Newtown Schools Receives $3.1M from U.S. Dept. of Education for School Recovery

The U.S. Department of Education is giving $3.1 million to Newtown schools to help students and staff in the process of recovery that continues after the December 2012 school shooting, NBC CT reports.

The school system will use the funding to hire grief counselors and mental health professionals, according to Newtown Schools Superintendent Joseph V. Erardi, Jr.

In a job posting on K12Jobspot.com, the school stated “the Newtown Public Schools has received a School Emergency Response to Violence Grant (SERV) from the United States Department of Education. This is a unique opportunity to lead the recovery program that has enabled an outstanding school district to continue to move forward.”

The Newtown Public School System is seeking a Project Recovery Director and a School Psychologist. Both positions will be funded through the grant from the United States Department of Education.

The Project Recovery Director will work with the school-based and community-based mental health teams, coordinate professional learning related to SERV funded positions and establish a process for professional development of teaching, mental health, and support staff related to mental health recovery needs, including trauma, bereavement and suicide prevention, according to the job posting.

The $3.1 million is for programs that will take place during the 2015-16 school year.

To read more on NBC CT, click here.