universities and colleges.
• Assist school counselors in building post-secondary academic plans (MyCAP) with students.
• Seek to increase and improve inclusion, belonging and access for all students (PK-12).
• Support the development of programs and interventions to accelerate career and college readiness student outcomes.
• Participate in planning committee and task force work that allows for feedback into and development of a district-wide MTSS plan, especially as it relates to mental health and SEL supports for students.
• Collaborate with various partners to develop the mental health and social-emotional learning (SEL) aspects of the district-wide SEL and mental health systems of support in our MTSS plan.
• Work within multi-tiered systems of support that use multiple data sources to monitor and improve student behavior, attendance, engagement, and achievement.
• Collaborate with school site PK-12 counselors on developing, implementing, and expanding the school site intervention programs.
• Duties as assigned to support STAT/MTSS implementation and success.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees