Job Goal: The School Counseling Department Chair is responsible for the planning, oversight, and implementation of a preventative, comprehensive, developmental, data-based counseling program to meet the academic, personal/social, and workplace readiness needs of all students at Somerville High School.

 

The Department Chair oversees school counseling services at each grade level (9-12) and consults with counselors regarding counseling, advocacy, and case coordination of students. The Department Chair is a member of the Somerville High School leadership team with other Department Chairs and Assistant Principals. 

 

Job Responsibilities:

• Oversee school counseling programs, specifically the areas of social/emotional counseling, academic counseling, college/career counseling, and crisis intervention

 

Department/Staff:

• Supervise and evaluate all staff members in the school counseling department including, at the time of this posting: all school counselors, regular education adjustment counselors, bilingual adjustment counselor, Bridge staff, RISE staff, Registrar, Newcomer Seminar teacher/counselor, School Counseling Administrative Assistant
• Oversee Bridge and RISE programs and other Tier 2 and Tier 3 Social Emotional Support Programs at Somerville High School
• Assist and monitor department members in the handling of day-to-day school counseling problems, assessment of students, and act as a resource-support person for them while providing appropriate consultation services for the department
• Recruit, screen, interview, and recommend student service professionals and secretaries for employment and assignment
• Plan and facilitate School Counseling department meetings.
• Coordinate with MLE Department Head to oversee the MLE Newcomer Seminar program
• Act as liaison to the administrative team by providing a school counseling perspective
• Manage the staffing patterns within the offices to assure personal, professional, sick days, and other forms of leave are being handled appropriately and in compliance with District protocol and/or policy
• Organize, oversee and coordinate departmental professional development and provide ongoing in-service programs for department members and specialists
• Coordinate and collaborate with other high school department chairs

 

Counseling Programs and Services:

• Collaborate with the Director of College & Career Readiness on programming and supports for students related to post secondary planning
• Supervise counselors in 504 creation and implementation processes, participate in 504 meetings. Serve as school’s Section 504 Coordinator
• Oversee the programmatic approach to school counseling services at each grade level (9-12)
• Oversee expectations and tracking for individual student meetings at each grade level
• Consult with counselors regarding counseling, advocacy, and case coordination of students
• Participate in regular student support team meetings
• Works with testing coordinator to maintain a list of students on Educational Proficiency Plans and work with families and school personnel to monitor graduation requirements
• Serve as College Board SSD coordinator and assist counselors in submitting requests for accommodations on College Board examinations
• Provide updated information to Somerville Public Schools website regarding school counseling department as needed
• Communicate about counseling department services within the department, school, and community
• Regularly analyze data regarding accessibility and efficacy of social emotional supports; identify gaps and propose and implement new systems to meet the needs of all students
• Initiate and/or oversee any additional partnerships/programs that support Social Emotional and mental health needs of students
• Participate in the creation and maintenance of Social Emotional MTSS Supports
• Oversee the implementation of educational services in home and hospital per DESE regulation
• Ensure compliance with local, state, federal, and other policies and regulations
• Collaborates with the Director of Student Services to ensure the continuity of supports and professional development for all counselors across the District

 

School-Wide and Leadership Responsibilities:

• Work closely with other high school administrators to ensure the effective coordination of regular education and special education programs and services
• Oversee state testing including MCAS and ACCESS testing. Supervises SHS Testing Coordinator and all testing processes
• Help supervise the Registrar and Data Supervisor’s responsibilities 
• Oversee course selection and add/drop processes 
• Consult with school leadership on creation of the master schedule
• Develop and administer a budget and its priorities for School Counseling at the high school
• Serve as coordinator of SHS Crisis Team and Hospital Response Team
• Other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the School Counseling Department Chair as assigned by the principal

 

Qualifications:

• Master's degree
• Five years outstanding counseling or related experience at the high school level
• Meets Massachusetts Certification requirements (Supervisor/Director School Counseling)
• Experience in counseling in a diverse school preferred
• Multilingual candidates preferred

 

Position Reports to:

• Somerville High School Principal

 

Terms of Employment:

• July - June
• 201 Days
• Somerville Administrators’ Association (SAA)