Job Description
Unique opportunity to be in a leadership role at an innovative boarding charter school targeting youth in high-risk situations
About Monument Academy
Monument Academy has established an innovative model integrating tailored academics with
evidence-based, trauma-informed practices. Monument Academy opened in 2015, and will have a
maximum of 135 students spanning 5th-8th grade each school year. The mission of Monument
Academy is to empower students, particularly those who have experienced significant adversity,
including involvement or risk of involvement in child welfare and/or other social service systems
with the requisite academic, social, emotional and life skills to be successful in college, career
and community. In addition, we aim to create an outstanding school that attracts, supports, and
retains exceptional and caring people. Monument Academy will fulfill its mission by providing
stability, adult connection, high-quality academics, therapeutic support, and life skills for
pre-teens and teens. Monument Academy graduates will be prepared for post-secondary
education, be on a career trajectory, and have the social, emotional, and self-care skills to
maintain a healthy, connected, and economically self-supporting life.
About the Position
As a leadership member of the Wellbeing department, the Director of Wellbeing will play
an integral role in the development and implementation of our clinical program
throughout all aspects of the school. The director will supervise the clinical manager, and
provide group clinical supervision for the wellbeing counselors. A primary function of the
Director of Wellbeing role will be to create and implement an extended day program that
supports learning as well as social and emotional development. The director will be
expected to develop a high-quality program that effectively leverages partnerships with a
variety of stakeholders, particularly students’ families and organizations in the
neighboring community.
Monument Academy has adopted a school-wide Dialectical Behavioral Therapeutic (DBT)
model to increase students’ emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal
effectiveness, and mindfulness. The Director of Wellbeing will be expected to support
knowledge and implementation of DBT through close collaboration with the clinical
manager, who is in charge of implementing DBT as a Tier 1 intervention throughout the
school. The Director of Wellbeing and the Clinical Manager will consult regularly with
Mazza Consulting, our partner in our advancement of DBT. Fulfilling the Director of Wellbeing position requires active advancement towards DBT certification. In addition to
consulting with the DBT experts, the Director of Wellbeing will receive consulting support
from previous wellbeing department leadership to ensure successful transition of
deliverables.
General responsibilities related to Director of Wellbeing include, but are not limited to:
• Critical support for students with severe mental health concerns
-Responsible for overseeing suicidality assessments
-Responsible for making final decisions on CHAMPS calls
• Supervise Clinical Manager
-Meet weekly for one hour
• Provide Clinical Group Supervision for Monument clinical team
• Develop extended-day program
-Manage 2 staff that will be supporting implementation of extended-day program
• Support school-wide DBT implementation
-Coordination with Clinical Manager
• Carry a small clinical caseload of students
• Attend all executive leadership meetings for school with other department leaders
• Attend bridge meetings
• Manage Wellbeing Department
-Develop PD for department
-Implement evaluations and data initiatives to support effectiveness of wellbeing programs
• Attend weekly Wellbeing leadership meetings
• Attend weekly DBT TEAM meetings
• Weekly meetings with wellbeing consultants for support, as needed
-Clinical supervisory support
-Wellbeing Program logistics
-Social Emotional Learning objectives/ DBT
-Bainum Consultant
Experience, Credentials, and Skills
• Candidates must have a license issued by the District of Columbia Department of Health (i.e. LCPC, LICSW, Clinical Psychologist, etc.). Exceptions for acquiring a DOH can be made for individuals practicing under the title “School Psychologist” who hold a School Psychologist educator credential issued by OSSE.
• Candidates should have a minimum of 3 years experience working in a clinical capacity in a school setting
• Preferred candidates have a background in administering behavioral support hours for students with Individual Education Plans
• Candidates should have experience designing and implementing programs
• Candidates should have 3 years supervisory experience
• Preferred candidates have, or are working towards, certification in DBT
• Preferred candidates have experience and comfort with training and coaching non-clinical staff on clinical objectives, such as suicidality and trauma-informed approaches
• Competent in case management skills and working with caregivers
• Experience working with at-risk populations in an urban setting, and/or working with families involved in the child-welfare system
• Experience working with traumatized youth
• Cultural competence in working with students and families from different racial, ethnic, linguistic, and sexual orientation backgrounds
Candidates should possess the following:
Character Traits and Values
• Commitment to the mission of Monument Academy
• Passion for teaching and learning
• Emotional self-regulation, patience, maturity and humility
• Honesty and integrity
• Curiosity and creativity
• Optimism and enthusiasm
• Excellent people skills
• Respect for students, families, and staff
• Ability to accept and integrate feedback into practice
• Proactive and able to anticipate issues and manage unanticipated events with thoughtfulness and grace
• Commitment to positive behavioral approaches
• Willingness to learn and grow in a new school environment
• Thoughtful self-reflection and good self-care skills
• Commitment to teamwork
Location: Washington, D.C.
Compensation
Monument Academy offers competitive salaries, commensurate with experience. The
school offers a strong benefits package that includes health care (HMO and PPO options),
retirement plan (employer match available), Flexible Spending accounts, and generous
vacation leave for its administrators.
To Apply:
Visit the “Careers” page on www.monumentacademy.org. Click the “Apply Here” link. You
will be asked to create a profile, then fill out an application, including uploading your
resume and cover letter. Salary and benefits are competitive, and commensurate with
education, and level of work experience. Monument Academy is an equal opportunity
employer, committed to inclusive hiring and encourages applicants from all backgrounds.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, marital status, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected status. All employment decisions are made solely on the basis of the individual’s qualifications, as related to the requirements of the position being filled.