Adjustment Counselor - Bellingham High School

BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS 

BELLINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS

TITLE: Adjustment Counselor

POSITION SUMMARY:

The School Adjustment Counselor assists students with academic learning and achievement by providing counseling to identify and address the social-emotional, behavioral, and environmental issues that interfere with the educational process. The School Adjustment Counselor provides prevention, intervention, and referral services for all students.  Working with parents/guardians, teachers, adminstrators and community based organizations, the School Adjustment Counselor implements strategies that promote students overall well-being for students.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide individual and group counseling for students with social-emotional issues, including but not limited to: anxiety, school advoidance, social skills, conflict resolution, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and self-advocacy.
2. Develop, measure and complete 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. Educate students and families regarding the importance of school related issues, including but not limited to: attandance, digital citizenshipk online health and safety, etc.
16. Conducts home visits as required and needed.
17. 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. Master's 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 District’s enrollment is approximately 1,930 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 potential. The 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 District’s Title IX Coordinator at 4 Mechanic Street, Bellingham, MA 02019, Phone Number: 508-883-1706.