Career Center

Upper School Social Worker or School Guidance Counselor

Full-time

Brooklyn, NY • Upper School

Description

Mary McDowell Friends School is a K-12 college preparatory program dedicated to the success of students with learning disabilities. Grounded in the Quaker values of equality, integrity, and social responsibility, we cultivate a diverse community in which all students can reach their full potential. Our specialized teaching methodologies and challenging curricula empower students to become academic achievers, creative thinkers, and contributing members of a global society.

Mary McDowell Friends School (MMFS) invites applications for a full-time Social Worker or School Guidance Counselor beginning August 23, 2022.

Position Overview

The school Social Worker or Guidance Counselor serves as a critical member of the school community. The Social Worker / Guidance Counselor delivers and monitors high-quality, data-driven, interventions to support students in meeting and surpassing their individualized goals. The role will include providing core services to students and staff in prevention, consultation, intervention, and assessment. The Social Worker / Guidance Counselor will work as part of the counseling team, school psychologists, and speech and language therapists; as well as General Education scholars and staff. The ideal candidate will have school experience and outside-of-school clinical experience.

The essential duties of a school social worker/guidance counselor include, but are not limited to:

• Provide direct services to the school community including per school protocol:
  • Consult with students, faculty, and families on as need basis related to student social and emotional issues
  • Individual and group counseling (school-based and mandated)
  • Develop and implement curriculum for social and emotional development/intervention with students.
  • Refer, monitor, and evaluate individuals and families to external resources and services
  • Provide crisis intervention and behavior management to expedite students’ return to classrooms for learning and to build students’ ability to meet all social, emotional, and academic expectations
  • Administer records, documentation, and other compliance activities. Serve as a resource for students, faculty, and families related to social and emotional issues
  • Engage with outside providers related to specific student needs and issues
  • Make referrals when necessary to outside providers
• Collaborate with other counseling team members and be a resource to one another
• Communicate all necessary information to appropriate members of the school community
• Participate in team meetings about students and their needs.
• Attend weekly division meetings and full faculty meetings; participate in school-wide and division-based committees and ad hoc committees where necessary.

Diversity and Equity Commitments:

• Understand and participate in all school-wide diversity and equity initiatives
• Examine teaching practice through the lens of race, identity, equity, and privilege.
• Develop a curriculum that provides students with an opportunity to recognize their many identities

Staff and Reporting Relationships:

Social Workers report to the Upper School Counseling Coordinator. They also work collaboratively with occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, school counselors, social workers, and school psychologists regularly.

Application:

We offer a rewarding work experience in Brooklyn, NY. The school has an ongoing commitment to the principles and practices of diversity and inclusiveness and strongly encourages applications from candidates who would enhance the diversity of the school's administration and faculty.

To apply, please upload a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three professional references as a .pdf (preferable) or word document.

If your background and experience are appropriate for the position, you will be contacted directly by a member of our search committee.

Please visit our website for more information on our school.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Social Work or School Counseling; MSW/LCSW license required
• 3-5 years of direct experience; learning disability experience a plus
• Independent or charter school experience preferred
• Strong oral and written communication with parents, children, and colleagues
• Commitment to equity and justice, including knowledge and skills related to cultural competencies
• The ability to create a classroom environment where students feel safe, supported, and challenged
• Strong collaboration and teamwork skills
• Growth mindset and ability to use feedback to improve practice
• Familiarity with new technologies; GSuite and Veracross a plus
• Ability to prioritize multiple competing urgent tasks