High School: School Counselor (Social and Emotional) - Greater Boston (2026-2027)

KIPP•Lynn, MA

4d•$58,000 - $88,000•Onsite

About The Position

At KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School, we believe our students’ character and emotional growth is inextricably linked to their academic progress. Our school counselors play a vital role in shaping the culture of our schools and helping students lead a life of impact and choice. School counselors are responsible for supporting the emotional, social, academic, and character growth and well-being of KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School students and families. Counselors are an integral part of the KIPP team working to ensure our students succeed in school and go on to lead self-sufficient, successful, and happy lives.

Requirements

Deep alignment with KIPP MA’s mission and values, including the unwavering belief in the high potential of all students.
Computer literacy and baseline familiarity with Google Suite.
MSW or Master’s degree in counseling-related discipline (required).
Licensure through DESE, the Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Services or the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Work (required).
Experience working within a school environment or extensive work with children or young adults.
Experience in therapeutic modalities related to children and families in traditionally underserved communities, including assessment and treatment of trauma.
A strong work ethic, extensive knowledge of child and adolescent development, and a documented track record of personal and professional success.
Pass Criminal Background Checks.

Nice To Haves

Oral and written proficiency in Spanish or Haitian Creole are highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage aspects of the referral process for social services, partnerships, and special education services, including providing support and documentation for all students with IEPs, meeting regularly with students who have mandated counseling on their IEPs, conducting regular assessments of current and emerging student and family needs, developing and maintaining partnerships with external agencies, and referring individuals and families to external resources and services and collaborating with said services.
Consult with the school’s Student Response Teams to develop comprehensive supports and interventions to students who are presenting challenging behaviors.
Communicate effectively with students, families, and colleagues, and respond to family concerns promptly and effectively.
Participate actively in team meetings, school-wide activities, professional development, and other events.
Directly support the students’ social and emotional health to ensure their well-being and safety.
Communicate with proper support staff about student behavior, attendance, and other possible challenges, and support Principal, Deans, and teachers when discipline issues arise.
Provide recommendations to the staff and leadership team around approaches to working with struggling students.
Establish a professional rapport and strong relationship with students, staff, and families.
Display the highest ethical and professional behavior and confidentiality when working with students, parents, and staff.
Participate in school-wide and individual professional development, including pre-service training over the summer and weekly during the academic year.
Take ownership for the development of your craft and seek feedback from your coach (meet 1x/1-2 weeks with coach, implement feedback, engage in co-planning and active practices, participate in live coaching, etc.).
Perform necessary support duties including (but not limited to) coverage, bus, lunch, and dismissal duties.
Develop strong relationships with families through participating in school events and consistent phone calls home.
Be willing to offer support and receive constructive feedback from colleagues in order to create a professional working atmosphere that is conducive to accountability, change, and improvement.
Collaborate with grade level and content teams to tackle common challenges and implement grade-wide systems, sharing responsibility for all students.
Dependable attendance according to our school calendar.
Embody KIPP MA’s Code of Conduct by acting with integrity, leading with humanity, centering self-awareness and critical consciousness, taking personal responsibility, and engaging productively.
Participate and engage in regional professional development and community events as required.
Demonstrated ability to collect and interpret data, evaluate, reason, define problems, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and make reasonable judgments and decisions in a timely manner in accordance with the needs of the school.
Self-awareness, flexibility and emotional intelligence to navigate a setting with students who express diverse needs.
The consistent use of interpersonal and self-management skills to effectively support behavioral and emotional needs of students to ensure a safe and inclusive environment, as well as build relationships and manage conflict with students, staff, and caregivers.
Effective communication skills to perform assigned duties and to meaningfully exchange information with students, staff, families and others in person, through written communication, in front of groups, and on virtual platforms.
Physical mobility to move self in various positions in order to execute duties effectively, which may include kneeling, walking, pushing/pulling, squatting, twisting, turning, bending, stooping and reaching overhead.
Physical strength sufficient to periodically lift and/or carry 20 pounds of materials or supplies and to physically restrain a student to keep from harming themself and/or others in an emergency situation.
Manual dexterity sufficient to perform repetitive hand/wrist/arm motions and to operate a computer and office equipment.
Obtain informed consent, using the School’s Informed Consent Form, from at least one parent or guardian prior to providing counseling services to the student. If the parents or guardians are separated, divorced or never married, the school counselor should use best efforts to obtain written informed consent from both parents or guardians, unless prevented from doing so by mitigating circumstances. In situations where written consent cannot be obtained despite best efforts, the provider should obtain verbal consent from the applicable parents or guardians, document the conversation, and keep a copy with the student’s counseling records. Regardless of the form, informed consent to treatment must be obtained from at least one parent or guardian; for minors whose parents are divorced, separated, or never married, ideally from both.
Engage in other duties as assigned that promote a positive and safe learning environment and culture.