Job Description

The Speyer Legacy School seeks a dynamic, caring, innovative, and passionate full-time Counselor and Social-Emotional Learning Specialist and Skills Teacher. The candidate hired will join the Student Support Team and report to the Head of Middle School. They will be responsible for collaborating with faculty and staff to support the school’s mission, curricular goals, and social-emotional needs of our gifted students. In addition, they will coordinate the Middle School Advisory and Wellness program, and teach classes in SEL, student skill development, pro-social skill development, and social-emotional skill development as needed.

The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of Middle School and early adolescent students' unique social and emotional needs. They should demonstrate strong interpersonal skills to collaborate with faculty and parents to effectively support students facing academic, emotional, developmental, and behavioral challenges. Additionally, the ideal candidate will have experience in developing and implementing comprehensive social-emotional learning programs, teaching student and SEL skills, and coordinating an Advisory program tailored to diverse, gifted populations. Strong communication skills, cultural competence, and commitment to ongoing professional development are also essential characteristics of this role.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and implement social-emotional learning (SEL) programs specifically tailored to meet the needs of gifted students in Fifth through Eighth Grade.
• Provide short-term individual, group counseling sessions, and risk assessments to address social, emotional, and behavioral challenges faced by students, utilizing evidence-based interventions and strategies.
• Teach classes and Advisory lessons on student SEL skills, student skills, and pro-social skill development.
• Coordinate the Middle School Advisory and Wellness programs.
• Collaborate with teachers, administrators, and parents to identify students needing social-emotional, behavioral, or student skill support; push into the classroom, and develop targeted intervention plans to address their needs effectively; and/or coordinate referrals to external resources or specialists as needed.
• Facilitate workshops and training sessions for students, parents, faculty, and staff on social-emotional development, gifted education, and understanding students with various social-emotional, behavioral, and learning needs.
• Serve as a resource and consultant for teachers in integrating SEL practices into the classroom.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of student interactions, progress, and interventions, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations governing students' privacy and confidentiality.
• Stay current with research and best practices in social-emotional learning, gifted education, and special education, and incorporate new knowledge into program development.
• Actively participate in interdisciplinary faculty meetings and child study meetings; actively collaborate with other support staff, such as the school Psychologist, the Learning Specialist, the Deans, the Director of Equity and Inclusion, and the Division Head.
• Contribute to regular communications with families that keep our community informed about the initiatives of the Student Support Team, including newsletters and parent workshops.
• Support new teachers in developing skills in these areas through the onboarding and mentoring programs.
• Foster a positive and inclusive school culture that celebrates diversity and promotes empathy, a sense of humor, resilience, and self-awareness among students and staff members.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of child development, as well as the unique needs, characteristics, and challenges of gifted students.
• Knowledge of social-emotional learning frameworks and current research.
• Demonstrated classroom management skills and ability to connect with students.
• Capacity to collaborate effectively with teachers, administrators, and specialists to integrate SEL into the school culture and curriculum
• Capacity to communicate effectively and build collaborative relationships with families to support the social-emotional learning needs of students
• Creativity and innovation in program design and approach to learning.
• Versatility and flexibility both within and outside of the classroom, encouraging students to think creatively, work collaboratively, embrace failure, and communicate effectively with others.
• Outstanding interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Skill in creating a learning environment that is warm and supportive, and also challenging, motivating, and developmentally appropriate.
• Cultural competence including awareness of equity issues to ensure that SEL interventions are inclusive, culturally responsive, and sensitive to the diverse backgrounds and experiences of all students.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development, including staying informed about current research, trends, and innovations in SEL, as well as seeking opportunities for personal growth and self-reflection in the field of social-emotional learning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, Education, Special Education or a related field preferred.
• Masters Degree in a related field preferred.
• Experience working with a gifted or high needs population is preferred.
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States

Salary Range

The annual salary range for this full-time position is $75,000-110,000. The position on the scale will be based on years of experience and education.

Application Information

To apply, please send your resume, cover letter, a one-page educational philosophy statement, and the contact information of three references to  employment@speyerlegacyschool.org . Please indicate “Social Emotional Specialist” in the subject line.

The Speyer Legacy School welcomes candidates who will add to the diversity of our community and who have demonstrated a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their teaching and learning.The Speyer Legacy School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or family composition or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its employment, education, admission, financial aid, and other policies and programs.

About The Speyer Legacy School

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