Job Description

Job Details

Job Location
Westchester Lower School - WHITE PLAINS, NY

Description

SCHOOL COUNSELOR

Westchester Lower School

The Windward School is actively seeking a School Counselor for the Westchester Lower School. This is a full time, 10 position who will report directly to the Campus Head of Westchester Lower School.

Qualified candidates should not only have the experience and expertise listed but also should:

Have a deep understanding of and a passion to support The Windward Schools mission
Display a proven commitment to diversity work and fostering an inclusive culturally competent school environment

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide support for students and consultation for faculty.
Observe students and offer specific strategies to support a successful school experience.
Collaborate with campus leadership as well as with Student Support Team around behavior management and student support plans.
Act as a crisis team member to provide consultation and manage crises.
Provide short-term counseling and conflict resolution intervention as needed.
Collaborate with the administration, student support staff, and health office to ensure student health, wellness, and safety.
Deliver and support the development of The Schools Social Emotional Learning curriculum through Group Guidance and GAINS (Getting Ahead in School) lessons.
Actively contribute to and support the DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging) initiatives of The School.
Communicate directly with families and outside care providers in support of student progress.
Facilitate short-term, project-based lunch groups (including Banana Splits peer-support groups).
Support teachers in the completion of rating scales to assist outside providers with the assessment and monitoring of treatment planning.
Any additional duties as assigned by the Head of School or the Campus Head of Westchester Lower School.

Qualifications

Specific Requirements

NY State Certification in School Counseling or Social Work required.
Experience working in a counseling position with Middle School students.
Prior experience or strong interest in working with students with language-based learning disabilities.
Commitment to DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging) work and creating an inclusive environment through anti-bias and culturally responsive education frameworks.
Proven dedication to professional growth & best practice.
Independent school experience preferred.
Excellent communication skills.
Willingness and ability to work in a collaborative model.

The Windward School's Vision

A world where every child with a language-based learning disability is empowered to achieve unlimited success.

The Windward School's Mission

Windward is a coeducational, independent day school dedicated to providing a proven instructional program for children with language-based learning disabilities. The multisensory curriculum is designed for students of average to superior intelligence who can benefit from the unique educational experience provided. Through direct instruction in small class settings, a trained staff assists students to improve their language skills. Academic success, combined with opportunities for social and emotional growth within an intentionally diverse and inclusive setting, enables students to understand their learning differences, build confidence, and develop self-advocacy skills. Windward is committed to helping students achieve their full potential in preparation for a successful return to a mainstream educational environment. To meet these goals, the School provides ongoing training to its faculty based on the most current research and shares its expertise with the parent body, other educators, and the broader community.

The Windward School's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Mission & Vision Statement

At The Windward School, we are committed to a world where every child with a language-based learning disability is empowered to achieve unlimited success - a vision fulfilled by disrupting the educational status quo. The Windward School deliberately builds both its curriculum and culture to foster a powerful sense of belonging through a research-based program that is authentically inclusive and a community in which everyone is seen in their full humanity.

The Windward School aspires to bring forth students who are culturally engaged critical thinkers, confident self-advocates who understand and celebrate their differences, and upstanders who identify and challenge all forms of injustice. Windward is committed to these values and expectations of its community members by embracing the importance of ongoing anti-oppression dialogue and critical conversations; by advancing educational equity in underrepresented communities, especially those historically marginalized by society; and by working to ensure that our program is accessible to all who need it.

This job was posted on Fri Jul 28 2023 and expired on Mon Aug 21 2023.

Minimum $45K /yr

$60K /yr Average

Maximum $75K /yr

Tasks

Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.

Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, administrators, and other professionals to discuss children's progress, resolve behavioral, academic, and other problems, and to determine priorities for students and their resource needs.

Identify cases of domestic abuse or other family problems and encourage students or parents to seek additional assistance from mental health professionals.

Counsel individuals to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.

Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.

Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.

Prepare students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.

Teach classes and present self-help or information sessions on subjects related to education and career planning.

Provide special services such as alcohol and drug prevention programs and classes that teach students to handle conflicts without resorting to violence.

Conduct follow-up interviews with counselees to determine if their needs have been met.

Instruct individuals in career development techniques, such as job search and application strategies, resume writing, and interview skills.

Plan and promote career and employment-related programs and events, such as career planning presentations, work experience programs, job fairs, and career workshops.

Plan and conduct orientation programs and group conferences to promote the adjustment of individuals to new life experiences, such as starting college.

Evaluate students' or individuals' abilities, interests, and personality characteristics, using tests, records, interviews, or professional sources.

Collaborate with teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of school programs and in the preparation of master schedules for curriculum offerings.

Observe students during classroom and play activities to evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.

Establish and enforce administration policies and rules governing student behavior.

Address community groups, faculty, and staff members to explain available counseling services.

Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.

Attend meetings, educational conferences, and training workshops and serve on committees.

Compile and study occupational, educational, and economic information to assist counselees in determining and carrying out vocational and educational objectives.

Plan, direct, and participate in recruitment and enrollment activities.

Supervise, train, and direct professional staff and interns.

Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements and write letters of recommendation.

Provide students with information on topics, such as college degree programs and admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, trade and technical schools, and apprenticeship programs.

Refer students to degree programs based on interests, aptitudes, or educational assessments.

Assess needs for assistance, such as rehabilitation, financial aid, or additional vocational training, and refer clients to the appropriate services.

Establish and supervise peer counseling and peer tutoring programs.

Provide information for teachers and staff members involved in helping students or graduates identify and pursue employment opportunities.

Establish contacts with employers to create internship and employment opportunities for students.

Provide disabled students with assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.

Refer qualified counselees to employers or employment services for job placement.

Interview clients to obtain information about employment history, educational background, and career goals, and to identify barriers to employment.

Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.

Skills

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.

Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.

Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Knowledge

Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.