Middle School Counselor

The Spence School
Middle SCHOOL COUNSELOR
Full-time position to begin August 2024

The Spence School seeks an accomplished clinician to serve as Middle School Counselor to guide positive identity development and foster the social-emotional health and well being of our Grade 5 through 8 students. The Middle School Counselor is integral to the daily life and functioning of the Middle School. This 10-month position, reporting to the Head of Middle School and Director of K-12 Counseling, is an opportunity to work closely with a team of passionate educators. We are committed to an environment where each child and family can thrive, knowing that they belong and their voices are heard. The Middle School counselor works collaboratively with the Middle School Team and the K-12 Counseling Team.
Responsibilities

• Provide short-term counseling and consultation for students
• Provide consultation for families in a culturally responsive manner
• Lead small-group sessions to support students with identified needs
• Implement a consistent social-emotional learning program for each grade level
• Offer parent workshops and faculty trainings on topics related to child development and social-emotional learning
• Serve as a consultant and liaison among students, parents, faculty and administrators
• Anticipate challenges to belonging and identify structures to strengthen equity and inclusion
• Identify developmental, psychological, cognitive and behavioral needs of students in Grades 5-8, and assist with planning to meet these needs
• Consult with the Health Education Team about curriculum
• Assume a leadership role in collaborations supporting positive mental health and designing programs to meet the needs of students, families and faculty
• Work closely day-to-day with the Middle School Deans Team, Nurse and Teachers to monitor the climate of the school and respond as needed by individuals and groups
• Consult and collaborate with the Director of Psychological Services, Director of Student Learning Resources, Head of Middle School, Assistant Head of Middle School and Director of Institutional Equity
• Collaborate within a comprehensive K-12 counseling department
• Serve on the K-12 Mental Health and Wellness Committee and K-12 Gender Diversity Leadership Team

Skills and Experience

• Appreciation for the value and joy of full participation in the life of a school
• Ability to apply a developmental and clinical frame for understanding student needs, while collaborating within a larger community of caring educators
• Eagerness to be flexible in the delivery of support with students, embracing the notion that therapeutic encounters often reside outside of the counseling room
• Appreciation for, curiosity about and celebration of the diversity of student life experiences, family structures, and human temperaments
• Skills for constructive communication and collaboration with faculty and administrators
• Ability to organize, plan, and implement tasks independently

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree or higher in psychology or social work, with appropriate certification or licensure by the State of New York
• Sustained counseling experience with young children and families
• Appreciation for the craft of counseling, along with passion for and knowledge of Middle School life
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively within and across multiple constituencies
• Cultural competency and skills for engaging with and learning from people of diverse backgrounds and life experiences
• Commitment to equity, inclusion and doing the work to maintain a strong, joyful and diverse community
• Commitment to sharing clinical knowledge and perspective with faculty, administrators, families and students
• Ability to lead with energy, kindness and a sense of humor
• Sense of joy in working with children and as part of school life

Spence is committed to an equitable program and a diverse faculty and student body. We therefore actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds.

Please note that the School has a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, which requires that all employees be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination.