Careers at KAS

Kentucky Avenue School

Part Time Mental Health Specialist 

Job Description

Kentucky Avenue School, a K-8 independent school in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, announces a search for a part-time Mental Health Specialist for the 2023-2024 school year. This will be a 20 hour per week position. Kentucky Avenue School’s Learning Lab addresses the academic, social and emotional needs of our diverse student population.  We seek to hire a creative, innovative and experienced mental health specialist with a commitment to the care of the social and emotional needs of children. KAS values the integration of social and emotional learning with academics, and is dedicated to providing a highly-differentiated curriculum in a warm, inclusive school climate. Additionally, Kentucky Avenue School embraces Maker-Centered Learning and the Responsive Classroom approach.

The Specialist will develop and assist school staff in implementing inclusive and targeted mental health and behavioral  interventions and policies thru consultation, training, and coaching and integrate social emotional instruction within the school setting. 

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with classroom teachers to address specific social and emotional needs of students. Collaborate with classroom faculty and staff,  and Head of School to create and maintain personalized mental health plans for students, including students with cognitive and developmental disabilities or also students who have differences in learning styles. 
• Establish and maintain ongoing communication with families to foster partnerships and promote family engagement; connect students and families with information about appropriate community resources and outside agencies timely.  
• Provide appropriate intervention services in crisis situations, understand mandatory reporting and appropriate follow up, and suicide prevention and suicide risk assessment and follow-up 
• Demonstrated ability to make referrals for care outside of the school when needed
• Work with students one-on-one, in small groups, or in students’ classroom settings to support mental health
• Create and teach courses or experiences for specific groups of students as needed
• Communicate effectively and often with parents, teachers, Intermediate Unit teachers and psychologists, outside agencies, and other faculty and staff as needed
• Assess students support needs as needed and provide specific instructional recommendations for interventions to classroom teachers, parents and principal
• Adapt materials for instructional purposes and measure student progress
• Collaborate with classroom teachers and Head of School to devise behavior management strategies for students when needed
• Conduct student observations and gathers data 
• Continue to grow as a professional through professional development and continuing study
• Perform other related duties as directed by Head of School

Requirements:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work,  School Counseling, Counseling Psychology or a related field.
• At least, 3-5 years of experience working with children who are neurodiverse  or have emotional/social/behavioral needs.  
• 3-5 years of experience with school aged youth is preferred  
• Specialized knowledge, training or experience working with interventions and instructional strategies designed to accelerate student growth and address social emotional wellness is preferred. 
• Experience in the training and coaching of staff is preferred.
• An educational philosophy that aligns with that of our school
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills over multiple platforms
• PA Act 151, Act 34  and FBI Criminal History Record Clearances

Preferred Qualities:

• Experience in Social Emotional Learning, Mental and Behavioral Health interventions, and/or Trauma Informed Practices.
• An enthusiasm for learning and an open-minded, creative outlook
• Experience with cross-curricular, project based learning
• Experience with differentiated instruction
• A love of students and their lives

Please send resume, cover letter and two letters of recommendation to:

Ellen McConnell Sanderson, Head of School

Kentucky Avenue School

ellen@kentuckyavenueschool.org

Kentucky Avenue School

ClubKAS Program Assistant

Job Description

ClubKAS at Kentucky Avenue School seeks to hire a creative and collaborative individual to assist our Program Director in offering after-school enrichment activities during the 2023-2024 School Year. Kentucky Avenue School, a K-8 independent school in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, embraces Maker-Centered Learning and the Responsive Classroom approach. Kentucky Avenue School offers ClubKAS as an after-school program designed to engage students in clubs and playful discovery activities that are guided by student interests and offered in a supportive, inclusive after-school environment. 

Responsibilities:

Collaborate with ClubKAS Program Director to offer enrichment activities in line with the mission and vision of the KAS learning community

Assist with all elements of after-school programming such as preparing materials, supervising small group activities, organizing supplies, communicating with parents, and interacting with students in grades K-8 daily during after school hours

Maintain an environment where students can explore new interests and grow as human beings

Communicate with parents, KAS staff, and community partners in a professional and effective manner

Willingness to travel via public transportation with ClubKAS students to local community organizations for off-site programming

Preferred Qualities:

• Strong knowledge of child development
• Ability to create a fun, safe, and supportive environment for a mixed-age group of students
• Friendly, calm, and patient
• Excellent skills in communication, interpersonal relationships, and problem-solving 
• Experience with setting age-appropriate guidelines
• Enthusiasm for learning through discovery
• Open-minded, creative, and collaborative outlook

Requirements:

• At least one year of experience supervising students in a group setting
• A philosophy of care that aligns with that of our school
• PA Child Abuse, PA State Police, and FBI Criminal History Record Clearances
•  

Position Commitment & Compensation:

• Monday through Friday, 3pm-5:30pm
• 8-4pm during Teacher In-service and Parent Conferences Day (6 days out of the year)
• Start Date: August 29, 2023, End Date: June 3, 2024
• $15/hour

Please send resume and cover letter:

Beth Smeiles, ClubKAS Program Director

Kentucky Avenue School

clubkas@kentuckyavenueschool.org