Job Description

METHUEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
VACANCY NOTICE

Title: School Counselor or School Psychologist or School Social Worker/Adjustment Counselor for COMPASS Program

Anticipated Opening for the 2026/2027 School Year- This position is contingent upon sufficient funding and enrollment.

Pending School Committee Approval

Salary Range - $60,253 - $113,226

The COMPASS Clinical Coordinator provides trauma-informed clinical, social emotional, academic, care coordination, and family engagement supports for students in foster care who may be experiencing significant mental health challenges, trauma responses, placement instability, disability-related needs, fragmented systems of care, and/or interrupted schooling.

The Coordinator develops and continuously strengthens a high-functioning COMPASS program, an adaptation of the bryt model, to help students successfully re-engage in school, build age-appropriate skills, and make progress academically, socially, and emotionally.

OUR MISSION:

Methuen Public Schools enrolls approximately 7000 in a total of five schools. Methuen Public Schools has four PK-8 schools: the Comprehensive Grammar School, the Marsh Grammar School, the Tenney Grammar School, the Timony Grammar School, and one comprehensive high school: Methuen High School. We are a diverse sub-urban/urban community and designated a Gateway City. Our schools celebrate diversity and acceptance of students and families from differing backgrounds. We are committed to setting high expectations of all students and faculty in Methuen Public Schools. Methuen Public Schools students will achieve academic, social-emotional, and civic success. They will attain technological, cultural, and social knowledge to allow them to succeed in college and careers. Students will inspire the community through citizenship, leadership, and their commitment to lifelong learning.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Valid Massachusetts license in one or more of the following fields: School Counselor, School Social Worker/Adjustment Counselor, or School Psychologist
• Preference will be given to candidates who are dually certified or who have community mental health licensure (LMHC, LCSW, or LICSW).
• Additional content area license is encouraged.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master's Degree in psychology, social work, school counseling, clinical counseling, or a closely related field.
• Bilingual preferred - Primary languages spoken in the community are: English, Spanish, Arabic, and French.
• Previous experience working in a school setting is preferred.

SKILLS AND ABILITY:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form;
• Use evidence-based research practices and data to most effectively guide increasing student growth and achievement using proactive and solution-focused approaches to meeting student needs.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, staff and the community.
• Work independently, prioritize tasks, and manage several projects simultaneously
• Perform duties with awareness of all district requirements, state and federal laws, and Methuen School policies (as long as the policies do not conflict with the Methuen Educators Association (Unit A) Contract).
• Work with students of diverse backgrounds with diverse needs in an equitable and inclusive manner.
• Maintain appropriate confidential records.
• React professionally and objectively to unpredictable situations (e.g. environmental changes, behavior/aggression, seizure activity, etc.).
• Operate and/or acquire skills to operate a computer and related software including but not limited to Google and use instructional technology and data systems appropriately and work with students to facilitate their use of instructional technology.
• Strong collaborative, counseling, advising, teaching, coaching, and leadership skills to support student programming and work in a team setting.
• Strong organizational skills to balance the responsibilities of a high demand position.
• Knowledge of specialized content areas as well as any related laws and procedures.
• Ability to plan and implement services and supports within multi-tiered systems of support based on district and school objectives and the needs and abilities of assigned students.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and is subject to change by the employer, as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.

• Develop and ensure effective implementation of comprehensive transition plans that integrate clinical, care coordination, academic, family, and classroom supports for each student in the COMPASS program.
• Provide therapeutic services and supports to identified students in order to support their transition back to the general education setting
• Lead the care coordination components of each student's plan and collaborate with school staff, caregivers, outside providers, collateral support organizations, and community agencies.
• Provide individualized and small-group clinical support to COMPASS students as needed, using trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate practices aligned with each student's goals.
• Support students' academic success through the provision of consultation regarding working with specific students who are transitioning out of the COMPASS Program, monitoring and ensuring the implementation of academic accommodations / interventions, and providing support to students regarding academic skill building
• Support students in building social, emotional, coping, self-regulation, executive functioning, and school re-engagement skills.
• Communicate proactively with educators, administrators, and relevant staff regarding student progress, needs, and status while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
• Communicate proactively and effectively with external partners and agencies including but not limited to the Department of Children and Families, group home providers, mental health partners, and juvenile justice system representatives.
• Engage (when possible and appropriate) in consistent two-way communication with caregivers and families to share progress, gather information, and strengthen school-family partnerships.
• Maintain a safe, welcoming, predictable, and supportive program environment that is conducive to learning and appropriate to students' maturity, interests, and needs.
• Monitor student progress while students participate in COMPASS and after they transition out of the program.
• Ensure required program data is collected, documented, and entered into appropriate data management systems according to program procedures.
• Assist administrators in implementing policies and expectations governing student life, conduct, and classroom behavior.
• Develop and reinforce reasonable expectations, routines, and procedures for the COMPASS setting, including responding to inappropriate or unsafe student behavior when needed.
• Provide crisis intervention and serve as a member of the school's Crisis Team when necessary.
• Serve as a liaison with Mobile Crisis Intervention Services, District Juvenile Court, outside treatment facilities, and other community partners as appropriate.
• Participate in ongoing professional learning, staff development, team meetings, and program improvement activities.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Plans services and supports within a multi-tiered system of support that ensures universal, preventative supports are provided to all students and more targeted/intensive supports are made available to students with greater needs.
• Conducts universal mental health screening and coordinated follow up.
• Employs evidence-based practices to support social emotional, behavioral, and academic growth (i.e. cognitive behavioral therapy, positive behavioral interventions and supports, trauma-sensitive practices, social emotional learning curriculum and instructional practices) and materials that are most appropriate for meeting stated objectives.
• Provide evidence-based mental health services and supports to students, including: group and individual therapy, delivery of social/emotional learning curriculum, and engagement in activities to universally promote mental health and wellness.
• Organize, analyze, and monitor student data and create data-driven student intervention / treatment plans to ensure that students are provided with the school resources necessary to realize their individual potential.

REPORTS TO:

Director of School Mental Health & Behavioral Services and Building Principal. The performance of this job will be evaluated as per the Methuen Education Association (Unit A) Contract.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Covered under Methuen Education Association (Unit A) Contract.

Please note that the District reserves the right to transfer all personnel among buildings on an as needed basis to serve the best interests of all students as long as this does not conflict with the Methuen Education Association (Unit A) Contract.

HELPFUL LINKS:

Methuen Education Association Contract

Only online applications will be accepted.

Methuen Public Schools is committed to establishing a diverse, inclusive, and culturally responsive environment focused on teaching and learning. A team reflecting diversity of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and veteran status allows us to serve our students better. We welcome all qualified applicants.