Job Description: Social Worker 2014-15
The Boston Arts Academy, a public high school for the visual and performing arts,
is starting its 18th year in September 2014 with 420 students in Grades 9-12.
It is a joint project of the Professional Arts Consortium, Inc.,
(comprising the Berklee College of Music, Boston Architectural Center, the
Boston Conservatory, Emerson College Massachusetts College of Arts, and the
School of the Museum of Fine Arts) and the Boston Public Schools. The Boston Arts
Academy is charged with being a laboratory and a beacon for artistic and
academic innovation. The Boston Arts Academy prepares a diverse community of
aspiring artist-scholars to be successful in their college or professional
careers and to be engaged members of a democratic society.
This innovative school features a college preparatory curriculum supporting
integrated and interdisciplinary teaching and learning among arts and academic
disciplines. Students explore the arts in both traditional and new media forms.
The Academy’s program is enriched by the involvement of the six members of the
Professional Arts Consortium. Both the program and the student body at the
Academy reflect the culture, ethnic and linguistic diversity of Boston.
The Academy is home to an innovative STEAM (Science Technology, Engineering, Arts, and
Math) team that explores curriculum that merges these disciplines and types of thinking in
order to be successful in the 21st century creative economy.
The Academy is a Pilot School and a member of the Boston Pilot Schools Network,
a group of Boston Public Schools that, by union contract, have been granted
increased autonomy and flexibility to be laboratories of educational innovation.
This includes the right to extend the school day and year for both faculty and
students.
Teachers at the Academy undertake a number of special responsibilities. The
Academy offers academic classes as well as classes in the visual and performing
arts. Often classes integrate artistic and academic subjects. Faculty members
work together to develop curriculum in all areas. The school day for teachers has been
scheduled to run from 8:00 – 4:00 Mondays, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:35 p.m., Tuesday through
Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Fridays.
The school year for students will be similar to the Boston Public Schools, but
the actual school calendar may differ in terms of professional days for teachers
and other aspects. All students will be members of an Advisory Group and all full-time teachers
will serve as Advisors. (Advisory is a small group of students who come
together periodically to provide academic, social and emotional support to all
students.) All full-time teaching staff also teach a grade-level writing course to students.
Students are assessed through a variety of measures: Traditional tests,
performances, exhibitions, and portfolios. More comprehensive material about the
approach to teaching and learning is available upon request, as well as on the
website.
General Description and Goals:
The Student Activities Coordinator/ Adolescent Clinician is an integral member of the Student
Support/Health & Wellness Team who fosters the social-emotional health of our artist-scholars-citizens
as well as coordinates our community service, student government, student clubs, and whole-school
student activities and prevention initiatives. The Clinician understands the significance of providing
students with a culturally sensitive and supportive learning environment that fosters their successful
adjustment into the school climate and culture and supports their academic achievement. The
Adolescent Clinician/Student Activities Coordinator will demonstrate excellent clinical, community
partnerships/advocacy, and communication skills.
Responsibilities:
Student Activities Coordinator:
 Plan, organize, and support advisors with all advisory activities, including family conferences,
advisory curricula, and advisory special days; read student files and manage student advisory
placement
 Plan, organize and support staff with community service activities, including planning an annual
community service day and ongoing community service opportunities for students throughout the
year
 Support our Restorative Justice/Circle culture, facilitating trainings and ongoing circles for students
and staff
 Plan and lead student orientation activities, including an annual week-long new student orientation
 Organize student government elections and support student government meetings and activities
 Facilitate creation of student clubs and support student club activities, including special events, such
as our annual student talent show, and fundraisers
 Organize and support student dances
 Organize and support staff and family chaperones and support (such as food donations) for
performances and field trips.
 Organize and support student assemblies (e.g., Town Hall Meetings)
 Organize and support Saturday schools for summer reading (2 Saturdays per year)
 Find and communicate student job and volunteer opportunities outside of school
 Serve as a member of the administrative team monitoring breakfast and lunch and proctoring
assessments
Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation:
 As part of the Health and Wellness Team, provide individual, family, and group counseling
interventions and classroom prevention services.
 Collaborate closely with the Health & Wellness Team, advisors, teachers, and families to create
prevention/intervention plans to address student concerns and to intervene in social-emotional
situations affecting the student's educational development.
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Consult with Director of Health of & Wellness to facilitate mandated assessments when abuse is
suspected (child, disabled adult, elder), and safety assessments when violence is reported.
Case Management:
 Provide short/long-term case management services to students and families related to academic
and social-emotional concerns
 Referral and consultation with community agencies regarding mental health services
 Provide referral and case management services for students/families who are homeless, involved in
the Department of Children and Families, or other social service agencies.
 Supports students with transitioning to other high schools or alternative education options
Professional Practice
 Engage in best practices and professional standards of care.
 Adhere to the values and ethics of the mental health profession and/or use the American
Psychological Association Code of Ethics, and use as guides in decision-making.
 Model professional behaviors that contribute to addressing the needs of students, families, and the
school community.
 Maintain accurate and appropriate records and documents related to clinical case loads, records
and documentation.
 Perform any other duties requested by Director of Clinical Services & Student Success & CoHeadmaster.
Qualifications:
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Massachusetts License as a Social Worker (LCSW or LICSW), Mental Health Counselor (LMHC, or
Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) or School Social Worker License issued by DESE.
Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Expressive Art Therapy, or other related
field (i.e., MSW, MHC, MA, MS, MEd).
Minimum of three years professional clinical experience providing treatment to adolescents and
their families.
Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills required.
Experience with child/adolescent development, family dynamics, and systems work
Experience in working with students with diverse socio-emotional and learning needs.
Experience working with multicultural families, underserved communities and economically
disadvantaged populations required.
Commitment to working with families and students as partners in education
Bilingual and/or bi-cultural skills (English/Spanish or English/Haitian Creole) applicants are strongly
encouraged to apply.
A deeply rooted understanding of cultural diversity.
Terms: BTU, Group I