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The Madeira School is seeking a Director of Academic Access and Student Support to oversee the strategic direction of student support programs in consort with the Dean of Academics and Student Success. This individual supervises the Counselors and Learning Specialists; provides and manages the operational details of the student support program; and works in collaboration to sustain and deliver on a model that supports academic and personal growth as part of a comprehensive understanding of student wellness. The Director collaborates at a strategic level with the academic leadership and with the Health and Retention Team. The Director sustains, develops, and advances a learning support and student wellness/counseling curriculum, which manifests in school-wide, grade-wide, or faculty/advisor programming. The Director ensures student support programming and systems align with best practices for working with students and families in school settings. This is a year round position.
Responsibilities
Collaborate deeply and effectively with Dean of Academics and Student Success to ensure that the school’s focus on academic growth is related to developmental readiness and is part of a comprehensive understanding of student wellness.
Supervise the Counselors and Learning Specialists.
Ensure counselor(s) provide and lead on crisis intervention, including suicide assessment; make referrals for outside therapy, psychiatric evaluation, or other mental health-related assessment and treatment; provide short-term individual counseling as well as process-oriented and topic-driven group counseling; ?develop SEL curriculum; teach in Student Life or other interdisciplinary courses.
Ensure learning specialist(s) manage academic support (including info sheets), study spaces, and study protocols on campus, including design of proctored study hall for specific students; serve as the School's SSD Coordinator with the College Board and other testing bureaus; organize, coordinate and administer on-campus standardized testing for students with accommodations; teach in Student Life or other interdisciplinary courses
Aligned with school protocols, evaluate and assess students for academic, social, emotional, and mental health concerns and the need for support?
Gather and use data strategically to inform Health and Retention Committee and Academic Dean of needs, patterns and trends affecting the student support program.
Provide ongoing professional development (individually, small group and whole group) for faculty who relentlessly tend to and build skills which allow them to provide a high caliber education for the learners in their rooms.
Read and interpret neuropsychological and other testing. Support teachers in their understanding of how to implement the actions outlined on the information sheets. With the Academic Dean and Learning Specialist build the implementation of the plan for a student.?
Serve as a member of the Admissions Committee to provide feedback on applicants with learning or emotional health needs.
Serve on the Health and Retention and Academic Leadership committees; attend Academic Office team meetings.
Act as a resource for families, faculty and students to help guide and facilitate, so they can do informed problem solving around student learning.
Requirements
Graduate degree or the equivalent in special education, counseling or related field
Demonstrated and sustained experience in supervising professionals who provide students with academic and emotional support.
Demonstrated skill in effective design and execution of systems for case management.
Five-seven or more years' experience as a counselor or learning specialist.
Proficiency in a range of computer applications; willingness and ability to learn additional applications as needed.
Strong interpersonal, communication (written and oral) and analytical skills
Ability to work independently as well as a collaborative member of the academic team
Excellent organizational skills with particular ability to multi-task, systematize and prioritize work; accuracy, attention to detail and ability to follow through
Exceptional initiative, judgment and problem-solving skills
Pro-active, effective leader and team builder with good humor, positive outlook, and growth mindset
Appreciation of and commitment to boarding and single sex education, diversity and to serving the needs of a diverse population
Occasional evenings and weekends required.
