Long Term Substitute, Upper School Counselor

Position Overview

The School Counselor supports the social and emotional well-being of students. Working collaboratively with faculty, administration, and families, the counselor provides individual and group counseling, develops wellness programming, and fosters a culture of care, belonging, and resilience. This position is an integral part of the Student Support Team and contributes to the school’s mission to foster confident, compassionate, and engaged learners.

Key Responsibilities

Counseling and Support:

• Provide individual and group counseling to students to address academic, emotional, and social challenges.
• Serve as a resource for students navigating transitions, managing stress, and developing coping strategies.
• Respond to immediate student concerns, providing crisis intervention and referrals when necessary.

Student Wellness and Programming:

• Develop and implement programs to promote mental health, resilience, and overall well-being.
• Lead workshops and classroom lessons on topics such as conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and stress management.
• Partner with the school’s leadership team to integrate social-emotional learning (SEL) into the curriculum.

Faculty & Family Collaboration and Support:

• Engage proactively in collaboration with faculty and grade-level teams to identify and support students' academic, social, and emotional needs

• Play an integral part in the Student Support Team (SST)

• Partner with the Parent Association to design and deliver educational programming for parents, providing resources and guidance on adolescent development, mental health, and family-school collaboration.

• Strengthen faculty capacity by leading professional development initiatives focused on creating emotionally, safe, supportive and inclusive classroom environments.

• Act as a trusted resource and consultant for faculty, offering expertise and strategies to address students’ social-emotional development within the classroom setting.

• Foster strong, ongoing communication with families, providing guidance, resources, and support to address a wide range of student needs and promote positive school-home partnerships.

Crisis Response & Risk Assessment

• Act as a member of the school's crisis response team, offering guidance and immediate support during individual or community-wide emergencies.
• Maintain and follow communication protocols for responding to students in distress or crisis conducting risk assessments as needed.

Community Engagement:

• Support inclusion initiatives, ensuring all students feel valued and respected.
• Foster strong relationships within the school community to enhance student support services.
• Organize and participate in events and activities that strengthen the school’s community connections.

Qualifications (preferred):

• Master’s Degree in School Counseling, or Clinical/Counseling Psychology
• Experience as a school counselor in an Independent school
• Classroom experience developing and teaching SEL lessons