Summer Counselor

Breakthrough Greater Boston (BTGB) is a successful, academic enrichment program that provides a path to college for middle school students with high potential but limited opportunities while promoting careers in education for high school and college students. Using a students-teaching-students model, BTGB provides dynamic, tuition-free academic programming in the summer and during the school year. Our younger students gain the skills and motivation to succeed in rigorous high school programs, and, ultimately, in college. Meanwhile, our program empowers older students to teach – every member of our teaching faculty is a high school or college student. Teachers gain hands-on experience in every aspect of education, while also receiving training and support from professional staff members.

BTGB is one of 33 Breakthrough sites currently operating around the country and in Hong Kong. Each year, BTGB serves diverse middle school students from the Cambridge Public Schools by providing academic enrichment, skill building, mentoring, and leadership development. Students come to a two-year, year-round middle school program, after which they join our growing ranks of BTGB high school students, who receive academic support as well as help with planning for college and locating meaningful summer opportunities.

Over the past 5 years, 97% of our graduating students have matriculated to four-year college, and 96% of those have persisted through their undergraduate years. Over the past two years, more than 75% of our graduating teachers have gone on to pursue careers in education.

SUMMARY

Professional staff members play an instrumental role in the success of our "students teaching students" model. This summer, BTGB will hire a part-time Counselor. The Counselor will be responsible for supporting students' socio-emotional health and training and supporting faculty and staff in that endeavor.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Prior to the Summer Program

• Set goals for the summer around student culture, support and behavior with Student Services Manager
• Attend a summer planning meeting with BTGB Program Directors

Teacher Orientation

• Lead a workshop on issues of student support, such as mentoring, counseling, identifying issues, and communicating with families
• Cultivate positive, supportive, and professional relationships with teachers and professional staff
• Attend and participate in the Summer Kick Off Event (in late June/early July)

Summer Program

• Counsel students
• Identify and appropriately support student issues, making referrals where necessary
• Keep accurate records of counseling activity
• Respond to urgent situations and manage crises
• Remain available by phone during off hours for emergency consultation
• Meet regularly with the Manager of Student Services
• Offer ongoing training and support (formal and informal) to teachers
• Attend Kid Talk sessions twice each week, assisting teachers in working through student issues
• As needed, offer counseling support to teachers

Evaluation Week

• Write a brief report summarizing your work with each student at BTGB 2013
• Make student referrals and complete any other necessary follow-up work
• Offer recommendations to BTGB to enhance our student support
• Assist Directors with wrap-up work, such as conducting exit interviews and editing student evaluations

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience as a counselor with public middle or high school students in a diverse setting, preferably full-time for at least two years
• Excellent interpersonal skills – especially, the ability to communicate and collaborate with high school and college students
• Creativity, energy, flexibility, organization, strong work ethic
• Master's Degree required
• Familiarity with the Breakthrough model, and/or the Cambridge or Boston Public Schools a plus
• Preferred Licensures held by candidate include: LICSW, LCSW, LMHC, MSW, PhD

LOGISTICS

The Summer Counselor is expected to work 20 hours per week for the duration of the Summer Program, starting Teacher Orientation week through Evaluation Week* (see below for dates). Weekday hours for the Program weeks are: Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 am – 2:30 pm, Tuesdays from 12:30 pm – 5:30 pm and Thursdays from 11:30 am – 5:30 pm, allowing an additional hour per week in the event of off-site work and/or phone consultation. During Teacher Orientation and Evaluation Week, hours are more flexible, and will be mutually agreed upon in advance.

Boston Site Program Dates:
Teacher Orientation - June 24th,
Summer Kick Off Event - TBD,
Summer Program - July 8th - August 16th,
Evaluation Week - August 19th - 23rd

• We encourage applications from candidates who have partial conflicts with Teacher Orientation and Evaluation Week, as the schedule these weeks is somewhat flexible.

COMPENSATION

The Summer Counselor is a paid position. The stipend is $3,000 for the duration of the summer.