Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative - Adjustment/Career Counselor - (LPVEC)

The role of the school adjustment/career counselor is to work with career and technical students, supporting them in guiding their career, intellectual, emotional, and social development. Additionally, the adjustment/career counselor collaborates with all stakeholders involved with assigned students to improve personal, career, and academic success. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:1. Provides career guidance and counseling to students in a qualitative, appropriate, and effective manner that leads to suitable vocational placement and performance.2. Maintains an active, collaborative relationship with the school counseling staff at member district high and middle schools, meeting with them at least once a month.3. Shares appropriate individual student data with teacher(s) with due regard for confidentiality and assists the teacher in recognizing students' individual differences and their needs in the classroom/shop.4. Provides parents, guardians, caregivers, member district school staff, and entering students with information on collaborative policies and procedures, educational and career opportunities, course or program requirements, and resources that support the student's continued development.5. Works cooperatively with the teacher in planning in-shop/class guidance, career education, and placement activities, and serves as a resource for obtaining up-to-date information and career/college materials.6. Assumes responsibility for monitoring a comprehensive student data system (including attendance, transcripts, progress reports, report cards, discipline referral information, and temporary student records) and providing statistical data as required.7. Serves as liaison to post-secondary study/training institutions, assistingidentified students seeking advanced preparation in a specific career area.8. Assists teachers in developing, updating, and organizing articulation agreements with post-secondary education.9. Assists in organizing, coordinating, and delivering a vigorous and comprehensive recruitment and program admissions.10. Collaborates with collaborative administration and staff to identify at-risk students.11. Develops behavioral and emotional management techniques for students to help them succeed throughout the school day.12. Assists with graduate follow-up studies and post-placement data collection.13. Coordinates and facilitates short-term individual and group counseling sessions tailored to the specific needs of identified students14. Assists support staff in developing behavior intervention and safety plans for assigned students.15. Consults and collaborates with parents/guardians/caregivers and community supports and/or providers to foster an environment that meets students' emotional and developmental needs.16. Works with students in escalated situations and assists in determining appropriate interventions.17. Works as a member and participates in parent/guardian/caregiver/teacher progress, Section 504, IEP, and clinical meetings for students.18. Knowledge of and collaboration with outside community-based agencies to assist in obtaining the services needed to help families support their students in a school setting.19. Respects and embraces students and families from diverse backgrounds and experiences.20. Monitors student attendance and collaborates with the Team for Student Assistance (TSA) and the Assistant Principal to address attendance concerns.21. Assists in the communication and enforcement of federal and state laws and regulations, as well as collaborative policies and procedures.22. Participates as a member of the Collaboratives All-Hazards/Crisis Team.23. Performs other duties as required by the Principal/Director of Career and Technical Education, and the Assistant Principal.

Job Requirements
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS1. Must possess a strong knowledge of career and technical education.2. Possess excellent time-management skills, including the ability to triage and prioritize competing needs.3. Have excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the proven ability to communicate effectively with students and families from diverse backgrounds and experiences.4. Have the proven ability to relate to and work with a variety of constituencies, including but not limited to administrators, teachers, other school staff, parents/guardians, students, visitors, and community and social service agencies.5. Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may deem appropriate and acceptableREQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE1. Masters degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work or in Counseling.2. LICSW, LMHC, or LCSW with a strong background in mental/behavioral health preferred.3. Initial license from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor (All Levels).4. Preferred minimum of three (3) years of experience in the career/counselor field, working with students and families as a social worker/adjustment/career counselor in a school, inpatient/outpatient facility, or social service agency.5. Experience and understanding of the multi-tiered system of support to assist students with their social-emotional well-being and overall mental health.6. Such alternative to the above qualifications as the Board may deem appropriate and acceptable.