The Southern Westchester BOCES Center for Professional Learning and Curriculum Support is seeking a Resource Specialist (Mental Health, RECOVS Grant) to join our team. The ideal candidate is an experienced teacher, school social worker, school psychologist, or guidance/school counselor and expert staff developer/coach who embraces SWBOCES’ mission, is passionate about professional learning, and thrives in a collaborative team environment. The Resource Specialist (Mental Health) will lead professional learning designed to prepare school personnel, teachers, and school leaders in supporting student mental health and wellness as their priority. This work occurs in the context of promoting high quality teaching and learning that aligns with NYSED’s Learning Standards, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policy, and Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework (CRSEF), throughout the Southern Westchester region. The Resource Specialist (Mental Health) will bring an open and innovative mindset, a deep commitment to social emotional learning (SEL) and belief that all children can learn, and excellent organization, communication, and project management skills to coach and provide strategic support to educators in the RECOVS Mental Health grant consortium.
PRIMARY PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
Funded by the NYSED RECOVS Mental Health grant, this Resource Specialist (Mental Health) is a full-time, 11-month position based at 450 Mamaroneck Ave. Harrison, NY, serving 12 local school districts participating in the grant consortium. The Resource Specialist (Mental Health) serves as a regional expert in best practices supporting mental health and wellness. The Resource Specialist (Mental Health):
- Develop and leads high-quality professional learning across delivery systems (face to face, online, and/or hybrid models, embedded coaching, etc.) for school and district personnel on comprehensive school-based mental health practices, including Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), Restorative Practices, Youth Mental Health First Aid, etc.
- Is an expert in conducting needs assessments and responding to specific requests for information, materials and training from schools participating in the grant consortium and in using data to inform curriculum, instruction, and professional learning to lead schools/districts through data analysis, self-assessment, and planning.
- Is current in policies and practices related to professional learning, NYSED standards-based curriculum, teaching and learning, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Curates, creates, and disseminates information across consortium districts related to grant-related activities and exemplary practices.
- Assists teachers and school-based mental health professionals in identifying and coordinating programs matching student needs while communicating and promoting high expectations for supporting student learning.
- Builds/extends meaningful relationships with grant consortium schools/districts.
- Ensures consistent data collection and reporting of learner feedback, attendance, and program effectiveness to Center faculty and others.
- Participates in state-wide and other professional meetings related to school climate, social-emotional learning, restorative practices, and school-based mental health systems and interventions to gain information and strategies to share with consortium districts.
- Manages relationships with industry partners and local organizations supporting social-emotional learning and school-based mental health.
- Centers cultural responsiveness and equity in support for school-based mental health practices.
- Assists in gathering and compiling grant implementation updates to support grant reporting requirements and communicate the grant consortium’s implementation successes and lessons learned.
- Partners with educators on projects related to school-based mental health as assigned.
- Performs other duties as assigned by PLCS Sr Director/Assistant Director of Professional Learning & Curriculum Support.