Director of Counseling PreK-6 SY26-27

About Needham Public Schools (NPS): NPS has a deep commitment to the success of our diverse students and families and to the professional accomplishments of its educators. Needham devotes itself to cultural proficiency equity and community collaboration to fulfill the vision of the Portrait of a Needham Graduate. This METCO district comprises 5 elementary schools 2 middle schools and 1 nationally-ranked high school serving approximately 5500 students. NPS is committed to addressing equity in the district by focusing on improving academic performance for historically marginalized students and ensuring our schools are safe for every child and free of bias bullying and hurtful acts that demean and diminish. Read more about our equity work here.

Needham Public Schools is seeking a visionary equity-minded leader to serve as the Director of School Counseling (PreK6). This pivotal role is designed for a systems thinker who can bridge the gap among mental health academic success and social-emotional learning (SEL).

You will lead a dedicated team of professionals to ensure that every student regardless of background has the support they need to thrive. Working in close partnership with the Secondary Director of Counseling you will help build a seamless district-wide PreK12 counseling vision.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Department Management

• Visionary Oversight: Lead the PreK6 counseling department by overseeing hiring supervision evaluation and professional development.
• MTSS Integration: Execute the districts Comprehensive Social-Emotional Learning and Mental Health Framework utilizing Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to meet student needs through preventive and responsive practices.
• Policy & Compliance: Serve as a District Administrator for Section 504 Accommodation Plans (PreK6) ensuring rigorous compliance and equitable access.
• Resource Management: Manage the departmental budget and pursue grant opportunities to fund innovative Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and behavioral health initiatives.
• Collaborative Leadership: Partner closely with district and school-level leadership to harmonize social-emotional and mental health supports with academic expectations ensuring a holistic whole-child approach that promotes both well-being and rigorous student achievement.

Equity & Student Success

• Systemic Equity: Actively dismantle predictable disparities in student outcomes by addressing systemic inequities and ensuring all students are challenged to reach their fullest potential.
• Data-Informed Practice: Standardize the use of mental health screening progress monitoring and clear entrance/exit criteria for counseling services.
• Solution-Oriented Advocacy: Provide leadership and guidance for school-based Student Success Teams (SST) to identify and address complex learning and behavioral needs.

Safety Climate & Collaboration

• Crisis & Response: Oversee district-wide training in trauma-sensitive practices restorative justice social-emotional learning and mental health prevention and crisis response.
• Therapeutic Oversight: Partner with Special Education Directors to provide clinical support for school-based support teams
• Community Partnership: Build robust bridges between the schools and outside mental health agencies to provide a wrap-around support system for families.

Qualifications

• Education: Masters degree in School Counseling Psychology Education or School Leadership required.
• Licensure: Valid Massachusetts Educator License as a Supervisor/Director or Administrator. (Candidates actively enrolled in a licensure program may be considered.)
• Endorsement: SEI (Sheltered English Immersion) Administrator Endorsement required by start date.
• Experience:
• Educational leadership experience within a school or community-based organization is strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success in systems-level strategic planning specifically the ability to manage long-term projects align departmental goals with district initiatives and oversee program effectiveness.
• Knowledge of Section 504 compliance and systemic implementation.
• A staunch commitment to diversity equity and inclusion specifically through the lens of dismantling systemic barriers to student access and promoting integrated support models.
• Deep foundational knowledge of developmentally age-appropriate social emotional learning (SEL) and mental health best practices with a proven track record of translating research into sustainable district-wide programming

Core Competencies

• Transparent Communication: The ability to translate complex data and psychological concepts into actionable insights for parents staff and the School Committee.
• Collaborative Spirit: A lead-by-example approach that fosters a culture of care transparency and high expectations.
• Analytical Thinking: Proficiency in using data to tell a story and drive programmatic changes.

Application and Selection Procedure:
All resumes will be screened and selected candidates will participate in a thorough interview process.

Compensation and Benefits:

Please review theUnit B contractandthis pageto learn more about employee compensation and benefits.

Per diem rates is determined by education and experience ranging from Masters (step 1) $528.79 to Doctorate (step 10) $751.32 (This range is based on a 1.0 FTE).

The Needham Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race color sex sexual orientation gender identity religion disability age active military/veteran status ancestry genetic information or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies employment policies and other administered programs and addition students who are homeless or of limited English-speaking ability are protected from discrimination in accessing the course of study and other opportunities available through the schools.

Needham Public Schools has a strong commitment to equity. Candidates who also have a strong commitment to this work are encouraged to apply. For more information on our equity work please visit our equity website.

All positions are subject to the approval of the 2026-2027 Needham Public School budget by the Town of Needham.

Required Experience:

Director