About this role
Position type: Full time, exempt, 10 Month
Reporting & Collaboration
Direct Manager: Mental Health Manager
Key Collaborators:
School Leaders
Special Education Case Managers
Behavior Climate Specialists
Teachers and Instructional Staff
Families and External Mental Health Partners
Autonomy & Decision Making
The Mental Health Professional exercises professional judgment in:
Designing and delivering therapeutic interventions aligned to student needs
Monitoring progress toward IEP counseling goals
Conducting risk and safety assessments
Determining appropriate clinical supports and referrals
Recommending Tier 3 interventions for students experiencing significant behavioral or emotional challenges
Inputs: What will I be doing in my day to day work?
IEP Mental Health Service Delivery
Deliver all IEP-mandated counseling and behavioral support services with fidelity
Maintain timely and accurate documentation of services in SpedTrack and SCUTA.
Provide individual and small group counseling aligned to IEP goals.
Participate in IEP meetings and collaborate with special education teams on student support strategies.
Tier 3 Behavioral & Mental Health Intervention
Provide clinical support for students experiencing significant behavioral or emotional challenges.
Implement evidence-based therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioral strategies, trauma-informed interventions, and solution-focused counseling.
Support the development and monitoring of Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) for students with intensive behavioral needs.
CARE Team / MTSS Coordination
Coordinate or support CARE/MTSS processes for students requiring intensive interventions.
Facilitate structured problem-solving meetings to identify barriers to student success.
Monitor progress of Tier 3 interventions and adjust supports as needed.
Section 504 Coordination
Support the development and monitoring of Section 504 plans
Collaborate with teachers and families to ensure accommodations are implemented with fidelity.
Maintain documentation and compliance with federal guidelines.
McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison Responsibilities
Serve as the school’s McKinney-Vento liaison, ensuring students experiencing homelessness are identified and supported in accordance with federal law.
Ensure students experiencing homelessness receive immediate enrollment protections and equitable access to school services.
Coordinate supports such as transportation, academic access, and participation in school programs.
Maintain required documentation and ensure compliance with McKinney-Vento federal requirements.
Partner with families and community organizations to connect students with housing, social service, and community resources.
Crisis Response & Risk Assessment
Provide crisis intervention and mental health risk assessments when necessary.
Support school teams in responding to acute student mental health concerns.
Coordinate with families and community agencies when additional supports is required.
Family & Community Partnership
Maintain consistent communication with families regarding student progress and needs.
Connect families with community resources and external service providers when appropriate.
Collaborate with external agencies to ensure coordinated support for students
Outcomes: What will I be evaluated on?
Service Delivery
IEP counseling minutes delivered with fidelity and compliance.
Student Impact
Improved behavioral and social-emotional outcomes for students receiving Tier 3 supports.
Compliance
Accurate and timely documentation of counseling services and intervention progress.
Systems Coordination
Effective CARE/MTSS coordination for students with intensive needs.
Effective implementation and monitoring of 504 accommodations
Student Access & Equity
Students experiencing homelessness are identified and supported in compliance with McKinney-Vento requirements.
Barriers to enrollment, attendance, and participation are minimized through coordinated school and community supports.
What skills should I already bring, i.e., what should I already have a track record around?
Successful Mental Health Professionals demonstrate:
Expertise in evidence-based mental health and behavioral interventions
Strong knowledge of special education counseling services and compliance requirements
Ability to conduct risk assessments and crisis intervention
Experience supporting students with trauma, behavioral challenges, and emotional regulation needs
Strong facilitation skills for multidisciplinary problem-solving teams
Knowledge of McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requirements
Excellent documentation, organization, and time management skills
Ability to build strong relationships with students, families, and school staff
What you bring to the table:
Required
Master’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field
Valid state licensure or certification in a mental health discipline
Experience providing counseling or behavioral intervention services to children or adolescents
Strong understanding of student mental health and behavioral support practices
Commitment to improving outcomes for historically underserved students
Preferred
Experience working in a K-12 school setting
Experience supporting special education counseling services
Experience with MTSS or student support systems in schools
Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices
What we bring to the table:
KIPP St. Louis is committed to pay equity and to ensuring that we do not unintentionally perpetuate historic wage gaps that persist due to individual negotiations. As a result, salaries are not negotiated. We are transparent about salaries in our job postings so that candidates can make an informed decision before beginning the hiring process.
We are a fast paced, energetic team and family with passionate people who are leading a movement and to cultivate their best working environment we provide the following:
$0 deductible healthcare plan option, including medical, vision and dental.
Employer Paid Short Term Disability.
$50,000 life insurance policy at no cost to the employee.
Retirement plan through PSSRSSL with an employer match up to 14% and an optional 403b as a supplement to our pension program
Employee Recognition: When we succeed together, we celebrate together with our annual gala award ceremony, holiday party, and more!
Public Service student loan forgiveness program qualified employer.
Ongoing professional development.
Generous time off:
Paid leave for illness, personal days, bereavement, jury duty, and military-related leave
Paid parental leave for new families
Paid holidays, as well as a one week Thanksgiving break, a two-week winter break, a week-long spring break
Wellness days provided throughout the year
If you are interested in working at KIPP St. Louis, please visit our website to find out how to apply!
www.kippstl.org/apply
Check out our KIPP St. Louis video to learn more about KIPP St. Louis Public Schools!
KIPP St. Louis is committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for all our students, families, teachers, staff and community members. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.