Elementary School Counselor

ABOUT MERIDIAN PCS
Meridian is a PreK-8th grade school located in Washington DC’s vibrant U Street Corridor. Our mission is to inspire a passion for learning in our students and to help them build their self-confidence and self-respect through academic achievement. 

Our 650+ students are a diverse mix of African-American, Latino, Asian, African, and White students. Almost 30% of our students are English language learners, and we have one of the largest Hispanic populations in DC charter schools. We are committed to building a community of teachers and staff who reflect the rich diversity of our student body.

Meridian is committed to serving families from our local communities; and one-third of our students live within a half mile of the school. The U Street Corridor was once the heart of black culture in DC and offers a tangible historical archive for our students, and Columbia Heights is one of the most racially and economically diverse neighborhoods in the District. We are also proud of the fact that Meridian is a school of choice for parents— all eight wards of the city are represented among our student population.

Meridian’s strengths include two beautiful and historic campuses, with nearby outdoor and recreational grounds; state of the art technology for students and teachers; updated and aligned curricula; an academic program laser-focused on student growth, achievement, and social-emotional development; extensive professional development and support for teachers and leaders; and a school culture grounded in student achievement, collaboration, and student-centered learning.

Join us as we continue to take Meridian from good to great! For additional information about Meridian visit mpcs-dc.org. 

ABOUT THE POSITION
Meridian is seeking a School Counselor to work with our elementary students (PreK3-5). This is a 10-month position with the following responsibilities: 

• Providing one-on-one and small group counseling to students for the purposes of:
  • meeting IEP-mandates
  • meeting goals of students referred through the Student Support Team (SST) and Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)
  • supporting students with short term crisis intervention
  • increasing social skills, anger management, self-esteem, and conflict resolution, and
  • ultimately, improving classroom performance
• Conducting needs assessments, social evaluations, and other related assessments
• Collecting data for the purpose of monitoring social/emotional progress and evaluating effectiveness of services
• Maintain accurate, complete and correct records, and submitting such records in a timely manner as required by established deadlines. 
• Participating in MDT, SST, IEP, manifestation determination, and other related meetings
• Meeting with teachers regularly to discuss counseling case reviews, behavior plan progress, social emotional curriculum planning as well as other concerns
• Working collaboratively within the classroom setting to implement student IEPs
• Working collaboratively with the SST to develop plans of assistance for students at risk of academic and/or behavioral difficulty.
• Conducting home visits that encourage home/school communication
• Serving as the home-school-community liaison responsible for effective resource utilization and positive relations with families
• Serving as an advocate for parents and families in need
• Providing workshops for teachers, parents, and families
• Collaborating with outside agencies to share information and ensure creation of seamless service delivery plans for students

QUALIFICATIONS
Successful candidates will possess the following qualifications:

• Master’s or Doctorate in social work, counseling, psychology or related field required
• Minimum of two years experience of social work or counseling experience required
• Experience working as a school counselor or social worker in school-based settings, preferably in an urban setting 
• Energetic, flexible, creative, innovative individual who can develop strengths-based, student-centered support plans that boost learning for students 
• Ability to collaborate with families, school staff, and the community
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills 
• Ability to multitask, follow-through, and work as a member of a multidisciplinary team 
• OSSE certification/licensure for social worker or counselor, or licensed out of state and eligible for District of Columbia licensure
• Spanish proficiency preferred

SALARY AND BENEFITS
A recent TNTP Insight Survey of our teachers placed our staff’s satisfaction with compensation in the top quartile of all charter schools in DC. We also lead the charter sector in compensation transparency, and publish our salary scales for teachers, apprentice teachers, and dedicated aides here.

Meridian teachers and staff are compensated competitively for their time and have opportunities to earn additional income through leadership opportunities at the school level, offering extracurricular clubs and sports for students, and facilitating tutoring programs.

HOW TO APPLY
Do you embody a love of learning? Do you believe in the importance of educating the whole child? Do you want to join a collaborative team driving Meridian’s continued growth from good to great?  

Apply to the Elementary School Counselor position! 

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. 

In accordance with Mayor's Order 2021-109, Meridian Public Charter School requires all staff to provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or obtain an approval for exemption due to medical or religious reasons. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin or ancestry, marital status, veteran’s status, or any other factor, which would constitute a violation of the D.C. Human Rights Act or other applicable laws or court order.

One School, One Community, One City... the World Intersects at Meridian