School Counselor (SY26-27, Middle School)

What You’ll Do
Veritas Prep Charter School is seeking a mission-driven School Counselor who is committed to ensuring that every student has the academic, social-emotional, and community supports necessary to succeed in school and beyond. The School Counselor develops and implements a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program.

The School Counselor works collaboratively with students, families, and staff to provide equitable access to academic, career, and social-emotional learning supports. Through direct counseling services, collaboration with educators, and engagement with families and community partners, the counselor promotes student success, well-being, and college and career readiness for all students.

Essential Responsibilities

• Implement and maintain a comprehensive school counseling program aligned with the Massachusetts Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs and district priorities.
• Promote equitable access to opportunities for all students and advocate for practices that help close opportunity and achievement gaps.
• Use student data to identify needs and inform program goals, interventions, and supports.
• Develop annual counseling program goals aligned with school improvement priorities.
• Maintain accurate records and manage student caseloads in accordance with legal and ethical guidelines.
• Coordinate counseling services in collaboration with administrators, teachers, and support staff.
• Provide direct counseling services to students through classroom lessons, small groups, and individual counseling.
• Deliver counseling curriculum focused on social-emotional learning, academic planning, and career readiness.
• Provide short-term individual and small-group counseling aligned with MTSS Tier 2 interventions and support services related to IEP and 504 plans as appropriate.
• Partner with teachers, families, and school leaders to address student needs and support student growth.
• Participate in student support teams and crisis response teams.
• Connect students and families with community resources and mental health supports to promote student well-being and success.
• Use outcome data to assess the effectiveness of counseling programs and interventions. Conduct needs assessments and maintain documentation to support ongoing program improvement.
• Ensure that counseling practices remain proactive, equitable, and aligned with school goals.

Requirements

Candidates should apply if they align with our values of:

• Students First: We make decisions with our students in mind and know our actions model the way.
• Grow Together: We are role models of growth mindset, teamwork, and collaboration.
• One Team, One Mission: We cheer for, lean on, and support each other as we play unique roles in support of the same mission.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrates an unwavering belief that all students can meet and exceed grade-level academic standards.
• Exhibits a commitment to continuous professional growth and reflective practice as an educator.
• Builds and sustains positive, collaborative, and effective working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Communicates clearly and effectively in both oral and written contexts.
• Maintains consistent, reliable, and punctual attendance.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• One to three years of teaching experience preferred.
• Massachusetts DESE Elementary Licensure Preferred, or eligibility to achieve Highly Qualified status within one year of employment, demonstrated by:
• a passing score on the Communications and Literacy Skills (Reading and Writing) MTEL, and
• a social worker license in the state of Massachusetts such as LICSW, or equivalent
• Authorized to work in the United States, with valid work authorization in place by the first day of employment.

Veritas Prep is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employees or qualified job applicants on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran or military status, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, or any other status or condition protected by applicable law. This policy extends to, but is not limited to, recruitment, selection, compensation, benefits, promotion, training, and termination.

Benefits

Veritas Prep offers competitive salaries and comprehensive benefit packages that include the following:

• Salary Range for this position is $58,000-$100,000 exclusive of fringe benefits.
• If hired, your final base salary will be determined based on factors such as skills, education, and/or experience.
• In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity of our current team members as part of any final offer.
• Keep in mind, the above range is the full base salary range for this position. Hiring at the maximum of the range would not be typical in order to allow for future and continued salary growth.
• We also offer a generous benefits package for full-time staff that includes, but not limited to the following:
• Health, Vision and Dental Insurance Plans
• Paid Family/Medical Leave Insurance (private and meets state requirements)
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance (100% employer paid)
• Enrollment in Massachusetts Teachers' Retirement System (teacher pension program)
• Employee Assistance Program (100% employer paid)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), and more...

About Veritas Prep

Veritas Prep is a public, tuition-free school in Springfield that prepares students in grades 5 through 12 to compete, achieve, and succeed in college and beyond. Veritas Prep accelerates every student’s path to college and career by helping them set a strong academic foundation in middle school and guaranteeing access to college classes and college prep support in our wall-to-wall Early College high school. 

At Veritas Prep, we are not only breaking down barriers to college access but also providing the tools students need to persist through college and prepare for a successful career. Our middle school program has been serving students in Springfield since 2012 and our scholars are supported by skilled, dedicated, and diverse teachers. Scholars learn important academic habits and are challenged to achieve at high levels academically, socially, and emotionally, setting them up for success as they enter our high school. 

Our Early College high school program, in partnership with STCC and Worcester State University, prepares students to earn high-impact college degrees, saving students up to two years’ time in college and thousands of dollars. Students can earn up to an associate degree for free, and the general studies associate degree from STCC means students enter as JUNIORS at any Massachusetts public college or university after high school graduation.

Students at Veritas Prep benefit from high academic standards and robust support, an exceptional learning environment, a diverse staff of high-quality educators, a strong commitment to social/emotional and practical skill development, and an inclusive, anti-racist community that values the identities and backgrounds of all students.