School Counselor/School Adjustment Counselor

Gardner Public Schools•Gardner, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The role of the School Adjustment Counselor (SAC) is to provide social, emotional, and therapeutic support to students. The SAC facilitates the diagnosis and treatment of student learning, behavioral, and emotional disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, autism, among others. Services may include meetings with parents, teachers, administrators, or community health providers to address concerns that may potentially affect a student’s success in school. The School Adjustment Counselor also works as part of a collaborative counseling team to implement a comprehensive school wide counseling program.

Requirements

Massachusetts Certificate as School Adjustment Counselor
Master’s Degree in counseling or appropriate field

Responsibilities

Maintains accurate and appropriate records.
Collect, analyze, and use data to develop, implement, and evaluate the school counseling program
Provides classroom lessons and individual/group counseling for students and ensures that at least 60% of time is devoted to counseling of students
Works cooperatively with school counseling team to implement evidenced based practices such as PBIS, CBT, and Trauma Informed Care
Provides classroom consultation and in-service to give teachers and administrators in the school information, strategies, and evidence based approaches for maximizing the total development of students
Work cooperatively with students, teachers, and other appropriate staff to ensure trainings on specific topics such as bullying, substance use prevention, and suicide prevention are provided to teachers and students
Participates on transition team for students transferring into the school as re-entry from hospitalization to facilitate a positive adjustment and provides transitional counseling as needed
Meetings with families and staff to address needs and services for students on caseload and other cases as identified by building principal
Closely working with state agencies such as DYS, DCF, and the juvenile court probation service in providing services for students and families, as well as assisting in tracking of students
Assist in development of Functional Behavioral Assessments
Develop behaviors plans for students with IEP’s and 504’s, as needed
Develop and implement IEP goals as it pertains to counseling, and participate in team meetings
Act as student’s education liaison for student with IEP services delivered solely by SAC
Attend and provide input at all appropriate scheduled IEP, 504, RTI meetings
Assist with the Crisis Team for the school system
Serves on school wide MTSS SEL teams
Collaborate with wrap-around services
Provide crisis response and risk assessment with students in acute crisis, as determined by school principal
Prepare school reports to and for the Director, Principals, and other administrators as needed
Attend district committees/meetings as determined by the Director or administration
Maintains professional competence by attending staff development programs, and other professional activities.
Performs any other related duties as assigned by the Director of Pupil Personnel Services or other appropriate administrator.