School Year 2026-2027 SEL Specialist

Overview

Originally founded in 1991 as Harlem RBI, DREAM has grown to serve more than 2,500 youth across East Harlem and the South Bronx through seven PreK-12, extended-day, extended-year DREAM Charter Schools and community sports-based youth development programs. We are committed to rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, deep family and community engagement, and health and wellness to create lifelong learners who will fulfill their vision of success in and out of the classroom.

To learn more, visit wearedream.org.

Reporting to the Dean of SEL and Community, the Social-Emotional Learning Specialist is a reliable team player with a commitment to youth development, social-emotional learning, and mental health. They will play a key role in implementing DREAM’s Grow the Whole Child model by driving student growth in social and emotional competencies.

• Implement social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum through explicit instruction and targeted small group SEL interventions to ensure student progress to targeted SEL goals and outcomes;
• Drive collection and analysis of data related to SEL intervention programs and implement improvements based on data, feedback and observation;
• Collect and maintain student data related to informal behavior plans, in collaboration with School Leadership and Culture teams;
• Manage caseload of students receiving tier 2 SEL interventions; including data collection and documentation, teacher communication and collaboration, and family communication and collaboration;
• Supervise and manage individual youth behavior using positive student culture techniques and proactive interventions to ensure the physical and emotional safety and development of all youth;
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with families;
• Work with youth in positive and creative ways that encourage teamwork;
• Attend and participate in school culture, student life, and grade-level meetings;
• Additional duties related to the running of the school as assigned.

• DREAM employs three levels of SEL Specialists:
• Level 1 SEL Specialists hold a Bachelor’s Degree;
• Level 2 SEL Specialists are enrolled in a Master’s level clinical graduate degree program and will be able to accrue internship hours (MSed, MHC, or MSW field practicum) through maintaining a caseload of between 5-8 students for at-risk counseling;
• Level 3 SEL Specialists have a Master’s of Social Work but have not yet passed their LMSW exam, OR have a School Counseling certification OR have a Mental Health Counseling Limited Permit OR have a Master’s of Social Work Limited Permit;
  Limited Permit holders will be able to accrue NYSED licensure hours through maintaining a caseload of between 5-8 students for mandated counseling.

• Bachelor’s degree, required;
• Enrollment in, or Master’s degree from, MSW, MHC, or MSEd in Counseling, preferred;
• One year of youth development or school experience, preferred;
• Experience providing small-group or individual supports for youth;
• Experience collecting data and implementing data-driven practices;
• Exhibit a strong belief that explicit and embedded SEL competency-building positively impacts academic achievement;
• Strong group facilitation skills and ability to manage behaviors using positive youth development principles (experience with restorative justice practices strongly preferred);
• Strong written and oral communication skills;
• Excellent organizational and problem solving skills;
• A strong belief in the mission and values of DREAM, including the desire to make a difference in the lives of our students, families, and community.

• We offer comprehensive benefits including:
• Flexible Medical Health Plans, subsidizing the majority of costs for the employee, their spouse/domestic partner and children;
• The ability to select between a variety of medical plans according to what best suits the employee’s needs;
• Dental and vision plans;
• Disability benefits;
• Life insurance;
• Up to 12 weeks fully paid Parental Leave;
• Flexible spending account options;
• Pre-tax commuter benefits (parking and transit);
• Fitness and entertainment discounts;
• A variety of support through our employee assistance program (EAP);
• 4…