Adjustment Counselor

BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

BELLINGHAM MASSACHUSETTS

TITLE: Adjustment Counselor

POSITION SUMMARY:

The School Adjustment Counselor assists students with academic learning by providing counseling to identify and address the social-emotional-behavioral- environmental issues that interfere with the educational process. The School Adjustment Counselor provides prevention intervention and referral services for students with social emotional and behavioral challenges as needed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide individual and/or group short-term counseling for students with social-emotional issues.
2. Develop and measure appropriate IEP goals/objectives.
3. Provide functional behavioral assessments (FBA) and participate in the IEP and 504 process for students as needed.
4. Serve as a liaison between families and the school to promote collaborative processes in educational planning for students.
5. Provide psychosocial assessments and crisis intervention services for students as needed.
6. Collaborate with school staff to develop and implement therapeutic strategies to effect changes in social-emotional-behavioral interactions of students.
7. Provide consultation to parents/guardians teachers and staff on identified issues related to students needs programming discipline and safety
8. Serve as liaison with community agencies and assist in fostering communication between schools parents/guardians and community leaders.
9. Refer students and parents/guardians to appropriate community resources to address social- emotional issues.
10. Serve on school-based committees to address educational issues adjustment problems safety issues and program development for students.
11. Provide staff consultation on social-emotional-behavioral issues affecting student participation in the learning process.
12. Conduct classroom presentations on specific social-emotional issues.
13. Maintain required clinical records and conform to school and state regulations/guidelines on student records.
14. Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
15. Adheres to the adopted policies of the Bellingham School Committee.

SKILLS/ABILITY:

1. Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design teaching and instruction for individuals and groups and the measurement of training effects.
2. Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions conclusions and approaches to problems.
3. Communicating effectively in writing and as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
4. Using computer application(s) to manage large amounts of information including creating and editing simple databases inputting data retrieving specific records and creating reports to communicate the information.
5. Required to meet strict deadlines.
6. Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws district policies and administrative regulations.

CERTIFICATES LICENSES and/or DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Masters Degree in Social Work Counseling Psychology
2. Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Licensed School Adjustment Counselor
3. At least two years of experience working with schools and/or social service agencies preferred
4. Experience consulting with social service agencies community resources and outside providers
5. Demonstrated experience supporting students with disabilities

SALARY: As per BTA Contract

CLASSIFICATION: BTA

PHYSICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

1. You are required to be physically capable of escorting students from the building in case of a practice drill or emergency situation in a safe and timely fashion.

1. Must be able to move about the classroom and have the ability to bend sit or stand frequently.

REPORTS TO: Principal

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

OUR MISSION:

The Bellingham Public School Districts enrollment is approximately 1930 students and an

organizational staff of 400 employees. The district is split into the following building grade levels:

DiPietro Elementary (Preschool Grade 3) Stall Brook Elementary (Preschool Grade 3) Bellingham Memorial School (grades 4-7) and Bellingham High School (grades 8-12) and Keough Memorial Academy (grades 7-12) is our therapeutic day school for students with special needs.

Our core mission is to foster an environment in which students and staff have opportunities to reach their full Bellingham School District is committed to providing a challenging and academically motivating education where all students staff and families accept responsibility for education within their schools.

The School Committee and the Administrative Team support the District Improvement Plan and Strategic Plan. Our goal is to always reach for our vision: The Bellingham Public Schools in collaboration with students their families and the community will provide a safe learning environment where the unique strengths of every learner are enhanced and celebrated. We will work together to build a shared sense of pride in the Bellingham Public Schools by amplifying academic excellence increasing communication cultivating a positive climate improving social and emotional well-being and enhancing technology use and implementation.

The Bellingham Public Schools does not discriminate in its admissions and employment practices on the basis of race color religion sex national origin pregnancy gender identity sexual orientation marital status ancestry place of birth age citizenship status veteran status housing status political affiliation genetic information or disability in accordance with state and federal law. Additionally the District does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of homelessness consistent with the McKinney-Vento Act.

The District prohibits retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination harassment and/or who participate in an Equal Opportunity Commission investigation. If you have any questions please contact the Districts Title IX Coordinator at 4 Mechanic Street Bellingham MA 02019 Phone Number: .