Job Description

Reports to:   Head of School

Status:   Full-time, salaried, exempt, 12-month position

Purpose:   To serve as a student advocate and provide a comprehensive counseling program for children in Early Education, Lower School and Middle School. To collaborate with administrators, teachers, staff and parents in order to enhance their effectiveness in helping students achieve their highest academic potential by removing or reducing social and psychological barriers to learning.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement comprehensive guidelines and protocols for the school’s counseling program.
• Identify developmental, psychological, cognitive and behavioral needs of students, and assist with planning to meet those needs.
• Work with administrators, teachers, parents and students in designing, implementing, monitoring and adjusting educational plans for individual students.
• Conduct classroom observations for social/emotional concerns within the classroom setting.
• Counsel individuals and small groups of children through the development of educational, personal and social skills. Topics may include family issues, child abuse or neglect, attendance, behavioral issues, academic failure, peer problems, substance abuse, coping strategies, goal setting, communication skills and organizational skills.
• Provide crisis assistance and crisis intervention as needed during school hours.
• Attend bi-weekly Student of Concern (SOC) meetings with Division Heads and representatives from the Center 4 Learning.
• Refer students and their parents to special programs, specialists and outside agencies when necessary, including individual and small group counseling and individual/family/school crisis intervention.
• Maintain confidentiality of student academic records, evaluations and sensitive conversations.
• Act as a resource for faculty, staff and parents.
• Educate faculty and staff about developmental, emotional and behavioral issues that may impact the school environment.
• Attend bi-weekly Student of Concern (SOC) meetings with Division Heads and representatives from the Center 4 Learning.
• Facilitate and annual Suicide Awareness Training for Middle School students.
• Sit on the “Say Anything” team and share the responsibility of intervening in anonymous reports about student safety concerns.
• Visit the playground during recess to build relationships with students, monitor student
  behavior, and intervene as necessary.
• Teach monthly social and emotional learning (SEL) lessons in Kindergarten - Grade 5.
• Facilitate the World Sized Heart program by sending postcards home highlighting student acts of kindness and coordinating with the Student Activities Coordinator to recognize classes that have earned 10 World Sized Hearts.
• Schedule the annual sexual health education program for Middle School students. Coordinate with the Head of Middle School to determine who will represent the School at these evening events.
• Conduct or provide in-service training for faculty and staff.
• Conduct or provide opportunities for parent education programs.
• Attend bi-annual care/share team meetings.
• Contribute articles to the school’s newsletter and magazine.
• Review the counseling program with administrators on an annual basis.
• Support the school and its leadership.
• Other duties as assigned by the Head of School and Division Heads.

Minimum Requirements:

1. Master’s Degree or higher in Marriage and Family Therapy or Social Work from an
   accredited college or university.
2. Current license as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) or Clinical Social Worker
   (LCSW) required.
3. 3-5 years of experience in a K-8 school setting preferred.
4. Able to provide proactive leadership that engages all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help students achieve success.
5. Ability to maintain sensitive information in the strictest of confidence, exercising absolute discretion and professionalism.
6. Able to align with the school’s mission to support student academic personal and social
   achievement.
7. Outstanding interpersonal skills with a strong customer service focus, both internal and
   external.
8. Strong written and oral communication skills with an ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders of the school.
9. Highly organized with a strong attention to detail.
10. High energy, self-starter with the ability to successfully prioritize and multi-task in an
    atmosphere in which time sensitive deadlines are the norm, as are interruptions.
11. Strong computer skills with a proficiency in MS Office Suite.
12. Highly ethical and confidential team player.

For consideration, please send resume with cover letter indicating salary requirement. Please also note that you found the listing on the NAIS website.

About St. Mary's School

For more information about our school, please visit our website at

Job Tags

Similar Jobs