Therapeutic Special Day Class School Counselor 2026-2027 at San Jose Unified School District
Job Summary
Job Summary
The impact you will have: As a Therapeutic Special Day Class School Counselor, you will play a critical role in supporting students with significant social-emotional and behavioral needs so they can access learning and thrive in school. You will provide counseling services, implement therapeutic strategies, and collaborate with teachers, families, and multidisciplinary teams to support students’ IEP goals. Through relationship-building, crisis support, and proactive interventions, you will help students develop self-regulation, coping skills, and resilience while contributing to a safe, supportive, and inclusive school environment where every student can grow and succeed. A more detailed job description is available at: https://sjusd.box.com/v/schoolcounselor. Who you are: You are a compassionate and skilled mental health professional who is committed to supporting students with diverse social-emotional and behavioral needs. You bring strong counseling expertise, the ability to build trusting relationships, and a calm, solution-oriented approach to complex situations. You are collaborative, reflective, and dedicated to creating safe, supportive environments where students can develop resilience, self-regulation, and the skills needed to succeed.
Requirements / Qualifications
The impact you will have: As a Therapeutic Special Day Class School Counselor, you will play a critical role in supporting students with significant social-emotional and behavioral needs so they can access learning and thrive in school. You will provide counseling services, implement therapeutic strategies, and collaborate with teachers, families, and multidisciplinary teams to support students’ IEP goals. Through relationship-building, crisis support, and proactive interventions, you will help students develop self-regulation, coping skills, and resilience while contributing to a safe, supportive, and inclusive school environment where every student can grow and succeed. A more detailed job description is available at: https://sjusd.box.com/v/schoolcounselor. Who you are: You are a compassionate and skilled mental health professional who is committed to supporting students with diverse social-emotional and behavioral needs. You bring strong counseling expertise, the ability to build trusting relationships, and a calm, solution-oriented approach to complex situations. You are collaborative, reflective, and dedicated to creating safe, supportive environments where students can develop resilience, self-regulation, and the skills needed to succeed.
What you bring: -Resume and letter of introduction outlining your desire and qualifications for this position -Two (2) letters of reference from prior supervisors -Transcripts of your undergraduate degree, and graduate degrees if applicable. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application purposes only -Test Results: please attach CSET results and evidence of meeting the Basic Skills Requirement, such as CBEST, PRAXIS, SAT or ACT results -PPS: School Counseling -EL Authorization -Entry of all past employers in the work history section of this application (please see Education Code section 44939.5 - as amended by California AB2534)
Requirements / Qualifications
The impact you will have: As a Therapeutic Special Day Class School Counselor, you will play a critical role in supporting students with significant social-emotional and behavioral needs so they can access learning and thrive in school. You will provide counseling services, implement therapeutic strategies, and collaborate with teachers, families, and multidisciplinary teams to support students’ IEP goals. Through relationship-building, crisis support, and proactive interventions, you will help students develop self-regulation, coping skills, and resilience while contributing to a safe, supportive, and inclusive school environment where every student can grow and succeed. A more detailed job description is available at: https://sjusd.box.com/v/schoolcounselor. Who you are: You are a compassionate and skilled mental health professional who is committed to supporting students with diverse social-emotional and behavioral needs. You bring strong counseling expertise, the ability to build trusting relationships, and a calm, solution-oriented approach to complex situations. You are collaborative, reflective, and dedicated to creating safe, supportive environments where students can develop resilience, self-regulation, and the skills needed to succeed.
What you bring: -Resume and letter of introduction outlining your desire and qualifications for this position -Two (2) letters of reference from prior supervisors -Transcripts of your undergraduate degree, and graduate degrees if applicable. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application purposes only -Test Results: please attach CSET results and evidence of meeting the Basic Skills Requirement, such as CBEST, PRAXIS, SAT or ACT results -PPS: School Counseling -EL Authorization -Entry of all past employers in the work history section of this application (please see Education Code section 44939.5 - as amended by California AB2534)
Comments and Other Information
AB-2534 Employment History
As of January 1, 2025, in accordance with Education Code section 44939.5 (as amended by California AB2534) applicants for certificated positions are required by law to provide a complete list of every school district, county office of education, charter school and/or state special school with which you have previously been employed, regardless of the length of service. For all certificated positions, please be comprehensive in disclosing any part-time, full-time and substitute employment.
Failure to disclose any previous educational employment may result in the disqualification of your application.
