Education and Career Counselor at DYS
Collaborative for Educational Services
Job Description
CES is looking for a new member of our Department of Youth Services Education Initiative, ECC team. The Education and Career Counselor [ECC] provides educational guidance, advising, and counseling for youth across all concentrations of study in residence and the community. In this capacity the ECC coordinates and delivers in-person services and programs designed to assure proactive, youth-centered, goal-directed education and career readiness planning for all DYS youth with varying levels of involvement from intake to re-entry and until discharge from DYS. The ECC also plays a central role in communicating youth education and career readiness efforts and ensuring education progress is awarded and sustained.
Who We Are: Dedicated and collaborative educators committed to supporting an especially vulnerable population of young people with the tools they need to succeed. Our educators help students see their world, and themselves, in a new light.
We value: Quality and excellence, innovation, creativity and vision, inclusiveness, equity and diversity, and collaboration with others. Creating a community of care is foundational to the work we do… together!
Who We Are: Dedicated and collaborative educators committed to supporting an especially vulnerable population of young people with the tools they need to succeed. Our educators help students see their world, and themselves, in a new light.
We value: Quality and excellence, innovation, creativity and vision, inclusiveness, equity and diversity, and collaboration with others. Creating a community of care is foundational to the work we do… together!
Social Justice and Equity: CES is committed to the belief that everyone is a learner, and to our mission to develop and foster educational excellence and opportunities for all learners through collaboration and leadership. Social Justice and Equity work has always been critical to that mission.
We understand that all forms of oppression are damaging. As we at CES set our sights on understanding and taking action together to challenge racism and support equity, we also commit to making our work intersectional by taking on sexism, classism, heterosexism, youth oppression, transgender oppression, religious oppression, ableism, sizeism, and more. We are doing this work pro-actively and purposefully, with the intent of positive outcomes, and because we need to. In doing so, we are building capacity to support and assist schools, and districts responding to their educators' and students' needs with an increased and intentional focus on matters of bias, social justice, and equity.
ECC Core Responsibilities:
- Provide effective guidance, advising, and coaching to youth around goal setting, planning, self-monitoring and college and career counseling from intake through re-entry and discharge from DYS, including modified services for long term (typically 30 days or more) detained youth and the full scope of services for committed youth (inclusive of those in the community and in independent living)
- Review and discuss formal and informal assessment data with students and incorporate feedback and recommendations to inform guidance and coaching services
- Provide guidance and advisory services consistent with the MA Model 3.0 for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, e.g. small group sessions with students on college planning during the College and Career Seminar (EYF)
- Know youth and their education profile well, develop effective relationships with youth, and support them in successfully making progress toward their education and career readiness plans (e.g. earning a diploma, college, technical school, and career)
- Coach students to self-advocate through such opportunities as presenting their goals, progress, and/or demonstrations of learning at staffings and/or other meetings (IEP, 504)
- Proactively build productive relationships with assigned caseload and their families throughout their involvement with DYS
- Assist parents/guardians in supporting the youth
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelors or higher degree in related field
- Massachusetts licensure as 5-12 Guidance Counselor; School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor- All Levels; Moderate Disabilities and/or Intensive Special Needs - All Levels; Social Worker (MSW; LICSW); Subject Matter License allowable for incumbent ECC’s
- 1-3 years prior experience in education, legal/advocacy, juvenile justice, and/or a human service field
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Valid driver's license and reliable vehicle are required
- Proficiency in working with diverse personalities
Working Conditions: Onsite work with teachers and specialists at DYS programs and host agencies.
Workplace Health and Safety: CES employees working on-site in DYS, DMH, DPH or CHC facilities are required to demonstrate that they have received COVID-19 vaccination.
CES Benefits: CES offers a comprehensive benefits package including: Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance, and voluntary Short Term Disability, enhanced Vision and additional Life Insurance. Health Insurance is offered through Tufts/Harvard Pilgrim and includes two plan options: PPO with a self-funded Health Savings Account and HMO with a Health Reimbursement Account funded by CES to support a portion of health insurance deductions. FSA and Dependent Care accounts are available. CES offers two retirement options for employees based on eligibility. Professional development and mentoring offered throughout the school year.
Application Procedure: Apply Online at CES Career page. Please upload your cover letter, resume, references, and licensure. Resumes will be reviewed until the position is filled.