SY Founding High School Guidance Counselor

SY 26-27 Founding High School Guidance Counselor

School Year ;
Southwest, Brooklyn

Full-Time / On-Site

MESA East New York is launching its high school and is seeking a Founding High School Guidance Counselor to help shape a bold, student-centered program from the ground up. Following the successful transition and closure of CAMPA Charter School in 2025–26, we are building a high school rooted in academic excellence, equity, and community impact. We will welcome our founding class of 125 9th graders in August of 2026 and will "grow up" with them by adding subsequent grades each year.

This is a rare opportunity to be part of a founding team and help establish the culture and systems of a new MESA high school for the 2026–27 school year. We need rockstar teammates to launch this East New York campus
, and are hiring in all content areas, with a preference to those who want to found a school and humbly serve this community for years to come.

• Provide mandated
  counseling services pursuant to students’ IEPs
• Provide clinical support and supervision to MESA counseling staff, as needed
• Provide “at-risk” counseling for students referred by staff or self-referred, for those students whose behavior, school progress, or mental or physical impairment indicates a need for assistance
• Conduct student observations and/or Functional Behavior Analyses for students who have persistent behavioral issues
• Develop behavior and academic plans for those students who require such plans
• Coordinate external
  services for those who require
• Develop and review service plans in consultation with students, their families, and school staff, and perform follow-up assessing the quantity and quality of service provided
• Support school staff in addressing issues such as suspected child abuse and neglect. Training school staff in their role as mandated reporters; act as school liaison with Administration for Children’s Services
• Maintain case history records and prepare reports
• Train staff on compliance with the Dignity for All Students Act
• Address emergency situations impacting students
  , such as leading group counseling sessions that provide support in areas such as grief
  , stress
  , or chemical
  dependency
• Arrange for medical, psychiatric, and other tests that may disclose causes of difficulties and indicate remedial measures
• Interview students individually, in families, or in groups and assessing their circumstances, capabilities and problems, to determine what services are required to meet their needs
• Other duties, as assigned by the Principal

• Masters degree or higher in School Counseling or Social Work, as appropriate.
• Appropriate New York State Certification.
• Minimum four years experience working as a school counselor in an urban public or charter school.
• Demonstrated ability to work productively with staff and with diverse populations of students, parents, and families, including students with disabilities or students with limited English proficiency.
• Experience supervising adults and leading a team of adults in service of students and families.
• Demonstrated understanding of issues facing children and youth, especially in urban environments.
• Belief in and alignment with MESA’s core values, educational philosophy and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Spanish/Haitian Creole speaker a plus.

$60,000 - $100,000, based on experience

MESA is committed to attracting, hiring and retaining a diverse and inclusive staff. It is MESA’s policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, national origin, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status, uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please email your resume and cover letter to Arthur Samuels, Co-Executive Director, at hiring with the subject heading “26-27 Founding High School Guidance Counselor (East New York).”
Cover letter should specifically indicate why you want to work at MESA
. APPLY BY EMAIL ONLY. Due to the nature of the position and the volume of applications received, MESA will not be able to reply to all submissions. MESA will contact candidates with next steps.