You must list all previous LEAs (Local Education Agencies) where you have been employed. If multiple LEAs are within the same district, only the district information is required. An LEA is a local entity involved in education including but not limited to school districts, county offices of education, direct-funded charter schools, and special education local plan area (SELPA).
When will you hear back from us: Within seven days of applying, we will inform you if you will be moving forward in our hiring process and share next steps. If there is a delayed response, feel free to reach out to us at credentials@sjusd.org.
What we offer: San José Unified offers a fantastic team and system of supports. We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package which includes free medical and dental coverage for our employees who work at least a 0.75 FTE (30 hours per week), as well as 21-vacation days, and 11-paid holidays for 10-month employees! For 11-month employees, you earn 21-vacation days and 12-paid holidays. For 12-month employees, you earn 27-vacation days and 13-paid holidays.
Who we are: San José Unified is an innovative urban school district that prepares today’s students to be the thinkers, leaders, and creators of tomorrow. We are reinventing the education system by bringing together teachers and staff with parents and students, inspiring each to discover their own greatness. Serving over 25,000 students from transitional kindergarten through post-secondary in 41 schools from Downtown San José to the Almaden Valley, San José Unified is Silicon Valley’s largest and most diverse school system. We welcome instructional and support staff who are interested in making a difference in the lives of San José children.
SJUSD prohibits discrimination, intimidation, harassment (including sexual harassment), or bullying based on a person's real or perceived ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, immigration status, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. This applies to all acts related to school activity or school attendance occurring within a school under the jurisdiction of the LEA, and all acts of the governing board or body of the LEA, the superintendent of the school district, and the county superintendent of schools in enacting policies and procedures that govern the LEA.
For questions or complaints, contact Equity Compliance and Title IX Coordinator Michelle Reghitto, Director of Student Services at complaint@sjusd.org, and Section 504 Coordinator Chris Metcalfe, Director of Special Education at 504@sjusd.org, 855 Lenzen Avenue or (408) 535-6000.
SJUSD prohíbe la discriminación, la intimidación, el acoso (incluido el acoso sexual) o el acoso escolar basados en el origen étnico real o percibido, el color, una discapacidad, el género, la identidad de género, la expresión de género, el estatus migratorio, la nacionalidad, la raza o el origen étnico, la religión, el sexo, la orientación sexual o la asociación con una persona o un grupo con una o más de estas características reales o percibidas. Esto se aplica a todos los actos relacionados con la actividad escolar o con la asistencia a la escuela que se produzcan dentro de una escuela de acuerdo con la jurisdicción de la dependencia educativa local (LEA, por sus siglas en inglés) y a todos los actos de la Mesa Directiva o del cuerpo rector de la LEA, la Superintendente del distrito escolar y el Superintendente de escuelas del condado en la promulgación de políticas y procedimientos que gobiernan la LEA.
Si tiene alguna pregunta o queja, comuníquese por favor con la coordinadora de cumplimiento de la equidad y del Título IX, Michelle Reghitto, directora de Servicios Estudiantiles a complaint@sjusd.org, y con el coordinador del Artículo 504, Chris Metcalfe, director de Educación Especial a 504@sjusd.org, 855 Lenzen Avenue, o (408) 535-6000.
Students, parents, employees, or others who wish further information about these regulations, or who wish to file a complaint, should contact the following persons:
For Title IX, discrimination or equity complaints involving students:
Director of Student Services/Student Title IX Coordinator, Michelle Reghitto, 408-535-6080 at uniformcomplaint@sjusd.org, 855 Lenzen Avenue, San José, CA 95126
For Title IX, discrimination or equity complaints involving staff:
Assistant Superintendent, Administrative Services, J. Dominic Bejarano, 408-535-6139 at jbejarano@sjusd.org, 855 Lenzen Avenue, San José, CA 95126
For Section 504 Compliance complaints involving students:
SJUSD 504 Coordinator at 504@sjusd.org, 855 Lenzen Avenue, San José, CA 95126
For Facilities or other ADA complaints:
Director of Maintenance, Grounds, and Operations, Denny Pini, 408-535-6000 at dpini@sjusd.org, 855 Lenzen Avenue, San José, CA 95126
Comments and Other Information
AB-2534 Employment History
As of January 1, 2025, in accordance with Education Code section 44939.5 (as amended by California AB2534) applicants for certificated positions are required by law to provide a complete list of every school district, county office of education, charter school and/or state special school with which you have previously been employed, regardless of the length of service. For all certificated positions, please be comprehensive in disclosing any part-time, full-time and substitute employment.
