Temporary Summer Academy 2026 Counselor

About FIU

Florida International University is a Top 50, preeminent public research university with 55,000 students from all 50 states and more than 140 countries, as well as an alumni network of more than 340,000. Located in the global city of Miami, the university offers more than 200 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels, including medicine and law. FIU faculty are leaders in their fields and include National Academy members, Fulbright Scholars and MacArthur Genius Fellows. A Carnegie R1 institution, FIU drives impactful research in environmental resilience, health and technology and innovation. Home to the Wall of Wind and Institute of Environment, FIU stands at the forefront of discovery and innovation. With a focus on student success, economic mobility and community engagement, FIU is redefining what it means to be a public research university.

Job Summary

The Center for Children and Families at Florida International University announces FIU Summer Academy Counselor positions for 2026. Eligible children for FIU Summer Academy are recruited from preschool programs in or around the Liberty City community and are receiving, or eligible to receive, services through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for moderate-to-severe learning and / or behavioral needs. Services are provided at an early childhood center in Liberty City. The program provides treatment tailored to children's individual behavioral and learning difficulties.

The dates of employment for the Counselor position are Monday, June 1, 2026, through Friday, July 31, 2026. Counselor hours of employment are 7 : 30 AM to 5 : 00 PM, with three 30-minute breaks, Monday through Friday.

Counselors will be paid $15.00 / hour. Total compensation will be approximately $5,160. Current students may also be able to arrange for academic course credit through their university departments.

Children and counselors are assigned to groups of four or five counselors and 10 to 15 children of similar age. Children participate in a variety of classroom-based and recreational activities. Staff members implement an extensive behavior modification treatment program including feedback and associated consequences for positive and negative behaviors, daily and weekly rewards for appropriate behavior, social praise and attention, appropriate commands, and time-out from positive reinforcement. Counselors also record, track, and enter daily records of children's behavior and response to the treatment. Counselors will work under the supervision of experienced faculty and staff members.

Counselors in FIU Summer Academy deliver the treatment components within both classroom and recreational contexts. Counselors will assist in the following each day : (1) leading an academic center (i.e., English / Language Arts, Math, Science, Writing); (2) leading a sport (i.e., soccer, kickball, tee ball); (3) delivery of treatment components during large group instruction periods; (4) assisting in the delivery of an evidence-based reading intervention; and (5) tracking the daily behavioral progress for assigned cases. Sports experience or teaching experience is not a requirement for the FIU Summer Academy program.

Prior to the start of employment, Counselors will be required to read the program manual and to be familiar with the behavior modification program and rules and procedures for daily activities, including the rules and fundamentals for the sports played in the program. Counselors will be required to memorize information such the operational definitions for the behavior modification system categories, activity rules, rules for classifying behaviors, and other related information. Counselors will need to spend a significant amount of time preparing prior to the start of employment.

During the first two weeks of employment, Counselors will participate in a variety of training activities. Training will consist of lectures, slide and video presentations, testing, and daily active role-plays during which staff members will act as counselors and children during activities such as games, drills, discussions, and time out.

The Center for Children and was founded by William E. Pelham, Jr., Ph.D., a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Florida International University. Paulo

Graziano, Ph.D., and Katie Hart, Ph.D., are the Program Directors for the STP-PreK and FIU Summer Academy. The Summer Treatment Program, from which FIU Summer Academy was adapted, has been conducted since 1980 and was named as a Model Program for Service Delivery for Child and Family Mental Health by the Section on Clinical Child Psychology and Division of Child, Youth, and Family Services of the American Psychological Association. The STP has also been used in clinical trials conducted under the auspices of the National Institute of Mental Health and SAMHSA and has been named a program of the year by CHADD, the national parent advocacy group for children with ADHD.

Experience in the FIU Summer Academy may be helpful to prepare students for further study or employment in the fields of education, mental health, physical education, pediatrics, psychiatry, recreational therapy, behavior analysis, social work, counseling, and related areas. Staff members have uniformly reported the experience to be the most demanding but also the most rewarding clinical experience of their careers.

