School-Based Counselor
About The Position
The School-based Counselor is a teammate who supports students by creating a warm, inclusive, and empowering space for growth. With a strength-based mindset, they develop personalized support strategies while celebrating student uniqueness. This role involves partnering with families, educators, and other mental health professionals to build a strong support system, helping students feel seen, heard, and ready to achieve their goals. Seneca’s Pathfinder Academy is a Nonpublic School in Union City, California, serving students in grades 6–12. It partners with school districts across the Bay Area to support students with significant mental health and behavioral needs, offering a high-quality education through a culturally responsive lens and integrating therapeutic and special education services. The mission is to inspire a love of learning while building the skills, relationships, and resilience students need to succeed. Seneca has been nominated among the Bay Area’s Top Workplaces and is committed to providing marginalized communities with excellent mental health, community-based, and educational services, with a strong focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree OR Associate degree or equivalent + 1 year of applicable experience OR High School Diploma/GED + 2 years of applicable experience
- Applicable experience can include paid or unpaid experience working with youth or families, working in a classroom setting, working in a mental health setting, providing academic support to youth, or providing crisis support to youth
- At least 21 years of age
- TB test clearance, fingerprinting clearance, and any other state/federal licensing or certification requirements
- Valid driver's license, clean driving record, and insurability through Seneca Family of Agencies’ insurance policy
Responsibilities
- Work as an effective member of a multidisciplinary team with teachers, therapists, and other specialists/educational staff
- Foster strong therapeutic relationships with students that support engagement at school and in progress towards individualized goals
- Aid in the implementation of classroom modifications and accommodations as identified by students’ individualized education plans (IEP) or other plans
- Provide direct behavioral intervention that decreases engagement in behaviors that have impeded school success and increases engagement in replacement behaviors
- Provide effective supervision of students at all times to maintain safety
- Utilize crisis communication and de-escalation techniques, this may include intervening with the clients' behavioral program through physical management
- Contribute to a strong school culture by participating in or leading activities that celebrate success and promote joy
- Complete required data collection and service documentation to measure the effectiveness of services, inform team decision making, and/or engage in service billing
- Transport clients to and from school as needed
Benefits
- Starting at $27.01 -$29.51 per hour, commensurate with experience
- Additional compensation provided upon passing bilingual language proficiency exam
- Salary increases each year
- 5 weeks of paid time off
- 11 paid holidays
- 14 paid school break days
- Comprehensive benefits package: Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic, acupuncture, fertility coverage
- Long-term disability, family leave, and life insurance
- 50% paid premiums for dependents
- 403b Retirement Plan
- Employer-paid Employee Assistance Plan
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer
- Promotional opportunities across the agency in California
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
