School Counselor

About Our Organization:

The Norman Howard School was established in 1980 by parents and community professionals, and is a nonprofit, NYSED-approved, 12:1:1, academic, special education program. Students grades 5-12 from over 30 school districts experience a rich and diverse school culture, learn strategies for managing their special learning needs, and graduate alongside their public school peers.

Summary:

The School Counselor at The Norman Howard School is responsible for providing social-emotional support to students to promote academic success. This role includes delivering mandated services as outlined in students’ IEPs and supporting students in need on occasion providing social emotional intervention. The counselor must be skilled in developing and reinforcing student-centered social-emotional learning skills essential for academic and personal growth.

Job Responsibilities:

• Effectively and appropriately assess student needs as part of the educational team.
• Deliver individual and group counseling services.
• Contribute to the development of IEPs and monitor goal progress.
• Attend Committee on Special Education (CSE) meetings as needed.
• Consult with families and external providers when appropriate.
• Provide crisis intervention and behavior management support.
• Implement explicit social-emotional skill instruction based on student needs.
• Ensure compliance with IEP and Special Education mandates.
• Provide recommendations and referrals to community mental health professionals when necessary.
• Participate in professional development activities to enhance knowledge, skills, and maintain certification.
• Engage in school-sponsored activities and events.
• Assist in the development and implementation of the comprehensive school counseling plan.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to maintain professional confidentiality regarding student data and performance.
• High level of professional integrity.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, problem-solving, and crisis intervention skills.
• Effective collaboration with colleagues, parents, and guardians on student-related matters.
• Strong organizational, time management, and planning abilities.
• Knowledge of learning disabilities and appropriate accommodations in educational settings.
• Proficient written communication skills.
• Flexibility in interpreting and addressing diverse student needs.
• Familiarity with community mental health resources.
• Ability to be flexible in interpreting and addressing student needs.
• Knowledge of community resources.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Social Work or Related field
• NYS School Counselor, Social Worker or School Psychologist certification
• Able to work flexible hours to accommodate parent/guardian meetings, school activities, and other mandated events/meetings.

Salary:

• $52,472-$66,547/year based on relevant work experience

Schedule:

• This is a 10-month role following the school calendar.
• Monday - Friday 7:30-3:30pm

Organization Employee Benefits:

• 6% employer-match for retirement savings, upon hire.
• Healthcare plans for individuals starting at $0.
• HSA with employer contributions.
• Paid holidays and generous PTO package.

Commitment to DEI:

It is our pledge to nourish an organizational culture which strives to:

• Embrace diversity in all forms and structure policies and practices to increase representation of qualified individuals who reflect the communities we serve
• Prioritize equity in employment, compensation, promotion, and professional development
• Increase access to quality services, educational and economic opportunities, and lifelong success for students and families
• Value the unique backgrounds and experiences of each person we employ and serve
• Cultivate a work environment where all people feel safe to express ideas

Keywords:

• special education, high school, middle school, education, guidance counselor