About this role
DISTRICT OVERVIEW Holyoke Public Schools is a PreK-12 public school district serving nearly 4,800 students, of whom 80 percent are Latino/Latina, in 11 schools. We employ nearly 1,300 people who together educate and support a richly diverse community of learners. We are committed to recruiting and retaining top-quality educators who believe all children can and will learn and who strive daily to make school a joyful place of discovery, support, and belonging. Holyoke Public Schools' strategic plan, “Moving Forward Together,” builds on the strengths of our past while serving as a call to action to accelerate student learning by thinking differently about how we teach, how we work together, and how we support students' well-being. Many successes contributed to Holyoke's return to local governance after 10 years in state receivership. These include:
• The highest graduation rate on record of 77.1 percent, an increase of more than 15-points over 10 years
• Meaningful, applied learning opportunities for high school students, including theme-based academies, career vocational technical education programming, work-based learning, and advanced coursework
• A comprehensive approach to early literacy that includes strong core instruction and one-on-one tutoring, contributing to more students reading at grade level
• A thriving dual language English/Spanish program, where nearly 900 students are on their path to becoming bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural
• More than one-third of Holyoke teachers identify as people of color, a 19-point increase over 10 years. Many partnership programs support staff to earn licensure or additional certification.
Please visit the Holyoke Public Schools website to learn more about us, our recent accomplishments, and our commitment to equity. - PERSPECTIVA GENERAL DEL DISTRITO Las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke son un distrito escolar público que cuenta con 11 escuelas de prekínder a 12.° grado y acoge a casi 4 800 estudiantes, de los cuales el 80 % se identifica como latino o latina. Empleamos a casi 1 300 personas que, en conjunto, educan y apoyan a una comunidad de estudiantes altamente diversa. Estamos comprometidos a contratar y retener educadores de alta calidad que creen firmemente que todos los niños pueden aprender y aprenderán, y que se esfuerzan diariamente por hacer de la escuela un lugar alegre de descubrimiento, apoyo y pertenencia. El plan estratégico de las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke , “Avanzando Juntos”, se basa en nuestras fortalezas previas y, al mismo tiempo, sirve como un llamado a la acción para acelerar el aprendizaje estudiantil a través de una nueva perspectiva sobre cómo enseñamos, cómo trabajamos en colaboración y cómo apoyamos el bienestar de los estudiantes. Existen numerosos logros que permitieron a Holyoke recuperar el control local después de 10 años de administración judicial. Entre estos logros se encuentran:
• La tasa de graduación más alta registrada, del 77.1 %, lo que representa un aumento de más de 15 puntos porcentuales en 10 años
• Oportunidades significativas de aprendizaje práctico para estudiantes de secundaria, que incluyen academias temáticas, programas de educación técnica y vocacional, aprendizaje basado en el trabajo y cursos avanzados
• Un enfoque integral de la alfabetización temprana que combina una sólida instrucción básica con tutorías individuales, lo cual ha contribuido a que más estudiantes lean a nivel de grado
• Un próspero programa bilingüe de inglés/español, en el que casi 900 estudiantes avanzan hacia el bilingüismo, la biliteracidad, y la biculturalidad.
• Más de un tercio de los maestros de Holyoke se identifican como personas de etnicidad diversa, lo que representa un aumento de 19 puntos porcentuales en 10 años. Diversas colaboraciones con programas que han contribuido a que miembros del personal obtengan sus certificaciones o credenciales adicionales.
Visite el sitio web de las Escuelas Públicas de Holyoke para obtener más información sobre nuestra comunidad, nuestros logros recientes y nuestro compromiso con la equidad. Key Features Opportunity Academy: Key Features
• Small Classes and Personalized Support: Opportunity Academy provides a smaller learning environment where staff build strong relationships with students. Individualized attention and small-group instruction help students strengthen their skills, stay engaged, and make progress toward graduation.
• Relevant, Competency-Based Learning: Students earn credits by demonstrating their learning through projects, classroom assignments, and other evidence of mastery. Our curriculum aligns with Massachusetts standards and connects learning to real-world issues and student interests. Students have access to direct instruction, online coursework, and additional academic support based on their graduation plans.
