School Counselor

Position Overview:
New England Innovation Academy seeks a highly skilled and compassionate School Counselor to join our multidisciplinary team. The School Counselor provides short-term solution-focused counseling to students with emotional health needs. In addition, the Counselor collaborates with outside providers to ensure comprehensive care coordination for students, including liaising with therapists, psychiatrists, and education specialists. The School Counselor also plays a vital role in mental health programming and outreach, consulting with teaching staff, providing crisis assessment and intervention, and supporting other student groups. This position requires active participation in weekly care coordination meetings and teaching wellbeing classes based on full-time equivalent (FTE) requirements. The Counselor will contribute to the overall vision for wellbeing services, including delivering curriculum, organizing staff trainings and professional development needs, and leading small group work as needed.

Responsibilities:
● Provide short-term solution-focused counseling to address the emotional health needs of students.
● Collaborate with outside providers, including therapists, psychiatrists, and education specialists, for effective care coordination.
● Develop and deliver mental health programming and outreach initiatives to support student wellbeing.
● Consult with faculty to address students’ mental health needs and provide appropriate interventions.
● Be available for immediate crisis assessment and intervention to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students.
● Support various student groups by delivering guidance and counseling services.
● Work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team, including counselors, nurses, and specialists.
● Attend weekly student support team meetings to discuss and develop plans for high-risk students.
● Teach wellbeing classes, delivering engaging and informative lessons that promote mental health and social-emotional learning.
● Provide programming and vision for the advocacy program.
● Develop the overall vision for wellbeing services, including the class curriculum, staff trainings, and professional development needs.
● Provide targeted support to students through small group work when needed.
● Utilize evidence-based interventions and demonstrate clinical skills while working with adolescents of all genders.
● Proactively and effectively communicate with students, parents, teachers, administrators, staff, and outside professionals.
● Thrive in a lively and fast-paced residential community, showing initiative, interest, and energy.
● Collaborate effectively with colleagues as part of a team, fostering a positive and supportive work environment.
● Stay updated on industry trends and developments in counseling and incorporate new ideas and best practices into the curriculum.
● Embody the principles of empathy, equity, personalization, authentic work, and collaboration in all work activities and actions.
● Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned and required by the position and the school.

Qualifications:
● In-depth knowledge of adolescent mental health issues and appropriate interventions.
● Strong multicultural competency and a deep commitment to inclusivity.

● Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with students,
parents, teachers, administrators, staff, and outside professionals.
● Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple responsibilities and priorities.
● Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
● Flexibility and adaptability to thrive in a dynamic school environment.
● Flexibility, adaptability, and a willingness to work collaboratively with other teachers and
staff members.
● Demonstrated professionalism, discretion, sound judgment, equity, honesty, and personal accountability.

Education and/or Experience:
● A Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field, which is required for this role.
● A valid counseling or therapy license/certification, where applicable, to ensure adherence to professional standards and ethics.
● Relevant experience in providing counseling services to adolescents, demonstrating a deep understanding of their unique emotional needs and challenges.
● Demonstrated clinical skill in utilizing evidence-based interventions, showing proficiency in applying effective therapeutic techniques.

Supervisory Responsibilities. The School Counselor does not supervise any other employees at NEIA.

Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
● Stand/sit for long periods of time.
● Bend, lift, push, kneel, crouch, crawl, stoop.
● Capable of moving around the classroom while teaching a class.
● Capable of adapting to frequent changes in position throughout the workday.
● Hearing and speaking to understand and exchange information in person or on the telephone.
● Speak clearly, so listeners understand.
● Use hands and fingers for manipulation, educational tools, play equipment, keyboarding, and performance of first aid and CPR performance.
● Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and depth perception.

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This 10-month, full-time teaching staff position begins in late August 2023. Interested
candidates should email a cover letter and resume/CV to careers@neiacademy.org.

NEIA is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified
applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, sexual
orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability,
genetic information, veteran status, military service, application for military service, or any other status
protected by applicable law. NEIA will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with
known disabilities or pregnancy-related conditions, in accordance with applicable