Quad Preparatory School

Mental Health Counselor (2021-22 Openings)

Updated: July 20, 2021
Classification: Exempt
Reports to: Assistant Head of School

The Quad Preparatory School is an alternative, non-profit, K-12 college preparatory school dedicated to the education of twice-exceptional students, bright and creative children who learn differently. Quad Prep is a young, fast-growing school founded in 2013 that is a vibrant professional and collegial learning community for employees.

The Quad Preparatory School transforms the lives of twice-exceptional people – those who are gifted and learn differently – by redefining the experience of school. Our personalized model fully integrates social and emotional learning with challenging academics, empowering our students to rise to the level of their extraordinary talents. Through our innovative programs we are leading a larger movement in service of both twice-exceptional people and society at large.

Our teachers, clinicians, and staff joined together to craft our statement of values, which we are proud to share:

• Quad Prep is a kind and joyful learning community where everyone is celebrated for who they are.
• We ignite students’ strengths and passions and allow for safe academic pursuit at the highest levels by learning from mistakes.
• We are trustworthy and steadfast, and our high academic expectations challenge students to grow uniquely as people and in the way they learn.
• We widen our students’ perspectives, giving them the tools to know themselves and find success in the future of their choosing. 
• We never give up on each other and are driven by the ethos of “not if, but how.”

   

As Quad Prep is rooted in the community of New York City, we commit, as a matter of justice and equity, that we shall work toward enrolling a student body and employing a staff that fully reflects the makeup of our community.

As education at Quad Prep is rooted in the idea that our neurodiverse students are to be proudly celebrated for their unique talents and potential, we commit that the whole self of every individual student, parent, and staff member shall be welcomed, valued, included, and treated always with the deepest respect and empathy.

And, as at Quad Prep our community is a single fabric supporting the development of all, we commit that every student shall benefit from the richness of the backgrounds and experiences that make up that fabric, so that they leave Quad fully prepared to engage with the exciting and wonderful diversity of this world.

The Quad Preparatory School is looking for a mental health counselor to join our team in providing effective, integrated school-based counseling. The counselor will carry a caseload of students primarily in grades 4th through 6th grade, with the potential to also work with some middle and high school students. The counselor’s role may include supervising psychosocial teachers and psychosocial interns and externs. The clinical team at Quad Prep is highly collaborative, a trait that the counselor must uphold to provide personalized support to each enrolled student. Clinical supervision will be provided by a licensed psychologist or mental health counselor. 

Expectations:

• Provide individual and group counseling to students, and provide psychosocial supports in integrated contexts throughout the school day.
• Participate in integrated classes and/or social cognitive therapy sessions and be present in the milieu to support students’ generalization of skills.
• Provide risk assessments with necessary supervision.
• Before the start of the school year, along with students’ teams, identify goals for each student to begin tracking immediately upon commencement of the school year; develop a daily report card and/or behavior intervention plan as necessary to allow for tracking of goals.
• Collaboratively revise individual student goals as needed.
• Supervise psychosocial teachers and/or interns as assigned; ensure supervisees’ responsibilities and data tracking of students.
• Coordinate and supervise psychosocial teachers’ day to day work with students, including but not limited to execution of behavior intervention plans, daily report cards, and support for student growth in coping strategies to manage frustration.
• Keep progress notes of sessions with students and contact with parents/outside providers.
• Schedule monthly collaborative calls with each student’s outside providers and student’s parents (all parties on the same call) and coordinate with students’ outside providers and parents outside of monthly calls as needed.
• Actively participate in weekly supervision meetings.
• Participate in weekly Psychosocial Team meetings with all faculty and staff.
• Advise, coach, and collaborate with teachers and staff in regards to each child's individual therapeutic needs, the psychosocial curriculum and psychosocial clinical best practices; collaborate with other clinicians on students’ teams to determine the best approach for each student.
• Competently utilize GSuite, specifically Google Drive.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

   

Competencies:

1. Passion for working with children
2. Desire and ability to work with students with special needs
3. Ability to connect with middle school and high school- age children
4. Knowledge of various clinical interventions and use of a collaborative approach to meet the unique needs of each child
5. Effective oral and written communication skills
6. A solid understanding of late elementary children’s academic, social, and emotional development
7. Attention to detail
8. Maintaining confidentiality and privacy
9. Ethical conduct
10. Time management and the ability to multitask
11. Teamwork and collaboration
12. Patience and flexibility

     

Work Environment: 

This job operates in a school setting. The school is located on the fifth and sixth floors of a building with one elevator. This role requires working in various locations around the school and the potential for accompanying students to a local park or outings in the community.

Physical Demands: 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and listen. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and stooping all day. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move items under 20 pounds. During fire drills, the employee, unless physically unable, will need to use the stairs to go to ground level from the fourth floor. Typing is required for composing emails and writing reports. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work: 

This is a full-time position in an educational facility which is open eight hours a day. The 2021-2022 school year contract begins August 23, 2021. Clinicians work 12 months out of the year according to the August-June academic calendar and with vacation time in the summer after a full year of employment. Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required. In general, though, hours are Monday-Friday 8:15A.M.-4:15P.M.

Required Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in mental health counseling or related field
• New York State license in professional field, or qualifications to work toward licensure and New York State limited permit to practice professional field
• Experience with elementary age and/or early adolescent population
• Experience with students who have social-cognitive challenges, learning differences, and behavioral challenges
• Knowledge of evidence-based treatment, particularly CBT and DBT
• Interpersonal style that builds consensus and compels constructive problem solving

Preferred Education and Experience: 

• Experience working with twice-exceptional youth
• Crisis prevention training

   

Compensation and Benefits: 

Compensation is dependent upon experience and degree obtained. 

At Quad Prep you’ll have access to a full range of benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; pre-tax transit and dependent care accounts; a 401K match and student loan repayment contributions (after one year of employment); and a range of professional development opportunities, including our First Year Support Program for all new facility and staff; our Leadership Development Institute for those wishing to gain supervisory experience; and a full tuition waiver for candidates wishing to participate in our annual Certificate Program in Meeting the Needs of Twice-Exceptional Students.

You’ll engage with your colleagues in our ongoing staff wellness groups, relax at our game nights and happy hours, and collaborate in meaningful work as a valued member of our voluntary groups, including our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce; our Staff Ambassador Program; and our Peer Mentorship Program.

AAP/EEO Statement: The Quad Preparatory School is based on an inclusive philosophy that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital status, creed, sexual orientation, familial status, citizenship, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by law in its hiring procedures and policies.