Student Services Specialist
Join Ames Community School District, where your journey matters! ACSD promotes an educational environment that is racially, ethnically, linguistically, and culturally diverse to broaden students' academic experience and to enrich our District. We are focused on creating and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organizational culture and in our community.
Ames Community School is seeking a Student Services Specialist for the 2022-2023 school year.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Ames Community School District is to ensure that all learners develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, and personal esteem necessary to grow in and shape a changing society.
Work Schedule: 208 day contract
Responsibilities/Essential Functions:
Continuum of Services
- Serves as a liaison to the school counselors, student family advocates, and dropout prevention (ALP) staff, including facilitating regular community of practice meetings.
- Serves as the point of contact and coordinator for the Ames CSD participation in the Comprehensive School Mental Health System pilot.
- Coordinates and oversees health and wellbeing screening offered throughout the district.
- Under the direction of the Director of Special Education, oversees the daily operation of the Secondary Therapeutic Learning Center for students with internalizing and externalizing behaviors and SEBH concerns that necessitate an alternate educational setting.
- Oversees compliance with Chapter 103 districtwide.
- Serves as the point of contact for students and families when students experience a unique health related need such as transitioning back to school following a hospitalization or injury.
- Provides direct support to school-based teams with the development and maintenance of section 504 plans.
- Supports school-based teams in the development, maintenance, and implementation of health, safety, and emergency plans for individual students.
- Monitors services for unique health-related services such as homebound instruction required by medical need.
Outreach and Community Education
- Creates and disseminates appropriately informational references related to community mental health resources for staff, students, families, and community members.
- Collaborates with school counselors, student family advocates, and district administrators to develop protocols for reviewing and approving (or denying) proposals from community health service providers.
- Provides training for district administrators and other relevant staff on the proposal through implementation process related to offering mental health services by independent providers in schools.
- In collaboration with the Director of Special Education, develops a process for community mental health service providers to submit proposals to offer services for students during the school day and within school spaces.
- Facilitates the creation of memos of understanding between the Ames CSD school board and community mental health service providers.
Professional Development
- In partnership with the Special Education Coordinator, co-coordinates and provides Nonviolent Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training for staff district wide, including contracted staff such as food service and transportation staff employed by third-party entities.
- Completes Mental Health First Aid Instructor Training and provide Mental Health First Aid training for district staff.
- Serves on the Board Mental Health Committee.
- Coordinates and oversees the Anonymous Alert System.
- Coordinates the development and implementation of a comprehensive suicide prevention and postvention plan, including training for district staff.
- Serves as a member of the district emergency response team.
- Creates a sense of belonging and welcoming environment for all families, students, and staff.
- Attends work on a consistent and punctual basis.
Qualifications:
- Degree in social work, counseling, or related field.
- Ability to pass a background check required.
Compensation: $55,000
Closing Date: May 25, 2022
Candidates, please click the "Apply Externally" button to apply online.
All employees of the Ames Community School District must pass a background check. ACSD is an E-Verify employer.
To learn more about the Ames Community School District, visit our websites:
It is the policy of the Ames Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact Kristin Johnson, Human Resources Director, kristin.johnson@ames.k12.ia.us, District Offices, 2005 24th St. Ames, IA 50010, (515) 268-6610.