Failure to disclose any previous educational employment may result in the disqualification of your application.
You must list all previous LEAs (Local Education Agencies) where you have been employed. If multiple LEAs are within the same district, only the district information is required. An LEA is a local entity involved in education including but not limited to school districts, county offices of education, direct-funded charter schools, and special education local plan area (SELPA).
When will you hear back from us: Within seven days of applying, we will inform you if you will be moving forward in our hiring process and share next steps. If there is a delayed response, feel free to reach out to us at credentials@sjusd.org.
What we offer: San José Unified offers a fantastic team and system of supports. We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package which includes free medical and dental coverage for our employees who work at least a 0.75 FTE (30 hours per week), as well as 21-vacation days, and 11-paid holidays for 10-month employees! For 11-month employees, you earn 21-vacation days and 12-paid holidays. For 12-month employees, you earn 27-vacation days and 13-paid holidays.
Who we are: San José Unified is an innovative urban school district that prepares today’s students to be the thinkers, leaders, and creators of tomorrow. We are reinventing the education system by bringing together teachers and staff with parents and students, inspiring each to discover their own greatness. Serving over 25,000 students from transitional kindergarten through post-secondary in 41 schools from Downtown San José to the Almaden Valley, San José Unified is Silicon Valley’s largest and most diverse school system. We welcome instructional and support staff who are interested in making a difference in the lives of San José children.
SJUSD prohibits discrimination, intimidation, harassment (including sexual harassment), or bullying based on a person's real or perceived ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, immigration status, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. This applies to all acts related to school activity or school attendance occurring within a school under the jurisdiction of the LEA, and all acts of the governing board or body of the LEA, the superintendent of the school district, and the county superintendent of schools in enacting policies and procedures that govern the LEA.
For questions or complaints, contact Equity Compliance and Title IX Coordinator Michelle Reghitto, Director of Student Services at complaint@sjusd.org, and Section 504 Coordinator Chris Metcalfe, Director of Special Education at 504@sjusd.org, 855 Lenzen Avenue or (408) 535-6000.
SJUSD prohíbe la discriminación, la intimidación, el acoso (incluido el acoso sexual) o el acoso escolar basados en el origen étnico real o percibido, el color, una discapacidad, el género, la identidad de género, la expresión de género, el estatus migratorio, la nacionalidad, la raza o el origen étnico, la religión, el sexo, la orientación sexual o la asociación con una persona o un grupo con una o más de estas características reales o percibidas. Esto se aplica a todos los actos relacionados con la actividad escolar o con la asistencia a la escuela que se produzcan dentro de una escuela de acuerdo con la jurisdicción de la dependencia educativa local (LEA, por sus siglas en inglés) y a todos los actos de la Mesa Directiva o del cuerpo rector de la LEA, la Superintendente del distrito escolar y el Superintendente de escuelas del condado en la promulgación de políticas y procedimientos que gobiernan la LEA.
Si tiene alguna pregunta o queja, comuníquese por favor con la coordinadora de cumplimiento de la equidad y del Título IX, Michelle Reghitto, directora de Servicios Estudiantiles a complaint@sjusd.org, y con el coordinador del Artículo 504, Chris Metcalfe, director de Educación Especial a 504@sjusd.org, 855 Lenzen Avenue, o (408) 535-6000.
Students, parents, employees, or others who wish further information about these regulations, or who wish to file a complaint, should contact the following persons:
For Title IX, discrimination or equity complaints involving students:
Director of Student Services/Student Title IX Coordinator, Michelle Reghitto, 408-535-6080 at uniformcomplaint@sjusd.org, 855 Lenzen Avenue, San José, CA 95126
For Title IX, discrimination or equity complaints involving staff:
Assistant Superintendent, Administrative Services, J. Dominic Bejarano, 408-535-6139 at jbejarano@sjusd.org, 855 Lenzen Avenue, San José, CA 95126
For Section 504 Compliance complaints involving students:
SJUSD 504 Coordinator at 504@sjusd.org, 855 Lenzen Avenue, San José, CA 95126
For Facilities or other ADA complaints:
Director of Maintenance, Grounds, and Operations, Denny Pini, 408-535-6000 at dpini@sjusd.org, 855 Lenzen Avenue, San José, CA 95126
Application Deadline
Until Filled
Date Posted
5/21/2026
Contact
Number of Openings
1
Salary
Pay Range
$75,654.00 - $145,262.00 Annually
$75,654.00 - $145,262.00 Annually
Length of Work Year
2026-2027
Employment Type
Full Time