Desired qualifications for Counselors include undergraduate-level study in Psychology, Education, Behavior Analysis, Social Work, or related field; and experience working with children or adolescents in settings such as summer camps, after-school programs, sports programs, daycare programs, and educational programs. Previous experience in teaching, refereeing, or coaching children in sports is also advantageous.

Participation in FIU Summer Academy requires staff members to ensure the safety, well-being and treatment of children and adolescents with mental health, learning, attention and behavior problems. Staff must be able to visually scan the environment, attend to and hear verbal exchanges between children, provide neutral, corrective feedback on children's misbehavior (which can include aggression), provide a consistent, warm, positive climate for children, and actively engage in sports and physical activity. Applicants must be able to meet the above requirements of the position.

All finalists must clear a Criminal Background Check initiated by the Division of Human Resources at FIU before an offer of employment will be made. All finalists must be digitally fingerprinted and cleared by the FIU Division of Human Resource and the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

Applicants are required to complete an online application, submit 3 recommendations and a transcript. There is no cutoff date for applying. Applications received after all positions have been filled will be placed on a waiting list. Positions are competitive so interested individuals should apply as soon as possible.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Education, Behavior Analysis, Social Work, or related field and experience working with children and teenagers OR equivalent education and / or experience.

Desired Qualifications

Desired qualifications for Counselors include undergraduate-level study in Psychology, Education, Behavior Analysis, Social Work, or related field; and experience working with children or adolescents in settings such as summer camps, after-school programs, sports programs, daycare programs, and educational programs. Previous experience in teaching, refereeing, or coaching children in sports is also advantageous.

Job Category

Temporary

Temporary Disclosure

As a temporary employee, you will not be eligible to participate in all employee benefit programs (e.g., paid leave, retirement, or tuition reimbursement).

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), a temporary employee who works on average 30 hours or more per week may be eligible to enroll in health care benefits. As a temporary employee, you are also eligible to enroll in supplemental plans (e.g. dental, vision,) which requires full payment on your part.

Upon completing an assignment, employees may apply for a position on FIU Careers.

Work Schedule

• Monday-Friday
• 7 : 30 AM to 5 : 00 PM

Advertised Salary

Pre-Employment Requirements

Criminal Background Check

Fingerprinting Check

How To Apply

Prospective Employee

If you have not created a registered account, you will be asked to create a username and password for use of the system. It is recommended that you provide an active / valid e-mail account as that will be the main source of communication regarding your status within the process. In this account, you are able to track your applicant status in " My Applications ".

To be considered eligible for the position as an internal candidate, departmental staff must meet minimum requirements of the position and be in good performance standing.

Before you begin the process, we recommend that you are prepared to attach electronic copies of your resume, cover letter or any other documents within the application process. It is recommended that you combine your cover letter and resume / curriculum vitae into one attachment. Attached documents should be in Microsoft Word or PDF format. All applicants are required to complete the online application including work history and educational details (if applicable), even when attaching a resume.

How To Apply

Current Employee

As a current employee, you must log into Employee Self Service (ESS) to apply for this and any other internal career opportunity of interest. In this account, you are able to track your applicant status in " My Applications ".

To be considered eligible for the position as an internal candidate, departmental staff must meet minimum requirements of the position and be in good performance standing.

Before you begin the process, we recommend that you are prepared to attach electronic copies of your resume / curriculum vitae, cover letter or any other documents within the application process. It is recommended that you combine your cover letter and resume into one attachment. Attached documents should be in Microsoft Word or PDF format.

Disclosures

Clery Notice

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, the University Police department at Florida International University provides information on crimes statistics, crime prevention, law enforcement, crime reporting, and other related issues for the past three (3) calendar years. The FIU Annual Security report is available online at :

To obtain a paper copy of the report, please visit the FIU Police Department located at 885 SW 109th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33199 (PG5 Market Station).

Pay Transparency

Florida International University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

FIU is a State University System of Florida member, Equal Opportunity, Equal Access, and Affirmative Action Employer for individuals with disabilities and veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For inquiries regarding nondiscrimination, contact FIU's Office of Civil Rights Compliance and Accessibility at 305.348.2785 or email ocrca@fiu.edu.