School Counselor Intern - Rio Grande Valley (Immediate Opening)

 

School Counselor Intern Grant Position for UTRGV Project MHS-DGP: A Mental Health Initiative

Department

Special Programs; Rio Grande Valley

Role Mission:

Students and families are the most important stakeholders at IDEA Public Schools. The role of School Counselor Intern, with the assistance of the campus assigned School Counselor, co-leads the campus family engagement vision, social emotional learning program, and coordination of mental health and counseling supports for all scholars on the campus.

Our key tenets of family engagement, social emotional learning, and student social emotional support are implemented through the role of the School Counselor Intern, with guidance from the campus assigned School Counselor, to ensure all staff are building authentic relationships with students and families. Data maintenance and analysis is an integral component of effective school-based intervention implementation. The School Counselor Intern will assist the campus assigned School Counselor to direct and hold all campus team members accountable to fulfill their role.

When the work is lead effectively, the entire school staff is clear on their roles in supporting students and families, has the data needed to drive action, inspired, and supported to engage with students and parents in a meaningful way which would result in meeting the goal for all students to have the academic and social skills they need to achieve their goal of going to and through college. Through this work, School Counselor Interns, with the assistance of the campus assigned School Counselor, ensure our schools are a place where students feel safe physically and emotionally safe and therefore can learn, grow, and succeed in and outside of the classroom.

• Immediate Opening
• Monday – Wednesday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm fulfil the required intern hours in 1 UTRGV semester, as set by UTRGV School Counselor Program in collaboration with the UTRGV Project MHS-DGP: A Mental Health Initiative Grant

Location:

Rio Grande Valley Region: This is a part-time on-site position located in Rio Grande Valley. Preference will be given to candidates who live in the Rio Grande Valley, or who are willing to relocate.

Travel Expectations:

Travel is expected. As part of this role, the Social Worker Intern will serve campuses across the Rio Grande Valley and must maintain a valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance. This role qualifies for mileage reimbursement.

• 20%-30% of travel shall be expected

What You Bring -- Competencies

Qualifications:

• Education: Working to obtain Master's degree in School counseling through UTRGV School Counseling Program
• Experience: Previous experience in a school or school setting
• License or Certification: Working to Obtain TX School Counselor Certificate or Mental Health Provider License through UTRGV School Counseling Program

Knowledge and Skills:

• Proven track record of success 
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills 
• Ability to manage student behavior 
• Belief in and alignment with IDEA’s mission and values is non-negotiable 
• Ability to adjust and adapt to a multitude of situations in the school environment

What You’ll Do -- Accountabilities

90% Student Persistence

• Co-Leads the execution of the school vision for retaining all students at the school by directing and managing all stakeholders at the campus in their roles and responsibilities in family engagement and student persistence.
• Provides individual/group counseling for at-risk students and refers students who need intense or specialized services campus-based Licensed Mental Health Provider and/or outside agencies.
• Co-Leads the planning of and execution of student and family engagement events that are aligned to the school’s culture, community and family needs and promotes the authentic relationship building between the school and the family.
• Co-Partners with the grade level teams to help identify and coordinate intervention for at-risk students with responsibility and accountability structures for Grade Level Admin, API’s, GTLs and Teachers.
• Leads parent conversations and problem solves to ensure we are meeting the needs of our students and families in collaboration with campus lead team.
• Maintain knowledge of community agencies as a resource to meet student and school needs.
• Directs implementation of state mandated guidance lessons to all students to develop life skills, promote good character, and develop resilience.
• Conducts individual and group check-ins and advising meetings with students to address social-emotional issues and provide campus-based supports.

90% New Student Persistence

• Directs and manages through influence all campus team members to their role in family engagement to retain new students from year to year.
• Co-Lead the planning and execution of specific new parent events to welcome the new parents to the campus and helps them integrate and get acclimated to the campus culture and expectations with campus lead team.
• Conducts individual and group check-ins and advising sessions with new students to build community and sense of belonging.

90% of assigned teachers use Move This World curriculum with fidelity (as defined by students interact with video program 3 days a week)

• Co-Lead teacher and campus training on Move This World curriculum and implementation expectations.
• Identify and utilize best practice strategies to invest and create a culture of excitement around the integration of an SEL curriculum in the daily schedule.
• Conduct regular rotating co-observations of Move This World blocks using observation rubric. Provide teachers feedback on observation rubric at least 1x/month. 
• Co-Conduct BOY and EOY assessment on SEL competencies, school climate, safety, and sense of belonging. Review data and create action steps to address campus needs.

Campus earns an “A” on School Counselor Report Card

• Collaborates with key stakeholders to meet district expectations for successful implementation of district family engagement and social emotional learning priorities
• Co-Facilitates Family Engagement Events
• Meets parent and student completion expectations in Fall and Spring survey administrations
• Co-Facilitates bullying prevention month and mental health awareness month activities

We look for Team and Family who embody the following values and characteristics: 

• Believes and is committed to our mission and being an agent of change: that all students are capable of getting to and through college  
• Has demonstrated effective outcomes and results, and wants to be held accountable for them 
• Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly 
• Works with urgency and purpose to drive student outcomes 
• Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change 
• Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization 
• Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships in order to achieve outcomes 
• We believe in education as a profession and hold ourselves to high level of conduct, professionalism and behaviors as models for our colleagues and students 

Physical Requirements: (Optional)

·           Must be able to sit for extended periods of time without being able to leave the work area.

·           Must be able to climb ladders or scaffolding, or climb and work in overhead areas

·           Must be able to work in a confined space or to crawl or move about on hands and knees.

·           Must be able to lift and carry or otherwise move 20 pounds (regularly/occasionally)

·           Physical ability to work around small children including sitting, standing, running and climbing stairs.

·           Must be able to lift and carry small children up to 40 pounds in case of emergency.

·           Must be able to work in indoor and outdoor environments, including in times of excessive heat or cold

What We Offer:

Compensation & Benefits:

This is a grant funded position in collaboration with the UTRGV Project – Mental Health Initiative

Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between X and Y , commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity.

Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan You can find more information about our benefits at https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/benefits/.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At IDEA we recognize that racism, bias, and privilege exist in society. We are committed to an organizational culture that promotes awareness and inclusivity for our students and staff and supports their path to positively impact our broader society. We are committed to recognizing the impact of racism and privilege, and commit as an organization to have equitable practices, policies, and structures. Visit https://ideapublicschools.org/dei/ to learn about IDEA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Anti-Racist and Anti-Bias commitment.

Learn more about IDEA

• IDEA’s Core Values

Include links to sites that are relevant to the position

• https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/leadership/
• https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/campus-operations/
• https://ideapublicschools.org/our-approach/
• https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/impact-magazine/
• https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/history/
• https://ideapublicschools.org/our-approach/special-programs/
• https://ideapublicschools.org/blog/introducing-our-revised-core-values/