Elementary School Counselor Substitute

Fales Elementary School, Westborough, MA, seeks a dynamic

Long-Term Substitute Elementary School Counselor

for the first four to five weeks of the 2026-2027 School Year

The Westborough Public Schools seek professionals who are excited to join a high-performing district where academic excellence, equity and wellness are our core values.

We are an innovative, supportive, and high-performing district whose stellar staff provides high quality services for our diverse students and their families.

We educate approximately 4,000 students from Pre-K through age 22, from homes that speak almost 30 different languages. Our student population is approximately 54% Students of Color and 46% White students.

We support our passionate, dedicated, and highly skilled staff through ongoing collaboration to ensure their safety, health, sense of belonging, and professional growth.

With a graduation rate of 97% and 90% of our students attending post-secondary schools, we are proud of our commitment to excellence in educating students to be informed and successful global citizens.

Job Title: School Counselor

Reports to: Principal

Department: Counseling

School Year and days: 4-5 weeks beginning 8/31/26

FSLA Status: Exempt, Unit A

Per Diem: $170 per day, not benefited

Qualifications:

Education: Master's degree from an accredited college/university in Counseling, Social Work, Psychology or a related field

Professional Certification: MA DESE license as a School Counselor, SEI Endorsement preferred

Specialized Knowledge: child development, mental health, evidence-based practices/interventions, trauma-based care, wellness, inclusive practices, cultural proficiency, anti-bias instruction, social-emotional learning, CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning), growth mindset, universal screening assessment/mental health screening, progress monitoring

Bilingual skills, especially in Spanish and Portuguese, are highly desirable

CORI, SORI and Fingerprinting: All appointments are conditional based on a satisfactory CORI, SORI and SAFIS Background Check per 603 CMR 51.00.

Preferred Experience:

Working in a diverse public school setting with English Language Learners

Supporting students with mental health, wellness, special needs, including students with emotional, behavioral, and/or learning challenges

Delivering services consistent with MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support)

Highly desirable to have experience with some of the following:

Using EBI (Evidence-Based Intervention) with students

Experience with the following interventions preferred:

Second Step SEL program

PBS (Positive Behavioral Supports) using the FAIR system

Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in Schools

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) in Schools

Rational-Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)

Collaborative Problem Solving

Skills and Abilities:

Establish and maintain effective relationships with students, colleagues, families/caregivers, outside providers, and community resources

Create a welcoming, supportive, creative, flexible learning environment that ensures equitable access to information and supports for all students

Apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional/counseling design

Apply knowledge of child development and diverse counseling approaches that result in social-emotional growth for students

Plan and facilitate counseling services that are evidence-based: identification of students, goal-setting, progress-monitoring, and measured outcomes of progress.

Empower students to be critical thinkers

Collaborate with colleagues to implement supports that enhance the social-emotional growth of students

Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing

Understand and conform to professional and ethical standards for school adjustment counselors/social workers

Create a welcoming and supportive environment that embraces the diversity among individuals and ensures equitable opportunities for student learning and community membership

Maintain a meeting space and resources that reflects the diversity of our community and affirms diverse identities

Welcome new students and their families, providing orientation and entry-support

Case Management and Counseling

Identifies and assists students at risk in their social, emotional, behavioral, and academic adjustment to school

Provides counseling experiences as guided by the Multi-Tiered System of Support, the Massachusetts Frameworks, and district standards

Delivers and reinforces direct 1:1 and group, strategy-based/goals-based counseling services to students

Monitors students' understanding and adjusts instruction, materials, supports, or assessments when appropriate

Evaluates, innovates, and refines practice to increase student learning, engagement, and confidence

Assists students in developing knowledge, skill and abilities to gain independence and fully utilize the targeted skills

Collaborates with students and staff to design, teach, facilitate, and evaluate how to use knowledge meaningfully for self-assessment, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making

Provides crisis intervention and conflict resolution when needed

Serves as the liaison and facilitates supports for students students returning to school from absences related to mental health or behavior, including but not limited to hospitalization or juvenile justice facilities

Serves as primary staff to administer and oversee student wellness screenings, risk assessments, and other individual student safety checks

Manages all aspects of cases for students on 504 and IEP plans

Consultation With Staff and Families/Caregivers

Consults and collaborates with administrators/principals, families/caregivers, general education and special education staff about students in the Counselor's caseload

Communicates to school personnel an understanding of the physical, social, emotional and psychological factors that strengthen or detract from a student's achievement

Actively participates in Targeted Supported Teams at the school during which time teams of teachers, administrators, and service providers review strengths and challenges of struggling students and identify targeted interventions, with follow-up assessment on the success of the intervention

Leadership/Collaboration

Shares responsibility for accomplishing the goals and priorities of his/her/their department, school, and school district, and actively participates in all meetings and committees

Models instructional strategies and coaches colleagues and families/caregivers in the integration of social-emotional learning practices

Maintains close working relationships with specialists and staff in the Student Services department, as well as with community agencies and outside resources

Serve as primary contact to private therapists, mental health workers, and appropriate agencies, such as the Department of Child and Families (DCF)

Coordinates Systems

Provides support, if needed, with registration, enrollment, and placement of new students

Provides support for course selection and changes for new and existing students

Provides support/guidance with post-secondary schools, private schools, colleagues and universities, financial aid, and careers

In cooperation with middle school classroom teachers, implement whole class Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons based on the DESE competencies of self-management, self-awareness, responsible decision making, relationship skills, and social awareness

Any other relative duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The School Counselor does not have supervisory responsibilities, except to direct any paraeducators who may be working with a student and the Counselor, and to train and supervise interns as needed

Salary and Benefits

Salary and benefits for permanent staff are per the contract between the Westborough School Committee and the Westborough Education Association.

The Westborough Public Schools do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or any other class protected by law.

Date Updated: 5/19/2026