• Relationships, Belonging, and Student Support: Each student has a primary person who monitors progress, maintains regular communication, and partners with families. Counselors, teachers, and support staff work together to address barriers to learning and help students build confidence, develop coping strategies, and strengthen relationships. Advisory and OA Circle provide opportunities to celebrate growth and build community.
• Clear Expectations and Consistent Support: OA emphasizes consistent expectations, accountability, and care. Staff support students in developing independence, reflecting on their choices, and taking ownership of their attendance, engagement, and credit attainment. Students receive ongoing feedback and opportunities to learn from challenges.
• Flexible Pathways and Postsecondary Planning: OA supports students through individualized graduation plans and opportunities to explore college, careers, and life beyond high school. Students remain connected to Holyoke High School and may participate in athletics, clubs, and extracurricular activities, subject to eligibility requirements.
Opportunity Academy — School Adjustment Counselor Position Overview The School Adjustment Counselor supports the social, emotional, and academic success of Opportunity Academy students. Through strong relationships with students, families, staff, and community partners, the counselor helps address barriers to attendance, engagement, and credit attainment. This role provides individualized support that builds on student strengths, promotes belonging and well-being, and helps students progress toward graduation and their goals beyond high school. Responsibilities Student Counseling & Support
• Provide individual and group counseling to address social, emotional, behavioral, and personal needs that affect students' participation and success in school.
• Provide counseling services required by IEPs and Section 504 plans, monitor progress toward goals, and support access for students who need counseling without a formal plan.
• Support students in developing emotional regulation, problem-solving, healthy relationships, and self-advocacy skills through culturally responsive, trauma-informed approaches.
• Provide crisis intervention and coordinate safety planning and follow-up support in accordance with district procedures.
• Support students returning from hospitalization, juvenile justice settings, other facilities, or extended absences. Develop individualized re-entry plans in collaboration with students, families, school staff, and outside providers.
Family & Community Partnerships
• Build trusting relationships with parents and caregivers to strengthen their understanding of student needs and their participation in planning and support.
• Help students and families identify strengths, access community resources, and address barriers to attendance, engagement, and academic success.
• Conduct home visits to better understand student circumstances, strengthen family connections, and coordinate support.
• Serve as a liaison among home, school, and community providers, ensuring appropriate communication, referrals, and follow-up.
• Provide families and staff with information and consultation related to mental health, behavior support, and social-emotional development.
Collaboration & Intervention Planning
• Facilitate student support team meetings and participate in case conferences to identify student needs, establish responsibilities, implement interventions, and monitor progress.
• Collaborate with teachers, primary persons, administrators, special education staff, and other support personnel to coordinate services across OA programs and assigned sites.
• Help school personnel understand how physical, social, emotional, and psychological factors affect student learning and engagement.
• Partner with staff to develop positive behavior supports and classroom strategies that strengthen student participation and belonging.
• Collaborate with guidance counselors and academic staff to develop course loads and support plans aligned with student needs, credit attainment, and graduation goals.
• Participate in IEP and Section 504 meetings and contribute to the development and implementation of appropriate goals, accommodations, and services.
Documentation & Professional Responsibilities
• Maintain accurate and timely student records, counseling service logs, progress reports, and documentation of family outreach and referrals.
• Track counseling participation, service delivery, and student progress to identify gaps in access and adjust support.
• Use attendance, engagement, behavioral, and academic data to inform intervention planning and collaboration with instructional teams.
• Protect student confidentiality and follow applicable ethical, mandated reporting, and district requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree.
• Massachusetts licensure as a School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor; SEI endorsement preferred.
• Commitment to ensuring academic success, belonging, and equitable opportunities for all students.
• Ability to build strong relationships and communicate effectively with students, parents, caregivers, staff, and community partners.
• Knowledge of adolescent development, mental health, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed practices.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply student performance data to intervention planning and support for instructional teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, organizational skills, and ability to work collaboratively.
• Experience working in an urban setting preferred.
• Experience working with diverse student populations preferred.
• Experience in alternative education preferred.
• Bilingual applicants (English/Spanish) are strongly encouraged to apply.