School Year 2026-2027] SEL Specialist

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 program 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.

• Level 1 SEL Specialists hold a Bachelor’s Degree.
• Level 2 SEL Specialists are accepted to/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 Masters’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 of 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).
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match starting at 4% after one year, with increases tied to DREAM tenure.
• Referral, performance, and tenure milestone bonuses.
• Discounted school meals through our in-house Scratch Food Program.
• Tuition reimbursement support.
• Access to a professional development fund.
• School-based 12-month employees have approximately 48 days off throughout the school year including holidays, school breaks, personal days, and wellness days.
• MSW-LPs and MHC-LPs can receive clinical supervision…